A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
If we had no regard for others’ feelings or fortune, we would grow cold and indifferent to life itself.
—George Matthew Adams (1878–1962) American Columnist, Journalist
In a world where there is so much to be done, I felt strongly impressed that there must be something for me to do.
—Dorothy Dix (1861–1951) American Journalist, Columnist
Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) English Dramatist, Essayist
Live and let live is not enough; live and help live is not too much.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
To give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving.
—Max Beerbohm (1872–1956) British Essayist, Caricaturist, Novelist
If you judge people, you have no time to love them.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
Rich people are almost always excellent promoters. They can are willing to promote their products, their services, and their ideas with passion and enthusiasm.
—T. Harv Eker (b.1954) American Motivational Speaker, Lecturer, Author
Everybody has to be somebody to somebody to be anybody.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Perhaps we’re too embarrassed to change or too frightened of the consequences of showing that we actually care. But why not risk it anyway? Begin Today. Carry out a random act of seemingly senseless kindness, with no expectation or reward or punishment. Safe in the knowledge that one day, someone somewhere might do the same for you.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
There ain’t nothing but one thing wrong with every one of us, and that’s selfishness.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
Two thirds of help is to give courage.
—Irish Proverb
We grow by love .. . others are our nutriment.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
You can not do all the good the world needs, but the world needs all the good you can do.
—Anonymous
A business absolutely devoted to service will have only one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large.
—Henry Ford (1863–1947) American Businessperson, Engineer
The work an unknown good man has done is like a vein of water flowing hidden underground, secretly making the ground green.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves.
—Lydia Maria Child (1802–80) American Abolitionist, Writer
I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others… I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent.
—Thomas Edison (1847–1931) American Inventor, Scientist, Entrepreneur
Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Believing that I was born for the service of mankind, and regarding the care of the commonwealth as a kind of common property which, like the air and the water, belongs to everybody, I set myself to consider in what way mankind might be best served, and what service I was myself best fitted by nature to perform.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
If you want to love you must serve, if you want freedom you must die.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) German Philosopher
Government includes the art of formulating a policy, and using the political technique to attain so much of that policy as will receive general support; persuading, leading, sacrificing, teaching always, because the greatest duty of any statesman is to educate.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
Helping people in need is a good and essential part of my life, a kind of destiny.
—Diana, Princess of Wales (1961–97) English Royal, Humanitarian, Peace Activist
Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Knowing sorrow well, I learn to succor the distressed.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
Real unselfishness consists in sharing the interests of others.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Only a life lived in the service to others is worth living.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The truest help we can render an afflicted man is not to take his burden from him, but to call out his best energy, that he may be able to bear the burden.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
Doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man’s life.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
There is no cause half so sacred as the cause of a people.
There is no idea so uplifting as the idea of the service of humanity.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
We must have a citizenship less concerned about what the government can do for it and more anxious about what it can do for the nation.
—Warren G. Harding (1865–1923) American Head of State, Businessperson
To give oneself is the only way of becoming oneself.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind, whom should we serve?
—Abigail Adams (1744–1818) American First Lady
It is enough that I am of value to somebody today.
—Hugh Prather (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
I wonder why it is that we are not all kinder to each other… How much the world needs it! How easily it is done.
—Henry Drummond
We not only need to be willing to give, but also to be open to receiving from others.
—Anonymous
Do things for others and you’ll find your self-consciousness evaporating like morning dew.
—Dale Carnegie (1888–1955) American Self-Help Author
A little help is worth a great deal of pity.
—Unknown
Be alert to give service—what counts most in life is what we do for others.
—Unknown
To give pleasure to a single heart by a single kind act is better than a thousand head-bowings in prayer.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
A laugh, to be joyous, must flow from a joyous heart, for without kindness there can be no true joy.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness—great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
To leave a sting within a brother’s heart.
—Edward Young (1683–1765) English Poet
And the high destiny of the individual is to serve rather than to rule, or to impose himself in any other way.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist