Julian Barnes Quotes

Responsibility is the price every man must pay for freedom.

We need to restore the full meaning of that old word, duty. It is the other side of rights.

People tend to forget their duties but remember their rights.

Every right implies a responsibility; Every opportunity, an obligation, Every possession, a duty.

I suppose that is my central obsession. What we owe to society, what we owe to ourselves.

But we must create in each person a sense of responsibility in order that each one of us can have the right to enjoy all his rights.

I didn't volunteer; they asked me. I felt a duty to testify.

I think that anything that has privileges have responsibility and all people that is clear about their responsibility has compromise.

We live in a prosperous country. And our prosperity is not only a blessing—it’s also an obligation.

Duties and rights are reciprocal

All power is a trust; that we are accountable for its exercise.

If you accept the privilege of public service, you had better understand the responsibilities of public service.

Rights! There are no rights whatever without corresponding duties.

Right therefore and obligation are, as logicians express it, correllative terms; one of these ideas necessarily supposes the other; and we cannot conceive a right without a corresponding obligation.

Duty is what goes most against the grain, because in doing that we do only what we are strictly obliged to, and are seldom much praised for it.

Once you've given advice to someone, you're obligated.

Obligation may be stretched till it is no better than a brand of slavery stamped on us when we were too young to know its meaning.

Duty does not consist in suffering everything, but in suffering everything for duty. Sometimes, indeed, it is our duty not to suffer.

It is reasonable that everyone who asks justice should do justice

For duty, duty must be done; The rule applies to everyone.

Our privileges can be no greater than our obligations. The protection of our rights can endure no longer than the performance of our responsibilities.

We cannot abdicate our conscience to an organization, nor to a government. 'Am I my brother's keeper?' Most certainly I am! I cannot escape my responsibility by saying the State will do all that is necessary. It is a tragedy that nowadays so many think and feel otherwise.

If you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have a moral obligation to do something about it.

With great power comes great responsibilty.