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
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
Nothing so much enhances a good as to make sacrifices for it.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.
—Arabic Proverb
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
I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this Government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
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
If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
A fortune is usually the greatest of misfortunes to children. It takes the muscles out of the limbs, the brain out of the head, and virtue out of the heart. In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
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
Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
Self-sacrifice is the real miracle out of which all the reported miracles grow.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
No fine work can be done without concentration and self-sacrifice and toil and doubt.
—Max Beerbohm (1872–1956) British Essayist, Caricaturist, Novelist
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
—Albert Pike (1809–91) American Masonic Scholar, Orator, Jurist
The same people who can deny others everything are famous for refusing themselves nothing.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Self-denial is not a virtue, it is only the effect of prudence on rascality.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
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
You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) American Head of State
Only he can understand what a farm is, what a country is, who shall have sacrificed part of himself to his farm or country, fought to save it, struggled to make it beautiful. Only then will the love of farm or country fill his heart.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
How much easier is self-sacrifice than self-realization!
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: “What are you doing for others?”
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
It is a clear gain to sacrifice pleasure in order to avoid pain.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
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
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
In the sphere of material things, giving means being rich. Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
There is no moral authority like that of sacrifice.
—Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014) South African Novelist, Short-Story Writer
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
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
Sacrifice is nothing other than the production of sacred things.
—Georges Bataille (1897–1962) French Essayist, Intellectual
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