"What do you do if you are asked to do a job, first by the Prime Minister, and then by the King? How can you refuse?"

The quote credited to Lord Mountbatten, "What do you do if you are asked to do a task, first by the Prime Minister, and after that by the King? How can you decline?" can be interpreted as a reflection on the inner voice and responsibility when called upon by figures of considerable authority and power. This expression encapsulates the weight of duty and honor that might feel inevitable when asked to serve or undertake a task by high-ranking leaders.

Firstly, the reference of both the Prime Minister and the King highlights the magnitude of the demand. Both figures signify the peak of political and ritualistic authority, representing the executive and symbolic management of a country. To be asked by these figures recommends that the task is of utmost importance, potentially bearing nationwide or even historical significance. For someone like Lord Mountbatten, who was deeply ingrained in the British establishment, such a call to service may evoke a profound sense of patriotic responsibility and personal honor.

Additionally, the rhetorical concern "How can you refuse?" recommends a dilemma of option that is, paradoxically, no real option at all. It implies that the moral and cultural imperatives to serve surpass personal choices or appointments. The expectation is that service to the nation, especially when asked for by its greatest leaders, is a responsibility that supersedes other considerations.

The quote likewise highlights a personal ethos, perhaps shared by numerous within the British upper class and military, where service and responsibility are intrinsic values. It speaks with a time and a context where honor and duty are vital, and the hierarchy of command is respected without question.

In a broader sense, the statement can be analyzed as showing the internal and external pressures faced by people in positions of influence when challenged with requests from authority. It articulates the tension in between individual autonomy and the obligations enforced by one's role within society, specifically when that society is structured around hierarchical respect and duty.