John Cornyn Quotes

America has a genius for great unselfish deeds, and into the hands of America, God has placed an afflicted mankind.

Self-interest is but the survival of the animal in us. Humanity only begins for man with self-surrender.

If you have donated, these children may never know your name, but they will never forget your kindness.

The virtues are lost in self-interest as rivers are lost in the sea.

A great man is different from an eminent one in that he is ready to be the servant of the society.

An effort made for the happiness of others lifts above ourselves.

There are a lot of people who are doing wonderful things, quietly, with no motive of greed, or hostility toward other people, or delusions of superiority.

Hell is paved with good samaritans.

To deal with individual human needs at the everyday level can be noble sometimes.

Wikipedia flourished partly because it was a shrine to altruism.

To feel much for others and little for ourselves; to restrain our selfishness and exercise our benevolent affections, constitute the perfection of human nature.

I thought to myself, there's a man who gave up his life to serve others - to touch people in that way is probably the greatest thing you can do as a human being.

There's something about the openness of the American people. Yes, we have our faults, but deep down, there's a goodness. America doesn't want to take over the world; in many ways, we don't want to be bothered by the rest of the world.

What is a hero without love for mankind.

Old maids do not mind giving people trouble.

To desire and expect nothing for oneself and to have profound sympathy for others is genuine holiness.

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

Nothing liberates our greatness like the desire to help, the desire to serve.

That best portion of a man's life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.

It takes lives to save lives.

His designs are most philanthropic and are amongst the few schemes of the kind … free from any selfish commercial or political object.

The compulsion to do good is an innate American trait. Only North Americans seem to believe that always should, may, and actually can choose somebody with whom to share their blessings. Ultimately this attitude leads to bombing people into the acceptance of gifts.

In democratic ages men rarely sacrifice themselves for another, but they show a general compassion for all the human race. One never sees them inflict pointless suffering, and they are glad to relieve the sorrows of others when they can do so without much trouble to themselves. They are not disinterested, but they are gentle.

… what can be more honorable than gladly to acquiesce in the prosperity of all men?...

There are people who do everything for a calculative political motive. My only motive is a human motive.