Almsgiving is practised by means of money, but charity also by personal services and by words of advice, sympathy, and encouragement. Almsgiving is a duty towards the poor only, but charity towards the rich as well as the poor, nay, even towards the dead (by taking care of their decent burial).
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Every good act is charity. A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.
—Moliere (1622–73) French Playwright
As a garment is made up of single threads, so every single gift aids in building the great work of charity.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
In every birth he who gives out what is excellent, nicest and choicest will be endowed with long life and nobility.
—Buddhist Teaching
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
Our true acquisitions lie only in our charities, we gain only as we give.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Novelist, Historian
Charity is more than sacrifices.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
He who gives charity in secret is greater than Moses.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
He who gives money he has not earned is generous with other people’s labor.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
The beginning and almost the end of all good law is that everyone shall work for their bread and receive good bread for their work.
—John Ruskin (1819–1900) English Writer, Art Critic
Charity is the greatest virtue.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
He who turns away from the works of love and charity, turns away from God.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Charity should begin at home, but should not stay there.
—Phillips Brooks (1835–93) American Episcopal Clergyman, Author
A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.
—Chinese Proverb
Having leveled my palace, don’t erect a hovel and complacently admire your own charity in giving me that for a home.
—Emily Bronte (1818–48) English Novelist, Poet
Charitable people silence the complaints of the poor. God says to these pious ones: “By your liberality you reconcile the poor man with Myself; you make peace between us”.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Nothing truly can be termed my own, but what I make my own by using well; those deeds of charity which we have done, shall stay forever with us; and that wealth which we have so bestowed, we only keep; the other is not ours.
—Conyers Middleton (1683–1750) English Clergyman, Theologian
Just as an ocean is filled by great rivers which are full, the dedicated charity dispensed here is received by the deceased.
—Buddhist Teaching
When one dispenses a charity to the excellent one, his excellent merit multiplies. So also are his age, complexion, rank, honour, happiness and strength.
—Buddhist Teaching
The noblest of all charities is in enabling the poor to earn a livelihood.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
I would have none of that rigid and circumspect charity which is never exercised without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the reality of the necessities laid open to it.
—Jean Baptiste Massillon (1663–1742) French Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Charity begins at home and justice begins next door.
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
To give is to receive…
—Gerald Jampolsky (b.1925) American Psychiatrist
It is more agreeable to have the power to give than to receive.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
He gives all who gives a dwelling place. He gives Immorality who gives instructions of Righteousness.
—Buddhist Teaching
God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
Never let your zeal outrun your charity. The former is but human, the latter is divine.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
Charity is the salt of riches.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
It is better to lend than to give. To give employment is better than either.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
He who bestows his goods upon the poor shall have as much again, and ten times more.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
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
He who performs a single good action gains for himself an Advocate, and he who commits a single sin procures for himself an Accuser.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
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
While you have a thing it can be taken from you… but when you give it, you have given it. No robber can take it from you. It is yours then for ever when you have given it. It will be yours always. That is to give.
—James Joyce (1882–1941) Irish Novelist, Poet
The best loved by God are those that are rich, yet have the humility of the poor, and those that are poor and have the magnanimity of the rich.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
Happiness is not so much in having as sharing. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
—Norman MacEwen (1881–1953) British Military Leader
The house that does not open to the poor will open to the physician.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
They take the paper and they read the headlines. So they’ve heard of unemployment and they’ve heard of bread-lines. And they philanthropically cure them all by getting up a costume charity ball.
—Ogden Nash (1902–71) American Writer of Sophisticated Light Verse
If rich men would remember that shrouds have no pockets, they would, while living, share their wealth with their children, and give for the good of others, and so know the highest pleasure wealth can give.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
He who has never denied himself for the sake of giving, has but glanced at the joys of charity.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
In charity to all mankind, bearing no malice or ill-will to any human being, and even compassionating those who hold in bondage their fellow-men, not knowing what they do.
—John Quincy Adams (1767–1848) Sixth President of the USA
When people grow gradually rich their requirements and standard of living expand in proportion, while their present-giving instincts often remain in the undeveloped condition of their earlier days. Something showy and not-too-expensive in a shop is their only conception of the ideal gift.
—Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) (1870–1916) British Short Story Writer, Satirist, Historian
To have joy one must share it. Happiness was born a twin.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Every genuinely benevolent person loathes almsgiving and mendicity.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Four dispositions are found among those who bestow charity. There is he who is willing to give, but does not wish others to give: he has an envious eye towards others. There is he who wishes others to give, but who will not give himself: he has an evil eye towards himself. He who is willing to give and wishes others to give also, is a pious man. He who neither gives himself nor wishes others to give, is a wicked man.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Blessed is he who gives from his substance to the poor; twice blessed he who accompanies his gift with kind, comforting words.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
When faith and hope fail, as they do sometimes, we must try charity, which is love in action. We must speculate no more on our duty, but simply do it. When we have done it, however blindly, perhaps Heaven will show us why.
