The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
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
Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.
—Helen Keller (1880–1968) American Author
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
The point to remember is that when you blame any outside force for any of your experience of life, you are literally giving away all your power and thus creating pain, paralysis and depression.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
It is the individual who is not interested in his fellow men who has the greatest difficulties in life and provides the greatest injury to others. It is from among such individuals that all human failures spring.
—Alfred Adler (1870–1937) Austrian Psychiatrist
The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
In faith and hope the world will disagree, but all mankind’s concern is charity.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.
—Amy Carmichael (1867–1951) British Protestant Missionary
The human being who lives only for himself finally reaps nothing but unhappiness. Selfishness corrodes. Unselfishness ennobles, satisfies. Don’t put off the joy derivable from doing helpful, kindly things for others.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Life is ever giving of Itself. We must receive, utilize and extend the gift. Success and prosperity are spiritual attributes belonging to all people.
—Ernest Holmes (1887–1960) American New Thought Writer, Teacher
A gift much expected is paid, not given.
—George Herbert (1593–1633) Welsh Anglican Poet, Orator, Clergyman
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
No one has ever become poor by giving.
—Anne Frank (1929–45) Holocaust Victim
All altruism springs from putting yourself in the other person’s place.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
The experiences of camp life show that a man does have a choice of action. There were enough examples, often of a heroic nature, which proved that apathy could be overcome, irritability suppressed. Man can preserve a vestige of spiritual freedom, of independence of mind, even in such terrible conditions of psychic and physical stress. We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken away from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way. The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the suffering it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, gives him ample opportunity—even in the most difficult circumstances—to add a deeper meaning to life.
—Viktor Frankl (1905–97) Austrian Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist
To give is to receive…
—Gerald Jampolsky (b.1925) American Psychiatrist
Not what we give, but what we share,– For the gift without the giver is bare.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
If I can stop one heart from breaking,
I shall not live in vain;
If I can ease one life the aching,
Or cool one pain,
Or help one fainting robin
Unto his nest again,
I shall not live in vain.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
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
What boundary ever set limits to the service of mankind?
—Claudian (c.370–c.404 CE) Roman Poet
The mortal sickness of a mind too unhappy to be kind.
—A. E. Housman (1859–1936) English Poet, Classical Scholar
True religion is not a mere doctrine, something that can be taught, but is a way of life. A life in community with God. It must be experienced to be appreciated. A life of service. A living by giving and finding one’s own happiness by bringing happiness into the lives of others.
—William J. H. Boetcker (1873–1962) American Presbyterian Minister
As the purse is emptied, the heart is filled.
—Victor Hugo (1802–85) French Novelist
The greatest grace of a gift, perhaps, is that it anticipates and admits of no return.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
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
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
To have joy one must share it. Happiness was born a twin.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though it were his own.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
We are rich only through what we give; and poor only through what we refuse and keep.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
When you cease to make a contribution, you begin to die.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
Unless we give part of ourselves away, unless we can live with other people and understand them and help them, we are missing the most essential part of our own lives.
—Harold Taylor
The habit of being uniformly considerate toward others will bring increased happiness to you.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
Why you are born and why you are living depend entirely on what you are getting out of this world and what you are giving to it. I cannot prove that this is a balance of mathematical perfection, but my own observation of life leads me to the conclusion that there is a very real relationship, both quantitatively and qualitatively, between what you contribute and what you get out of this world.
—Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960) American Songwriter, Composer, Theater Producer, Writer
If you would take, you must first give, this is the beginning of intelligence.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
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
There is a magnet in your heart that will attract true friends. That magnet is unselfishness, thinking of others first … when you learn to live for others, they will live for you.
—Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) Indian Hindu Mystic, Religious Leader, Philosopher, Teacher
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
The big print giveth, and the fine print taketh away.
—Fulton J. Sheen (1895–1979) American Catholic Religious Leader, Theologian
To receive everything, one must open one’s hands and give.
—Taisen Deshimaru (1914–82) Japanese Buddhist Teacher
Life cannot subsist in society but by reciprocal concessions.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
When we let someone be who they are without trying to change them, that is giving away love. When we trust that someone can handle his or her own life, and act accordingly, that is giving away love.
