The measure of a life, after all, is not its duration, but its donation.
—Corrie Ten Boom (1892–1983) Dutch Jewish Humanist
With regard to donations always expect the most from prudent people, who keep their own accounts.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
He that has no charity deserves no mercy.
—English Proverb
The worst of charity is that the lives you are asked to preserve are not worth preserving.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
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
If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
I have somewhere met with the epitaph on a charitable man which has pleased me very much. I cannot recollect the words, but here is the sense of it: “What I spent I lost; what I possessed is left to others; what I gave away remains with me.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
To give up yourself without regret is the greatest charity.
—Buddhist Teaching
He is truly great who hath a great charity.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Philanthropy is almost the only virtue which is sufficiently appreciated by mankind.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Heart of my heart, were it more,
More would be laid at your feet.
—James Joyce (1882–1941) Irish Novelist, Poet
Nothing is so hard for those who abound in riches as to conceive how others can be in want.
—Jonathan Swift (1667–1745) Irish Satirist
You are much surer that you are doing good when you pay money to those who work, as the recompense of their labors, than when you give money merely in charity.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Charity begins at home, but should not end there.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
You cannot hold on to anything good. You must be continually giving—and getting. You cannot hold on to your seed. You must sow it—and reap anew. You cannot hold on to riches. You must use them and get other riches in return.
—Robert Collier (1885–1950) American Self-Help Author
While actions are always to be judged by the immutable standard of right and wrong, the judgments we pass upon men must be qualified by considerations of age, country, station, and other accidental circumstances; and it will then be found that he who is most charitable in his judgment is generally the least unjust.
—Robert South (1634–1716) English Theologian, Preacher
A rich man without charity is a rogue; and perhaps it would be no difficult matter to prove that he is also a fool.
—Henry Fielding (1707–54) English Novelist, Dramatist
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
The Liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Because they did not see merit where they should have seen it, people, to express their regret, will go and leave a lot of money to the very people who will be the first to throw stones at the next person who has anything to say and finds a difficulty in getting a hearing.
—Samuel Butler
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
If you continually give, you will continually have.
—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
He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
The organized charity, scrimped and iced, in the name of a cautious, statistical Christ.
—John Boyle O’Reilly (1844–90) Irish-American Journalist, Political Agitator
If you give money, spend yourself with it.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
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
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
With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in; to bind up the nations wounds; to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
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
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
The real secret of happiness is not what you have or what you receive; it’s what you share
—Indian Proverb
Giving is true having.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
When you’re nice to people, they want to be nice back to you.
—Jack Canfield (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
In charity there is no excess.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
The appalling thing is the degree of charity women are capable of. You see it all the time… love lavished on absolute fools. Love’s a charity ward, you know.
—Lawrence Durrell (1912–90) British Biographer, Poet, Playwright, Novelist
Seek joy in what you give not in what you get
—Unknown
As for charity, it is a matter in which the immediate effect on the persons directly concerned, and the ultimate consequence to the general good, are apt to be at complete war with one another.
—John Stuart Mill (1806–73) English Philosopher, Economist
Pity, forbearance, long-sufferance, fair interpretation, excusing our brother, and taking in the best sense, and passing the gentlest sentence, are certainly our duty; and he that does not so is an unjust person.
—Jeremy Taylor
Almsgiving tends to perpetuate poverty; aid does away with it once and for all. Almsgiving leaves a man just where he was before. Aid restores him to society as an individual worthy of all respect and not as a man with a grievance. Almsgiving is the generosity of the rich; social aid levels up social inequalities. Charity separates the rich from the poor; aid raises the needy and sets him on the same level with the rich.
—Eva Peron (1919–52) Argentinean Politician, Social Reformer
And now abide faith, hope and love; these three, but the greatest of these is love.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
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
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
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
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 better to lend than to give. To give employment is better than either.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Real unselfishness consists in sharing the interests of others.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher