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Self-giving


Self-giving

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Quotations

Ayn RandMan—every man—is an end in himself, not a means to the ends of others; he must live for his own sake, neither sacrificing himself to others nor sacrificing others to himself.

—  Ayn Rand, 1905-1982, American writer & philosopher

10 likes
Albert EinsteinOnly a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.

—  Albert Einstein, 1879-1955, German-Jewish physicist

9 likes
Wolfgang GoetheIt is ever true that he who does nothing for others, does nothing for himself.

—  Wolfgang Goethe, 1749-1832, German poet & philosopher

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Ayn RandI could die for you. But I couldn't, and wouldn't, live for you.

—  Ayn Rand, 1905-1982, American writer & philosopher

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Pablo PicassoThe meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.

—  Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973, Spanish painter

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Joseph CampbellA hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

—  Joseph Campbell, 1904-1987, American academic

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Stefan ZweigIt is never until one realizes that one means something to others that one feels there is any point or purpose in one's own existence.

—  Stefan Zweig, 1881-1942, Austrian writer

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George Bernard ShawIf you begin by sacrificing yourself to those you love, you will end by hating those to whom you have sacrificed yourself.

—  George Bernard Shaw, 1856-1950, Irish writer, Nobel 1925

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Ayn RandThe man who attempts to live for others is a dependent. He is a parasite in motive and makes parasites of those he serves. The relationship produces nothing but mutual corruption.

—  Ayn Rand, 1905-1982, American writer & philosopher

7 likes
CiceroWe are not born for ourselves alone; a part of us is claimed by our nation, another part by our friends.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

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Mahatma GandhiThe best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

—  Mahatma Gandhi, 1869-1948, Indian leader of independence

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Ayn RandI will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.

—  Ayn Rand, 1905-1982, American writer & philosopher

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Hermann HesseYouth ends when egotism does; maturity begins when one lives for others.

—  Hermann Hesse, 1877-1962, German writer, Nobel 1946

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Dr. Thomas Fuller He that plants Trees, loves others besides himself.

—  Dr. Thomas Fuller, 1654-1734,  English physician and adage collector

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RumiI am yours. Don’t give myself back to me.

—  Rumi, 1207-1273, Persian mystic & poet

3 likes
Eric HofferHow much easier is self-sacrifice than self-realization.

—  Eric Hoffer, 1902-1983, American writer & philosopher

3 likes
Ralph Waldo EmersonMake yourself necessary to somebody. Do not make life hard to any.

—  Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1884, American philosopher

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Ralph Waldo EmersonThe only gift is a portion of thyself.

—  Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1884, American philosopher

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William BlakeThe most sublime act is to set another before you.

—  William Blake, 1757-1827, English poet & painter

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Antonio PorchiaWhat we pay for with our lives never costs too much.

—  Antonio Porchia, 1885-1968, Italian-Argentinian poet

3 likes
Sigmund FreudWhoever loves becomes humble. Those who love have, so to speak, pawned a part of their narcissism.

—  Sigmund Freud, 1856-1939, Austrian psychologist, founder of psychoanalysis

3 likes
Bob MarleyLive for yourself and you will live in vain; Live for others, and you will live again.

—  Bob Marley, 1945-1981, Jamaican singer

3 likes
Karl LagerfeldDon’t sacrifice yourself too much, because if you sacrifice too much there’s nothing else you can give and nobody will care for you.

—  Karl Lagerfeld, 1933-2019, German fashion designer

2 likes
Ralph Waldo EmersonIt is easy to live for others, everybody does. I call on you to live for yourself.

—  Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1803-1884, American philosopher

2 likes
John DrydenAll have not the gift of martyrdom.

—  John Dryden, 1631-1700, English poet

2 likes
Jean AnouilhLove is, above all, the gift of oneself.

—  Jean Anouilh, 1910-1987, French playwright

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Martin Luther KingLife's most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”

—  Martin Luther King, 1929-1968, American leader in the Civil Rights Movement

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Walt WhitmanIf you want me again look for me under your boot soles.

