quotations about giving
How can that gift leave a trace, which has left no void?
MADAME SWETCHINE
"Airelles,", The Writings of Madame Swetchine
Good gifts come from God; He employs good men to bestow them.
AL-MISRI
attributed, Day's Collacon
Giving is a journey, a calling, a way of living. It's not a separate part of life--it is life, turning your beliefs and values into action and impact.
LAURA ARRILLAGA-ANDREESSEN
LAURA ARRILLAGA-ANDREESSEN
Not what we give, but what we share,
For the gift without the giver is bare.
JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL
"The Vision of Sir Launfal"
Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Hamlet
To be a philanthropist means we must first be generous to ourselves before we can give fully of ourself to others.
TONY WELLER
attributed, A Passion for Giving: Tools and Inspiration for Creating a Charitable Foundation
If nature has made you for a giver, your hands are born open, and so is your heart; and though there may be times when your hands are empty, your heart is always full, and you can give things out of that--warm things, kind things, sweet things--help and comfort and laughter.
FRANCES HODGSON BURNETT
A Little Princess
He ne'er considered it as loth
To look a gift-horse in the mouth,
And very wisely would lay forth
No more upon it than 'twas worth;
But as he got it freely, so
He spent it frank and freely too:
For saints themselves will sometimes be,
Of gifts that cost them nothing, free.
SAMUEL BUTLER
Hudibras
The gifts of enemies are no gifts, and are fraught with mischief.
SOPHOCLES
attributed, Day's Collacon
Gifts make beggars bold.
T. M. EBERWEIN
attributed, Day's Collacon
Rare gift! but oh, what gift to fools avails!
HOMER
The Odyssey
Giving is our seed-faith to God. Multiplying a miracle harvest back is God's commitment to us.
SHELVIE BIRCHFIELD
Giving and Receiving by Faith
He that bestows a gift should forget it; he that receives one, should ever hold it in remembrance.
SOLON
attributed, Day's Collacon
It is more blessed to give than to receive.
BIBLE
Acts 20:35
It's not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.
MOTHER TERESA
Where There Is Love, There Is God
Gifts always weigh like mountains on a sensitive heart; to some they are oftener punishments than pleasures.
MME. FEE
attributed, Day's Collacon
Give an inch, he'll take an ell.
THOMAS HOBBES
Liberty and Necessity
Who gives is positive; who receives is negative; still there remains an immense class of mere passives.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Every gift which is given, even though it be small, is in reality great, if it be given with affection.
PINDARUS
attributed, Day's Collacon
The gifts of a bad man bring no good with them.
EURIPIDES
Medea