Q0175
“The two sayings I have found most useful in life are these:…” — Liang Qichao (Respect for Work and Delight in…)
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Respect for Work and Delight in Work (1922). Theme: responsibility.
English
The two sayings I have found most useful in life are these: responsibility, and delight.… What I speak of today as respect for one's work is responsibility; delight in one's work is interest. I deeply believe that a reasonable human life should be like this.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Respect for Work and Delight in Work (1922) and files it under Modern Chinese Thought. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Liang Qichao
Liang Qichao (1873–1929) was a leading late-Qing and early-Republican intellectual who introduced Western political ideas and reshaped Chinese historiography and public opinion.
How to read this passage
Philosophical debates cover free will, blame, collective responsibility, and duties to distant others. Technology and AI revive the question of who is accountable when systems act. This passage enters that discussion through responsibility.
Concepts in this quote
- Responsibility
- Responsibility asks what we answer for—our choices, omissions, institutions, and the futures we help create.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Liang Qichao. (n.d.). The two sayings I have found most useful in life are these: responsibility, and delight.… What I speak of today as respect for one's work is responsibility; delight in one's work is interest. I deeply believe that a reasonable human life should be like this. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0175
MLA: Liang Qichao. “The two sayings I have found most useful….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0175.
Chicago: Liang Qichao. “The two sayings I have found most useful….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0175.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “The two sayings I have found most useful…”?
The passage is attributed to Liang Qichao, Respect for Work and Delight in Work (1922). The archive attributes this English wording to Respect for Work and Delight in Work (1922) and files it under Modern Chinese Thought. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Liang Qichao mean by responsibility?
Philosophical debates cover free will, blame, collective responsibility, and duties to distant others. Technology and AI revive the question of who is accountable when systems act. This passage enters that discussion through responsibility.