God ordains that beggars should beg for greatness, as for all else, when greatness shines out of them, and they don’t know it.
—Georges Bernanos (1888–1948) French Author
It is normal to give away a little of one’s life in order not to lose it all.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
True charity is the desire to be useful to others without thought of recompense
—Emanuel Swedenborg (1688–1772) Swedish Mystic, Theologian, Scientist
Giving is true having.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
The charitable give out the door and God puts it back through the window.
—Common Proverb
When you’re nice to people, they want to be nice back to you.
—Jack Canfield (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
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
Never let your zeal outrun your charity. The former is but human, the latter is divine.
—Hosea Ballou (1771–1852) American Theologian
I love my fellow creatures—I do all the good I can—yet everybody says I’m such a disagreeable man!
—W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) English Dramatist, Librettist, Poet, Illustrator
Our true acquisitions lie only in our charities, we gain only as we give.
—William Gilmore Simms (1806–70) American Poet, Novelist, Historian
Charity gives itself rich; covetousness hoards itself poor.
—German Proverb
It is rare indeed that people give. Most people guard and keep; they suppose that it is they themselves and what they identify with themselves that they are guarding and keeping, whereas what they are actually guarding and keeping is their system of reality and what they assume themselves to be.
—James Baldwin (1924–87) American Novelist, Social Critic
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.
—Elizabeth Bibesco (1897–1945) English Poet, Short Story Writer, Novelist
Are there not thousands in the world who love their fellows even to the death, who feel the giant agony of the world, and more, like slaves to poor humanity, labor for mortal good?
—John Keats (1795–1821) English Poet
Behold, I do not give lectures or a little charity, When I give, I give myself.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Trust not the horse, O Trojans. Be it what it may, I fear the Grecians even when they offer gifts.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
Give a lot, expect a lot, and if you don’t get it, prune.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author
Charity makes no decrease in property.
—Arabic Proverb
I have always heard, Sancho, that doing good to base fellows is like throwing water into the sea.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
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
Give work rather than alms to the poor. The former drives out indolence, the latter industry.
—Tryon Edwards American Theologian
To give requires good sense.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
—Unknown
Public charities and benevolent associations for the gratuitous relief of every species of distress, are peculiar to Christianity; no other system of civil or religious policy has originated them; they form its highest praise and characteristic feature.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
The charities of life are scattered everywhere, enameling the vales of human beings as the flowers paint the meadows. They are not the fruit of study, nor the privilege of refinement, but a natural instinct.
—George Bancroft (1800–91) American Historian, Politician
The last, best fruit that comes late to perfection, even in the kindliest soul, is tenderness toward the hard, forbearance toward the unforbearing, warmth of heart toward the cold, and philanthropy toward the misanthropic.
—Jean Paul (1763–1825) German Novelist, Humorist
Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Charity is more valuable than sacrifices, and alone equals the exercise of all religious forms.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
He that bringeth a present findeth the door open.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
The noblest of all charities is in enabling the poor to earn a livelihood.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
One man gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
Give, and it shall be given unto you.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
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
It is like the seed put in the soil—the more one sows, the greater the harvest.
—Orison Swett Marden (1850–1924) American New Thought Writer, Physician, Entrepreneur
Posthumous charities are the very essence of selfishness, when bequeathed by those who, when alive, would part with nothing.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
To whom much has been given, much is expected.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
In charity there is no excess.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
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
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me. I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
—Unknown
One of the serious obstacles to the improvement of our race is indiscriminate charity.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
He gives all who gives a dwelling place. He gives Immorality who gives instructions of Righteousness.
—Buddhist Teaching
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
In faith and hope the world will disagree, but all mankind’s concern is charity.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
In bestowing charity, the main consideration: should be to help those who will help themselves; to provide part of the means by which those who desire to improve may do so; to give those who desire to rise the aids by which they may rise; to assist, but rarely or never to do all. Neither the individual nor the race is improved by almsgiving. Those worthy of assistance, except in rare cases, seldom require assistance. The really valuable men of the race never do, except in case of accident or sudden change. Every one has, of course, cases of individuals brought to his own knowledge where temporary assistance can do genuine good, and these he will not overlook. But the amount which can be wisely given by the individual for individuals is necessarily limited by his lack of knowledge of the circumstances connected with each. He is the only true reformer who is as care ful and as anxious not to aid the unworthy as he is to aid the worthy, and, perhaps, even more so, for in almsgiving more injury is probably done by rewarding vice than by relieving virtue.
The rich man is thus almost restricted to following the examples of…others, who know that the best means of benefiting the community is to place within its reach the ladders upon which the aspiring can rise: free libraries, parks, and means of recreation, by which men are helped in body and mind; works of art, certain to give pleasure and improve the public taste; and public institutions of various kinds, which will improve the general condition of the people; in this manner returning their surplus wealth to the mass of their fellows in the forms best calculated to do them lasting good.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Charity. To love human beings in so far as they are nothing. That is to love them as God does.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.
—Corrie Ten Boom (1892–1983) Dutch Jewish Humanist