What virtue is there in a man who demonstrates goodness because he has been bred to it? It is his habit from youth. But a man who has known unkindness and want, for him to be kind and charitable to those who have been the cause of his misfortunes, that is a virtuous man.

Help others without any reason and give without the expectation of receiving anything in return.

Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.

We know only too well that what we are doing is nothing more than a drop in the ocean. But if the drop were not there, the ocean would be missing something.

Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.

It’s easier to take than to give. It’s nobler to give than to take. The thrill of taking lasts a day. The thrill of giving lasts a lifetime.

Love cannot remain by itself—it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service.

Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.

“You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give.”

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

Wealth isn’t always measured in dollar signs. We each have time, talent and creativity, all of which can be powerful forces for positive change. Share your blessings in whatever form they come and to whatever level you have been blessed.

It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.

Happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.

While we do our good works let us not forget that the real solution lies in a world in which charity will have become unnecessary.

As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way.

Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.

The next time you want to withhold your help, or your love, or your support for another for whatever the reason, ask yourself a simple question: do the reasons you want to withhold it reflect more on them or on you? And which reasons do you want defining you forevermore?

The most precious thing I have to give is my time.

Money is not the only commodity that is fun to give. We can give time, we can give our expertise, we can give our love or simply give a smile. What does that cost? The point is, none of us can ever run out of something worthwhile to give.

No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.

“There could be no definition of a successful life that does not include service to others.”

Sometimes those who give the most are the ones with the least to spare.

Love is not patronizing and charity isn’t about pity, it is about love. Charity and love are the same—with charity you give love, so don’t just give money but reach out your hand instead.

We are not put on this earth for ourselves, but are placed here for each other. If you are there always for others, then in time of need, someone will be there for you.

Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all people are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all people and all countries—not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of humankind as civilized.

There is no better exercise for your heart than reaching down and helping to lift someone up.