Who gives me a little gift, he wishes that I live.
—Indian Proverb
Gifts reflect those who give them.
—Chinese Proverb
The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
He that parts with his property before his death prepares himself for much suffering.
—French Proverb
God waits to win back his own flowers as gifts from man’s hands.
—Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) Bengali Poet, Polymath
There is a gift that is almost a blow, and there is a kind word that is munilicence; so much is there in the way of doing things.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) English Dramatist, Essayist
Love is, above all, the gift of oneself.
—Jean Anouilh (1910–87) French Dramatist
A gift, its kind, its value, and appearance; the silence or the pomp that attends it; the style in which it reaches you, may decide the dignity or vulgarity of the giver.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
When a friend asks, there is no tomorrow.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
A gift consists not in what is done or given, but in the intention of the giver or doer.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
The best gift a father can give to his son is the gift of himself—his time. For material things mean little, if there is not someone to share them with.
—Unknown
May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!
—Unknown
The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Nothing is so strongly fortified that it cannot be taken by money.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Gifts make their way through stone walls.
—Common Proverb
Pleasure is spread through the earth. In stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.
—William Wordsworth (1770–1850) English Poet
A wise lover values not so much the gift of the lover as the love of the giver.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
Who gives a trifle meanly is meaner than the trifle.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) Swiss Theologian, Poet
Presents, I often say, endear absents.
—Charles Lamb (1775–1834) British Essayist, Poet
He gives not best who gives most; but he gives most who gives best.—If I cannot give bountifully, yet I will give freely, and what I want in my hand, I will supply by my heart.
—Arthur Warwick
One does not give a gift without a motive.
—African Proverb
I give a present to the mother but I think of the daughter.
—German Proverb
We make big promises to avoid little presents.
—French Proverb
Present to the eye, present to the mind.
—Chinese Proverb
It is the will, and not the gift that makes the giver.
—Gotthold Ephraim Lessing (1729–81) German Writer, Philosopher
Every gift, though it be small, is in reality great if given with affection.
—Pindar (c.518–c.438 BCE) Greek Lyric Poet
When you reject gifts from heaven you will be rewarded in hell.
—Japanese Proverb
What you are is God’s gift to you, what you do with yourself is your gift to God.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
Take all that is given whether wealth, love or language, nothing comes by mistake and with good digestion all can be turned to health.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
Rings and jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
One must be poor to know the luxury of giving.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
I tell myself that God gave my children many gifts—spirit, beauty, intelligence, the capacity to make friends and to inspire respect. There was only one gift he held back—length of life.
—Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (1890–1995) American Philanthropist, Socialite
If you give a gift to a rich man, the devil sniggers.
—French Proverb
To reveal its complacence by gifts, is one of the native dialects of love.
—Lydia H. Sigourney (1791–1865) American Poetaster, Author
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
—William Arthur Ward (1921–94) American Author
To perceive Christmas through its wrappings becomes more difficult with every year.
—E. B. White (1985–99) American Essayist, Humorist
We should give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
He who loves with purity considers not the gift of the lover, but the love of the giver.
—Thomas a Kempis (1379–1471) German Religious Priest, Writer
The secret of giving affectionately is great and rare; it requires address to do it well; otherwise we lose instead of deriving benefit from it.
—Pierre Corneille (1606–84) French Poet, Dramatist
If, instead of a gem or even a flower, we could cast the gift of a lovely thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.
—George MacDonald (1824–1905) Scottish Novelist, Lecturer, Poet
Gifts, believe me, captivate both men and Gods, Jupiter himself was won over and appeased by gifts.
—Ovid (Publius Ovidius Naso) (c.43 BCE–c.18 CE) Roman Poet
Small gifts maintain friendship, big ones maintain love.
—French Proverb
Gifts dissolve rocks.
—Common Proverb
To receive gifts is to lose freedom.
—Anonymous
A gift blinds the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Mankind must remember that peace is not God’s gift to his creatures; peace is our gift to each other.
—Elie Wiesel (b.1928) Romanian-born American Writer, Professor, Political Activist
When thou makest presents, let them be of such things as will last long; to the end they may be in some sort immortal, and may frequently refresh the memory of the receiver.
—Thomas Fuller (1608–61) English Cleric, Historian
Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Small gifts go to places where men expect bigger ones.
—Russian Proverb