Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.
—Marian Wright Edelman (b.1939) American Civil Regrets Advocate, Humanitarian, Lawyer
It is one of the beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another, without helping himself.
—Gamaliel Bailey (1807–59) American Journalist
Do something for somebody, gladly, twill sweeten your every care; In sharing the sorrow of others Your own are less hard to bear. Do something for somebody always, whatever may be your creed. There’s nothing on earth can help you so much as a kindly deed.
—Unknown
There remain times when one can only endure. One lives on, one doesn’t die, and the only thing that one can do, is to fill one’s mind and time as far as possible with the concerns of other people. It doesn’t bring immediate peace, but it brings the dawn nearer.
—A. C. Benson (1862–1925) English Essayist, Poet, Academic
Every day use your magic to be of service to others.
—Marcia Wieder
Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people are always asking, “What’s in it for me?”
—Brian Tracy (b.1944) American Author, Motivational Speaker
Charity: a thing that begins at home, and usually stays there.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
We, the people, elect leaders not to rule but to serve.
—Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890–1969) American Head of State, Military Leader
I am convinced that the best service a retired general can perform is to turn in his tongue along with his suit, and to mothball his opinions.
—Omar Bradley (1893–1981) American Military Leader
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
Often we can help each other most by leaving each other alone; at other times we need the hand-grasp and the word of cheer.
—Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) American Writer, Publisher, Artist, Philosopher
There is no cause half so sacred as the cause of a people.
There is no idea so uplifting as the idea of the service of humanity.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
Charity looks at the need, not at the cause.
—German Proverb
Happiness… consists in giving, and in serving others.
—Henry Drummond
A volunteer is a person who can see what others cannot see; who can feel what most do not feel. Often, such gifted persons do not think of themselves as volunteers, but as citizens – citizens in the fullest sense: partners in civilization.
—George H. W. Bush (1924–2018) American Republican Statesman, 41st President
If you want to love you must serve, if you want freedom you must die.
—Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel (1770–1831) German Philosopher
Consciously or unconsciously, every one of us does render some service or other. If we cultivate the habit of doing this service deliberately, our desire for service will steadily grow stronger, and will make not only for our own happiness but that of the world at large.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
In this world we must help one another.
—Jean de La Fontaine (1621–95) French Poet, Short Story Writer
Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
—Colin Powell (1937–2021) American Military Leader
To give oneself is the only way of becoming oneself.
—Earl Nightingale (1921–89) American Motivational Speaker, Author
The cook was a good cook, as cooks go; and as cooks go, she went.
—Saki (Hector Hugh Munro) (1870–1916) British Short Story Writer, Satirist, Historian
Never stop serving your customers. They’ll love you for it.
—Unknown
The only certain means of success is to render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
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
He who endeavors to serve, to benefit, and improve the world, is like a swimmer, who struggles against a rapid current, in a river lashed into angry waves by the wind. Often they roar over his head, often they beat him back and baffle him. Most men yield to the stress of the current. Only here and there the stout, strong heart and vigorous arms struggle on towards ultimate success.
—Albert Pike (1809–91) American Masonic Scholar, Orator, Jurist
Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
The mortal sickness of a mind too unhappy to be kind.
—A. E. Housman (1859–1936) English Poet, Classical Scholar
Man becomes great exactly in the degree in which he works for the welfare of his fellow-men.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
It is when we forget ourselves that we do things which will be remembered.
—Unknown