Give, and you may keep your friend it you lose your money; lend, and the chances are that you lose your friend if ever you get back your money
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
He that loveth, flieth, runneth, and rejoiceth. He is free, and cannot be held in. He giveth all for all, and hath all in all, because he resteth in one highest above all things, from whom all that is good flows and proceeds.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Pleasure is a reciprocal; no one feels it who does not at the same time give it. To be pleased, one must please.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing.
—Indian Proverb
To give without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality of its own.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
Speak the truth.
Give whatever you can.
Never be angry.
These three steps will lead you
Into the presence of the gods.
—Buddhist Teaching
Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though it were his own.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
Seek joy in what you give not in what you get
—Unknown
Go-Givers will become the best go-getters.
—Unknown
A man there was, and they called him mad; the more he gave, the more he had.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
He gives little who gives with a frown; he gives much who gives little with a smile.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Give, and it shall be given unto you.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Isn’t it better to have men be ungrateful than to miss a chance to do good?
—Denis Diderot (1713–84) French Philosopher, Writer
It is expressly at those times when we feel needy that we will benefit the most from giving.
—Ruth Ross
Be charitable and indulgent to everyone but thyself.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
Don’t be reluctant to give of yourself generously, it’s the mark of caring and compassion and personal greatness.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
No man is more cheated than the selfish man.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
You must give some time to your fellow man. Even if it’s a little thing, do something for those who have of help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. For remember, you don’t live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here, too.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
All altruism springs from putting yourself in the other person’s place.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
Why you are born and why you are living depend entirely on what you are getting out of this world and what you are giving to it. I cannot prove that this is a balance of mathematical perfection, but my own observation of life leads me to the conclusion that there is a very real relationship, both quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you contribute and what you get out of this world.
—Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960) American Songwriter, Composer, Theater Producer, Writer
Give light and people will find their own way.
—Unknown
The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of oneself to others.
—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955) French Jesuit Philosopher, Paleontologist
Presents which our love for the donor has rendered precious are ever the most acceptable.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
EARN as much as you can. SAVE as much as you can. INVEST as much as you can. GIVE as much as you can.
—John Wesley (1703–91) British Methodist Religious Leader, Preacher, Theologian
It is another’s fault if he be ungrateful; but it is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man, I will oblige a great many that are not so.—I had rather never receive a kindness than never bestow one.—Not to return a benefit is a great sin; but not to confer one is a greater.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Sow good services; sweet remembrances will grow from them.
—Anne Louise Germaine de Stael (1766–1817) French Woman of Letters
We are cold to others only when we are dull in ourselves.
—William Hazlitt (1778–1830) English Essayist
Live for thy neighbor if thou wouldst live for thyself.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Money is a lubricant. It lets you “slide” through life instead of having to “scrape” by. Money brings freedom—freedom to buy what you want , and freedom to do what you want with your time. Money allows you to enjoy the finer things in life as well as giving you the opportunity to help others have the necessities in life. Most of all, having money allows you not to have to spend your energy worrying about not having money.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
There is no delight in owning anything unshared.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Charity begins at home, but should not end there.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
There never was a person who did anything worth doing who did not receive more than he gave.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
This is the law of benefits between men; the one ought to forget at once what he has given, and the other ought never to forget what he has received.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Life cannot subsist in society but by reciprocal concessions.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
The real secret of happiness is not what you have or what you receive; it’s what you share
—Indian Proverb
We must give more in order to get more, It is the generous giving of ourselves that produce the generous harvest.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
In giving, a man receives more than he gives; and the more is in proportion to the worth of the thing given.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
It was only a sunny smile, but it scattered the night. And little it cost in the giving; like morning light, and made the day worth living.
—Unknown
He that will not permit his wealth to do any good to others while he is living, prevents it from doing any good to himself when he is dead; and by an egotism that is suicidal and has a double edge, cuts himself off from the truest pleasure here and the highest happiness hereafter.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.
—C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) Irish-born British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
There is only one real deprivation, I decided this morning, and that is not to be able to give one’s gifts to those one loves most.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
What you give becomes an investment that will return to you multiplied at some point in the future.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
One must be poor to know the luxury of giving.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Don’t say that you want to give, but go ahead and give! You’ll never catch up with a mere hope.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
In the fall, you don’t grieve because the leaves are falling and dying. You say, “Isn’t it beautiful!” Well, we’re the same way. There are seasons. We all fall sooner or later. It’s all so beautiful. And our concepts, without investigation, keep us from knowing this. It’s beautiful to be a leaf, to be born, to fall, to give way to the next, to become food for the roots. It’s life, always changing its form and always giving itself completely. We all do our part. No mistake.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author