Francis Quarles Quotes

I don't think there's anything exceptional or noble in being philanthropic. It's the other attitude that confuses me.

Seek no praise, no reward, for anything you do. No sooner do we perform a good action than we begin to desire credit for it. No sooner do we give money to some charity than we want to see our names blazoned in the papers. Misery must come as the result of such desires.

Generosity is the only legitimate selfishness.

They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one packet, maybe I share that packet with somebody who has not got even one cigarette, and that's the beginning of love, to give until it hurts.

In magnanimity there is the same amount of egoism as in revenge, but egoism of a different quality.

This only is charity, to do all, all that we can.

What is called liberality is often no more than the vanity of giving, of which some persons are fonder than of what they give.

Generosity is an activity that loosens us up. By offering whatever we can - a dollar, a flower, a word of encouragement - we are training in letting go.

There are people who are known to be very liberal, yet they never give without scolding or pride or even insolence.

Aside from higher considerations, charity often operates as a vastly wise and prudent principle-a great safeguard to its possessor. Men have committed murder for jealousy's sake, and anger's sake, and hatred's sake, and selfishness' sake, and spiritual pride's sake; but no man that ever I heard of, ever committed a diabolical murder for sweet charity's sake. Mere self-interest, then, if no better motive can be enlisted, should, especially with high-tempered men, prompt all beings to charity and philanthropy.

The habit of giving only enhances the desire to give.

We often equate charity with visiting the sick, taking in casseroles to those in need, or sharing our excess with those who are less fortunate. But really, true charity is much, much more. Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your heart, you are never the same again.

Giving is like a muscle. To be strong, you have to exercise it, and to grow as a person, giving is the exercise. You can't really enjoy anything without sharing it.

I do not believe one can settle how much we ought to give. I am afraid the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare.

You can give of your talent, you can give of your possessions, or you can give of yourself. For God's sake, give something.

Nearly every moment of every day we have the opportunity to give something to someone else—our time, our love, our resources. I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return.

We often excuse our own want of philanthropy by giving the name of fanaticism to the more ardent zeal of others.

The hand of liberality is stronger than the arm of power.

I suppose "giving without expecting anything in return" isn't something new, but it always pushes your happy button when you do it or see it.

His words even imply that philanthropy has deeper depths than is generally realized. The great emotions of compassion and mercy are traced to Him; there is more to human deeds than the doers are aware. He identified every act of kindness as an expression of sympathy with Himself. All kindnesses are either done explicitly or implicitly in His name, or they are refused explicitly or implicitly in His name.

We can give without loving, but we can't love without giving. In fact, love is nothing unless we give it to someone.

Charity is indeed, a great thing, and a gift of God, and when it is rightly ordered likens us unto God himself, as far as that is possible; for it is charity which makes the man.

Our true acquisitions lie only in our charities - we gain only as we give.

There is great joy in doing something for somebody else with no thought in receiving anything in return.

Nobody is ever impoverished through the giving of charity.