Quotes about charity
103 quotes from 72 people
The measure of your life will not be in what you accumulate, but in what you give away.
If we do not lay out ourselves in the service of mankind whom should we serve?
Abigail Adams1744–1818Letter to John Thaxter (29 September 1778)
Scott Adams1957–2026“A Kind Word”, in DNRC Newsletter #9 (December 1995)Private beneficence is totally inadequate to deal with the vast numbers of the city’s disinherited.
Jane Addams1860–1935Twenty Years at Hull-House (1910), Ch. 14- AAli599–661Nahj al-Balagha
Isaac Asimov1920–1992I. Asimov: A Memoir (1994), Chapter 102, “Al Capp” (p. 311)There are people, who the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves.
J. M. Barrie1860–1937The Little White Bird (1902), Ch. 4Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.
O proud philanthropist, your hope is vain
To get by giving what you lost by gain.
Ambrose Bierce1842–1914Epigrams, p. 349. Previously appeared in “Small Contributions”, Cosmopolitan, Vol. 42, No. 6 (April 1907) p. 695.- Ambrose Bierce1842–1914The Devil’s Dictionary (1911)
William Blake1757–1827Jerusalem The Emanation of The Giant Albion (c. 1803–1820), Ch. 3, plate 55, line 60A man’s drive for profit should be prompted by the desire to give charity.