—Dinah Craik (1826–87) British Novelist, Essayist, Poet
Charity and personal force are the only investments worth anything.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
When the world is consumed by the fires of old age and death, take out your (worldly) things by way of charity. Those given are safely taken out and result in happiness, while those not given are not so.
—Buddhist Teaching
Our kindly deeds and our generous gifts go to heaven as messengers, and plead for us before our heavenly Father.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The place of charity, like that of God, is everywhere. Proportion thy charity to the strength of thine estate, lest God proportion thine estate to the weakness of thy charity. — Let the lips of the poor be the trumpet of thy gift, lest in seeking applause, thou lose thy reward. — Nothing is more pleasing to God than an open hand, and a closed mouth.
—Francis Quarles (1592–1644) English Religious Poet
Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Charity is a virtue of the heart, and not of the hands.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Present happiness is the result of charity and other merits previously done. This can be seen in a tree which bears fruit at its top after the roots have been watered.
—Buddhist Teaching
Spending alms and practising benevolence exceed in importance all the other laws of the Torah.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
—Edith Wharton (1862–1937) American Novelist, Short-story Writer
Charity sees the need, not the cause.
—German Proverb
The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much it is whether we provide enough for those who have little.
—Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882–1945) American Head of State, Lawyer
It is our duty to relieve the poor and the needy, to visit the sick and bury the dead without distinction of race or creed.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision.
—Ayn Rand (1905–82) Russian-born American Novelist, Philosopher, Playwright, Screenwriter
Whosoever engages in the study of the Law, and does not practise benevolence, is to be compared to a man who has no God.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Let him who neglects to raise the fallen, fear lest, when he falls, no one will stretch out his hand to lift him up.
—Sa’Di (Musharrif Od-Din Muslih Od-Din) (c.1213–91) Persian Poet
A man that only translates, shall never be a poet: nor a painter, that only copies; nor a swimmer, that swims always with bladders; so people that trust wholly to others’ charity, and without industry of their own, will always be poor.
—William Temple (1881–1944) British Clergyman, Theologian
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
The world stands on three things: on Law, Labor, and Benevolence.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Give a lot, expect a lot, and if you don’t get it, prune.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author
The practice of beneficence will assure the maintenance of one’s possessions.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Be charitable before wealth makes thee covetous.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
In faith and hope the world will disagree, but all mankind’s concern is charity.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
A bone to the dog is not charity. Charity is the bone shared with the dog, when you are just as hungry as the dog.
—Jack London (1876–1916) American Novelist
Good deeds are better than creeds.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
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
A man who sees another man on the street corner with only a stump for an arm will be so shocked the first time he’ll give him sixpence. But the second time it’ll only be a three penny bit. And if he sees him a third time, he’ll have him cold-bloodedly handed over to the police.
—Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) German Poet, Playwright, Theater Personality
If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Charity creates a multitude of sins.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Man possesses three sorts of friends in this world: his children, his wealth, and his Good Works.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
To whom much has been given, much is expected.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The big print giveth, and the fine print taketh away.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.
—Amy Carmichael (1867–1951) British Protestant Missionary
Even he who lives upon charity should practise benevolence.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
The merit of charitable works is in proportion to the grace with which they are practiced.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Charity is more valuable than sacrifices, and alone equals the exercise of all religious forms.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Charity is injurious unless it helps the recipient to become independent of it.
—John D. Rockefeller (1839-1937) American Oil Magnate, Philanthropist
He who is continually struggling with poverty is often enticed, on account of his sufferings, to murmur against an all-wise Providence. He frequently thinks: “Am I not also God’s creature? Why does there exist such difference between me and the wealthy? He sleeps quietly in his splendid mansion, and I have to lie in my miserable hut; he sleeps in his soft bed, and I am obliged to take my rest on the hard floor”.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
—Unknown
Iron breaks stone; fire melts iron; water extinguishes fire; the clouds consume water; the storm dispels clouds; man withstands the storm; fear conquers man; wine banishes fear; sleep overcomes wine, and death is the master of sleep; but “Charity,” says Solomon, “saves from death”.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
When you give of your possessions, you give but little; it is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.
—Elizabeth Bibesco (1897–1945) English Poet, Short Story Writer, Novelist
We are rich only through what we give; and poor only through what we refuse and keep.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer