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
Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting.
—Elizabeth Bibesco (1897–1945) English Poet, Short Story Writer, Novelist
Give, and you may keep your friend it you lose your money; lend, and the chances are that you lose your friend if ever you get back your money
—Edward Bulwer-Lytton, 1st Baron Lytton (1803–73) British Novelist, Poet, Politician
I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
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
Did universal charity prevail, earth would be a heaven, and hell a fable.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
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
There is only one real deprivation, I decided this morning, and that is not to be able to give one’s gifts to those one loves most.
—May Sarton (1912–95) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Novelist
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
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
Giving opens the way for receiving.
—Florence Scovel Shinn (1871–1940) American Illustrator, Spiritual Writer
Behold! I do not give lectures on a little charity. When I give, I give myself.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
A hug is the perfect gift—one size fits all, and nobody minds if you exchange it.
—Ivern Ball (1926–92) American Writer, Aphorist
You can give without loving, but you can’t love without giving.
—Amy Carmichael (1867–1951) British Protestant Missionary
When you’re nice to people, they want to be nice back to you.
—Jack Canfield (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
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
The most exquisite pleasure is giving pleasure to others.
—Jean de La Bruyere (1645–96) French Satiric Moralist, Author
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 have joy one must share it. Happiness was born a twin.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Share weight and woe, for misfortune falls with double force on him that stands alone.
—Baltasar Gracian (1601–58) Spanish Scholar, Prose Writer
Doing good is the only certainly happy action of a man’s life.
—Philip Sidney (1554–86) English Soldier Poet, Courtier
It is by teaching that we teach ourselves, by relating that we observe, by affirming that we examine, by showing that we look, by writing that we think, by pumping that we draw water into the well.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Don’t be reluctant to give of yourself generously, it’s the mark of caring and compassion and personal greatness.
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Sow good services; sweet remembrances will grow from them.
—Anne Louise Germaine de Stael (1766–1817) French Woman of Letters
It is better to give than receive- especially advice.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
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
The more you praise and celebrate your life, the more there is in life to celebrate.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
D’ye think I’m in business for my health? How often have you heard that? Every time I hear it I conclude that the man doesn’t know what he is in business for. What are we in business for? We are in business to benefit others. If we are not, then our business won’t prosper permanently. All business is a matter of reciprocity, of giving something in exchange for something else. Unless we give, we cannot receive. And the man or concern that gives us most naturally gets most in return. He reaps most who serves most. The most notably successful businesses are those that have rendered signally valuable services to the people.
—B. C. Forbes (1880–1954) Scottish-born American Journalist, Publisher
Living in the moment brings you a sense of reverence for all of life’s blessings.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
The real secret of happiness is not what you have or what you receive; it’s what you share
—Indian Proverb
A check or credit card, a Gucci bag strap, anything of value will do. Give as you live.
—Jesse Jackson (b.1941) American Baptist Civil Rights Activist, Minister
Giving is better than receiving because giving starts the receiving process.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing.
—Indian Proverb
Every charitable act is a stepping stone towards heaven.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
What I know for sure is that if you want success, you can’t make success your goal. The key is not to worry about being successful, but to instead work toward being significant, and the success will naturally follow.
—Oprah Winfrey (b.1954) American TV Personality
Complete possession is proved only by giving. All you are unable to give possesses you.
—Andre Gide (1869–1951) French Novelist
He that has no charity deserves no mercy.
—English Proverb
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
Thank the Lord that you can give, instead of depending on others to give to you.
—Anonymous
If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.
—Arabic Proverb
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
You can’t get rid of poverty by giving people money.
—P. J. O’Rourke (1947–2022) American Journalist, Political Satirist
Happiness… consists in giving, and in serving others.
—Henry Drummond
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
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
I wonder if it isn’t just cowardice instead of generosity that makes us give tips.
—Will Rogers (1879–1935) American Actor, Rancher, Humorist
In faith and hope the world will disagree, but all mankind’s concern is charity.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
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
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
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