—  Walt Whitman, 1819-1892, American poet

2 likes
Anton ChekhovIf ever my life can be of any use to you, come and claim it.

—  Anton Chekhov, 1860-1904, Russian writer

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Sylvia PlathBefore I give my body, I must give my thoughts, my mind, my dreams. And you weren't having any of those.

—  Sylvia Plath, 1932-1963, American poet & writer

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Mother TeresaIt’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.

—  Mother Teresa, 1910-1997, Albanian-Indian nun & missionary

2 likes
Charles DickensI loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.

—  Charles Dickens, 1812-1870, British writer

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Susan SontagHow much self-love comes in the guise of selfless devotion

—  Susan Sontag, 1933-2004, American writer, critic, activist

1 likes
Helen KellerNo one has a right to consume happiness without producing it.

—  Helen Keller, 1880-1968, American writer

Franz KafkaIn the struggle between yourself and the world, side with the world.

—  Franz Kafka, 1883-1924, Bohemian writer

Simone De BeauvoirOne’s life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation, compassion.

—  Simone De Beauvoir, 1908-1986, French writer

Simone De BeauvoirSex pleasure in woman is a kind of magic spell; it demands complete abandon; if words or movements oppose the magic of caresses, the spell is broken.

—  Simone De Beauvoir, 1908-1986, French writer

Antoine RivarolThe woman gives herself only to her first love; to all the others, she takes it back!

—  Antoine Rivarol, 1753-1801, French author of maxims

Mother TeresaGive, but give until it hurts.

—  Mother Teresa, 1910-1997, Albanian-Indian nun & missionary

Mother TeresaA life not lived for others is not a life.

—  Mother Teresa, 1910-1997, Albanian-Indian nun & missionary

Victor FranklThe more one forgets himself —by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love— the more human he is and the more he actualizes himself.

—  Victor Frankl, 1905-1997, Austrian neurologist

Muhammad AliThe Service you do for others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth.

—  Muhammad Ali, 1942-2016, American boxer

Rainer Maria RilkeTo be loved means to be consumed. To love is to give light with inexhaustible oil. To be loved is to pass; to love is to last.

—  Rainer Maria Rilke, 1875-1926, Czech-German poet

W.H. AudenThe slogan of Hell: Eat or be eaten. The slogan of Heaven: Eat and be eaten.

—  W.H. Auden, 1907-1973, British poet

Robert Louis StevensonYou can give without loving, but you can never love without giving.

—  Robert Louis Stevenson, 1850-1894, Scottish writer

Sri AurobindoThe only work that spiritually purifies us is that which is done without personal motives.

—  Sri Aurobindo, 1872-1950, Indian nationalist, yogi & philosopher

Erica JongThe soul is awakened through service.

—  Erica Jong, 1942-, American writer

Jorge Luis BorgesI can give you my loneliness, my darkness, the hunger of my heart, I am trying to bribe you with uncertainty, with danger, with defeat.

—  Jorge Luis Borges, 1899-1986, Argentine writer

Philip DickThe true measure of a man is not his intelligence or how high he rises in this freak establishment. No, the true measure of a man is this: how quickly can he respond to the needs of others and how much of himself he can give.

—  Philip Dick, 1928-1982, American sci-fi writer

Saul BellowA man must have limits and cannot give in to the wild desires to be everything and everyone and everything to everyone.

—  Saul Bellow, 1914-2005, Canadian-American writer, Nobel 1976

Susan SontagIt hurts to love. It's like giving yourself to be flayed and knowing that at any moment the other person may just walk off with your skin.

—  Susan Sontag, 1933-2004, American writer, critic, activist

StendhalIf you don’t love me, it does not matter, anyway I can love for both of us.

—  Stendhal, 1783-1842, French writer

Latin Quotes

CiceroWe are not born for ourselves alone.

Non nobis solum nati sumus.

—  Cicero, 106-43 BC, Roman orator & statesman

51 likes
Totally yours.

Totus Tuus.

—  Apostolic motto of Pope John Paul II

46 likes



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2024: Manolis Papathanassiou