—Susan Jeffers (1938–2012) American Psychologist, Self-Help Author
I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited, whereas imagination embraces the entire world, stimulating progress, giving birth to evolution.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.
—Hada Bejar
Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
I know some good marriages — marriages where both people are just trying to get through their days by helping each other, being good to each other.
—Erica Jong (b.1942) American Novelist, Feminist
A man who gives his children habits of industry provides for them better than by giving them a fortune.
—Richard Whately (1787–1863) English Philosopher, Theologian
We not only need to be willing to give, but also to be open to receiving from others.
—Anonymous
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.
—Elizabeth Bibesco (1897–1945) English Poet, Short Story Writer, Novelist
Whoever makes great presents expects great presents in return.
—Martial (40–104) Ancient Roman Latin Poet
Make yourself necessary to somebody.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
It is enough that I am of value to somebody today.
—Hugh Prather (b.1938) American Christian Author, Minister, Counselor
LIFE’S MIRROR
There are loyal hearts, there are spirits brave,
There are souls that are pure and true,
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.
Give love, and love to your life will flow,
A strength in your utmost need,
Have faith, and a score of hearts will show
Their faith in your word and deed.
Give truth, and your gift will be paid in kind;
And honor will honor meet;
And a smile that is sweet will surely find
A smile that is just as sweet.
Give pity and sorrow to those who mourn,
You will gather in flowers again
The scattered seeds from your thoughts outborne
Though the sowing seemed but vain.
For life is the mirror of king and slave,
‘Tis just what we are and do;
Then give to the world the best you have,
And the best will come back to you.
—Mary Ainge de Vere (Madeline S. Bridges) (1844–1920) American Poet, Author
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
An effort made for the happiness of others lifts us above ourselves.
—Lydia Maria Child (1802–80) American Abolitionist, Writer
The greatest happiness in the world is to make others happy.
—Luther Burbank (1849–1926) American Botanist, Scientist
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
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
The sage never tries to store things up. The more he does for others, the more he has. The more he gives to others, the greater his abundance.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
Give a lot, expect a lot, and if you don’t get it, prune.
—Tom Peters (b.1942) American Management Consultant, Author
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
Whenever I hear people talking about liberal ideas, I am always astounded that men should love to fool themselves with empty sounds. An idea should never be liberal; it must be vigorous, positive, and without loose ends so that it may fulfill its divine mission and be productive. The proper place for liberality is in the realm of the emotions.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
—Unknown
If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.
—Arabic Proverb
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
A hug is the perfect gift–one size fits all, and nobody minds if you exchange it.
—Ivern Ball (1926–92) American Writer, Aphorist
Doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man’s life.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
Share weight and woe, for misfortune falls with double force on him that stands alone.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
A man there was, and they called him mad; the more he gave, the more he had.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
The race of mankind would perish, did they cease to aid each other. From the time that the mother binds the child’s head till the moment that some kind assistant wipes the death-damp from the brow of the dying, we cannot exist without mutual help. All, therefore, that need aid have a right to ask it from their fellow-mortals; no one who holds the power of granting can refuse it without guilt.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
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
The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of oneself to others.
—Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881–1955) French Jesuit Philosopher, Paleontologist
I would like to believe when I die that I have given myself away like a tree that sows seed every spring and never counts the loss, because it is not loss, it is adding to future life. It is the tree’s way of being. Strongly rooted perhaps, but spilling out its treasure on the wind.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
God has given us two hands, one to receive with and the other to give with.
—Billy Graham (1918–91) American Baptist Religious Leader
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
If we could all hear one another’s prayers, God might be relieved of some of his burdens.
—Ashleigh Brilliant (b.1933) British Cartoonist, Author
A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.
—Chinese Proverb
The dedicated life is the life worth living. You must give with your whole heart.
—Annie Dillard (b.1945) Essayist, Novelist, Poet, Naturalist, Mystic
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
Pleasure is a reciprocal; no one feels it who does not at the same time give it. To be pleased, one must please.
—Earl of Chesterfield (1694–1773) English Statesman, Man of Letters
Hail thy brother’s boat across, and lo! thine own has reached the shore.
—Indian Proverb