Hillsdale College

Responsibility

Uphold your duties and obligations.

StoriesPoemsLives of Virtue

Responsibility is the moral virtue that inclines one to give what is due to other members of a community in view of their shared purpose and sustained well-being. Individual members of a community are also its servants and stewards, and they must fulfill their obligations to that community in order to preserve it in peace and contribute to its flourishing. Members of a community must readily accept the consequences of their actions and be willing to make amends when they fail to uphold their duties.

Being responsible means doing what is necessary according to your role, whether as a student, a son or daughter, a sibling, a member of a community, state, or country, etc. We must take care of what we have been given and honor the jobs and roles we've been entrusted with by doing them to the best of our ability.

Related Virtues

Justice

Featured Stories

The Little PrinceAntoine de Saint-Exupéry
Grade K-1

Story

The Little Hero of HollandFrom The Children’s Book of VirtuesWilliam J. Bennett
Grade 1-2

Story

The Sign of the BeaverElizabeth George Speare
Grade 2-4

Story

Farmer BoyLaura Ingalls Wilder
Grade 3-5

Story

The Lion, the Witch, and the WardrobeC.S. Lewis
Grade 3-5

Story

The Princess and the GoblinGeorge MacDonald
Grade 3-5

Story

More Stories

Featured Biographies

Winston Churchill: Courage in the Face of DarknessJoyce Claiborne-West
Grade 2-6

Biography

Who Was Winston Churchill?Ellen Labrecque
Grade 2-6

Biography

All About Winston ChurchillCynthia Crane
Grade 4-6

Biography

Poems about Responsibility

The sweetest lives are those to duty wed...

Duty
By Robert Browning
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How doth the little busy bee  Improve each shining hour...

How Doth the Little Busy Bee
By Isaac Watts
Read More of How Doth the Little Busy Bee

All are architects of Fate, Working in these walls of Time...

The Builders
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Read More of The Builders

Under a spreading chestnut-tree The village smithy stands...

The Village Blacksmith
By Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Read More of The Village Blacksmith

Lives of Virtue

George Washington
George WashingtonThanks to his integrity, humility, courage, and wisdom, George Washington has long been known as one of the greatest leaders in American history.
Abigail AdamsRegarded as a "Founding Mother," Abigail Adams shared her husband John Adam's passion for liberty and American independence. She played a pivotal role in shaping the nation's early political and social landscape through her insightful correspondence with John Adams, advocating for women's rights, education, and the abolition of slavery.
Clara Barton
Clara BartonClara Barton, driven by compassion and courage, founded the American Red Cross and tirelessly devoted her life to providing aid and comfort to those in crisis, embodying selflessness and resilience in the face of adversity.
Winston Churchill
Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill was an exemplary leader and man of virtue, steadfastly leading Britain through the darkest days of World War II with unwavering resolve and inspiring optimism.