Irena Sendler Quotes

Existence is a strange bargain. Life owes us little; we owe it everything. The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.

Trophies are good, but saving somebody who could die, giving them hope of a life, that means a lot to me.

True generosity is an offering; given freely and out of pure love. No strings attached. No expectations. Time and love are the most valuable possession you can share.

If I want to be a loving, generous, giving person, I'm not going to test the waters. I'm simply going to be a loving, generous, giving person.

It is the paradox of life that the way to miss pleasure is to seek it first. The very first condition of lasting happiness is that a life should be full of purpose, aiming at something outside self.

I think there is something for all of us where you find a balance in your life, where you feel that everything you do isn't about your own creature comforts or satisfying your own appetites. Some of it has to be directed outward and there is a huge satisfaction in that.

There may be another life, and if there is, the best way to prepare for it is by making somebody happy in this.

There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a happy and smiling child. I always help in any way I can, even if it's just by signing an autograph. A child's smile is worth more than all the money in the world.

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.

I think for me, happiness is crucial, but I think we think that happiness comes from amassing goods and getting things and being loved and being successful, when in fact my experience of happiness comes when you give everything away, when you serve people, when you're watching something you do make somebody happy - that's when happiness happens.

If you want to be happy, make others happy!

Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served. But all other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy.

It's a great feeling knowing you've helped someone. That's what I've spent my life doing and my practice.

The only true happiness comes from squandering ourselves for a purpose.

Heroes represent the best of ourselves, respecting that we are human beings. A hero can be anyone from Gandhi to your classroom teacher, anyone who can show courage when faced with a problem. A hero is someone who is willing to help others in his or her best capacity.

The secret of happiness is: Find something more important than you are and dedicate your life to it.

It is futile to judge a kind deed by its motives. Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.

True charity occurs only when there are no notions of giving, giver, or gift.

Service is that which is done for love's sake for another. It is not true service which is paid with wages

If I've helped one person, I feel really great, but I hear from people daily.

If life only has the meaning you bring to it, we have the opportunity to bring rich meaning to our lives by the service we do for others.

I have a superhero complex. If I see anything bad happen, I run towards it, rather idiotically because, after all, what could I do?

It is my deepest belief that only by giving our lives do we find life. I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally non-violent struggle for justice.

If I can save one kid's life, for me, it's absolutely worth it.

A life in pursuit of position or power is not a life well-lived or in service to others.