Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness—great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
No fine work can be done without concentration and self-sacrifice and toil and doubt.
—Max Beerbohm (1872–1956) British Essayist, Caricaturist, Novelist
The men and women who have the right ideals … are those who have the courage to strive for the happiness which comes only with labor and effort and self-sacrifice, and those whose joy in life springs in part from power of work and sense of duty.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Non-cooperation is a measure of discipline and sacrifice, and it demands respect for the opposite views.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
It is a clear gain to sacrifice pleasure in order to avoid pain.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) American Head of State
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
The stern hand of fate has scourged us to an elevation where we can see the great everlasting things which matter for a nation—the great peaks we had forgotten, of Honor, Duty, Patriotism, and clad in glittering white, the great pinnacle of Sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to Heaven.
—David Lloyd George (1863–1945) British Liberal Statesman
Undoubtedly a man is to labor to better his condition, but first to better himself.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
The pig and the chicken were on their way to breakfast, trying to decide what to have. When chicken said, “Let’s have ham and eggs.” The pig then replied, “That’s fine for you, it’s a small donation on your part, but it’s a total sacrifice for me.”
—Unknown
We live very close together. So, our prime purpose in life is to help others. And if we can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.
—Arabic Proverb
The mice which helplessly find themselves between the cats teeth acquire no merit from their enforced sacrifice.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
The same people who can deny others everything are famous for refusing themselves nothing.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Sacrifice is nothing other than the production of sacred things.
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962) French Essayist, Intellectual
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart. O. When may it suffice?
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Irish Poet, Dramatist
To ease another’s heartache is to ease one’s own.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
Self-sacrifice enables us to sacrifice other people without blushing.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
There’s only one effectively redemptive sacrifice, the sacrifice of self-will to make room for the knowledge of God.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
About sacrifice and the offering of sacrifices, sacrificial animals think quite differently from those who look on: but they have never been allowed to have their say.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
There is a woman who spent her life loving that evil creature: she died. I’m sure she’s a saint in heaven right now. You are going to kill me the way he killed that woman.That is what’s in store for all of us who have unselfish hearts.
—Arthur Rimbaud (1854–91) French Poet, Adventurer
There is no moral authority like that of sacrifice.
—Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014) South African Novelist, Short-Story Writer
Our virtues are dearer to us the more we have had to suffer for them. It is the same with our children. All profound affection admits a sacrifice.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic