He who wishes to secure the good of others, has already secured his own.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
Never did any soul do good, but it came readier to do the same again, with more enjoyment. Never was love, or gratitude, or bounty practised but with increasing joy, which made the practiser still more in love with the fair act.
—Anthony Ashley Cooper, 1st Earl of Shaftesbury (1621–83) British Statesman
The best way to do good to ourselves is to do it to others; the right way to gather is to scatter.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The disposition to give a cup of cold water to a disciple, is a far nobler property than the finest intellect.
—William Dean Howells (1837–1920) American Novelist, Critic
Rare benevolence! the minister of God.
—Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) Scottish Historian, Essayist
I truly enjoy no more of the world’s good things than what I willingly distribute to the needy.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
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
The conqueror is regarded with awe; the wise man commands our respect; but it is only the benevolent man that wins our affection.
—William Dean Howells (1837–1920) American Novelist, Critic
He that will not give some portion of his ease, his blood, his wealth, for others’ good, is a poor, frozen churl.
—Joanna Baillie (1762–1851) Scottish Playwright, Poet
To feel much for others, and little for ourselves; to restrain our selfish, and exercise our benevolent affections, constitutes the perfection of human nature.
—George Goodman (b.1930) American Economist, Author
With all humility, I think, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might.” Infinitely more important than the vain attempt to love one’s neighbor as one’s self. If you want to hit a bird on the wing, you must have all your will in focus, you must not be thinking about yourself, and equally, you must not be thinking about your neighbor: you must be living in your eye on that bird. Every achievement is a bird on the wing.
—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935) American Jurist, Author
He only does not live in vain, who employs his wealth, his thought, his speech to advance the good of others.
—Indian Proverb
Just in proportion as a man becomes good, divine, Christ-like, he passes out of the region of theorizing into the region of benevolent activities.—It is good to think well; it is divine to act well.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: “What are you doing for others?”
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
A fortune is usually the greatest of misfortunes to children. It takes the muscles out of the limbs, the brain out of the head, and virtue out of the heart. In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Benevolent feeling ennobles the most trifling actions.
—William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–63) English Novelist
There cannot be a more glorious object in creation than a human being replete with benevolence, meditating in what manner he may render himself most acceptable to the Creator by doing good to his creatures.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
It is good for us to think that no grace or blessing is truly ours till we are aware that God has blessed some one else with it through us.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
It is the glory of the true religion that it inculcates and inspires a spirit of benevolence.—It is a religion of charity, which none other ever was.—Christ went about doing good; he set the example to his disciples, and they abounded in it.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
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