60 Giving Back Quotes Cultivating A Generous Heart
To some, giving back is about offering time, talent, and donations to their communities, families, and friend groups. To others, it is a sense of appreciation for everything others did for them and paying it forward to others. However you define it, browse various perspectives on being generous through our collection of giving-back quotes and sayings.
A positive impact is left no matter the size of an act. It can be as little as buying a sandwich for someone who needs a meal, as little as a simple act of kindness, or providing someone with a moment of hope or happiness.
Regardless of how much you can do, one thing is certain: the world is a better place when we all give. Here are some inspiring quotes from people who love giving back to society.
Related Read: Charity Quotes.
Quick links to our selection of giving back quotes:
Giving Back Quotes On How It Nourishes The Soul
Reflect on instances where your generosity resulted in genuine happiness. Recall the joy of gifting your family during the holidays or the fulfillment of volunteering at a soup kitchen.
These acts feed the soul, reinforcing the belief that altruism enriches both the giver and receiver. Allow your spirit to soar again through the following quotes.
Ready to recharge your soul? Explore the first set of quotes below.
"The unselfish effort to bring cheer to others will be the beginning of a happier life for ourselves."
- Helen Keller
"Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more."
- H. Jackson Brown Jr.
"As we work to create light for others, we naturally light our own way."
- Mary Anne Radmacher
"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."
- Eleanor Roosevelt
"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver."
- Maya Angelou
"To me, giving back is so important. It makes others feel good which then in return makes me feel good."
- Katie Cassidy
Quotes Encouraging Selfless Generosity
True and selfless generosity brings light to our lives and those around us. A practice far from any ulterior motives or forceful obligation.
Anne Frank's wise words remind us that giving costs nothing, yet the reward is immeasurable. Steve Maraboli extends this sentiment with intangible things by expressing how compassion can initiate healing.
Inspiration awaits in the quotes that follow. Let them guide you to foster a spirit of altruism within.
"No one has ever become poor from giving."
- Anne Frank
"When you're in a position to have gotten so much, the gift at this point is giving back."
- Paul Stanley
"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."
- Jon M. Huntsman Sr.
"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."
- Kahlil Gibran
"Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need."
- Kahlil Gibran
"The best thing to do with the best things in life is to give them away."
- Dorothy Day
"A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal."
- Steve Maraboli
"You only have what you give. It’s by spending yourself that you become rich."
- Isabel Allende
"The most truly generous persons are those who give silently without hope of praise or reward."
- Carol Ryrie Brink
Insights About Small Acts Of Kindness
Acts of kindness need not be monumental to be impactful. Take inspiration from Oscar Wilde's philosophy, emphasizing the purity and grandness concealed in tiny gestures.
Integrate this ethos into everyday activities. Extend kindness to others through simple actions - offering a smile, holding open a door, or just lending a sympathetic ear. Your actions will continue spurring this ripple effect.
After reading the giving-back quotes below, we invite you to block your calendar for World Kindness Day.
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
- Aesop
"The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention."
- Oscar Wilde
"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness."
- Seneca
"Kindness can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light. You'll never know how much your caring matters. Make a difference for another today."
- Amy Leigh Mercree
"The simplest acts of kindness, or by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer."
- Mahatma Gandhi
"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Messages On Giving By Serving
Serving others stands out as an unparalleled form of giving. Figures like Martin Luther King, Jr., who spearheaded the civil rights movement in the US, and Mother Teresa, who provided sustenance to thousands in India, embody this philosophy.
Their commitment, despite numerous challenges, highlights the impact of community service.
Let's take inspiration and actively contribute to our communities, too. After reading the giving-back quotes below, check this on community event ideas.
"Love cannot remain by itself — it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service."
- Mother Teresa
"Everyone can be great, because everyone can serve."
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
- Mahatma Gandhi
"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."
- Mohammed Ali
"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."
- Jeff Warner
Other Quotes About How To Give Back
The spirit of giving back doesn't discriminate based on what you have or don't. Whether sharing knowledge on environmental practices, like composting, or dedicating time to support those without a home, every contribution counts.
Even if time is scarce, small monthly donations to a chosen cause can make a difference. For younger individuals, assisting with chores at home is a valuable way to contribute.
Let's all find our unique way to give back while embodying the following quotes.
"Giving back is the right thing to do, whether it's donating clothing or even just a smile to someone who needs it."
- Becky G
"Each of us can make a difference. It doesn’t have to be anything spectacular. Keep the neighbor’s kid while she goes to the store or to the doctor, or befriend somebody in need. I don’t mean you have to take them into your home, but you can find a place for them to stay or see that they get food. You can do an act of kindness every single solitary day, because it’s needed."
- Opal Lee
"You don’t have to be rich to give; your gift can be as simple as a smile."
- Frank Sonnenberg
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
- Leo Buscaglia
"Give for the right reason — and that is, give for no reason at all."
- Frank Sonnenberg
"The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit."
- Nelson Henderson
Giving And Receiving Quotes
Giving and receiving intertwine, reflecting the balance of generosity. As mentioned in the first section, we enrich our souls by giving, not through what we receive. This perspective transforms giving from a mere transaction to a meaningful gesture, uplifting both the giver and the receiver.
As you reflect on the following quotes, let's always check our mindset on giving, making sure we expect nothing in return
"Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting."
- Brian Tracy
"Giving does not only precede receiving; it is the reason for it. It is in giving that we receive."
- Israelmore Ayivor
"Help others without any reason and give without the expectation of receiving anything in return."
- Roy T. Bennett
"What you pour out into the world is poured right back into you."
- Matshona Dhliwayo
"All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we're giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That's one of the things that connects us as neighbors — in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver."
- Fred Rogers
Quotes On Leaving A Legacy For Being Generous
Leaving a mark means more than just accumulating wealth or accolades; it's about the generosity and kindness that ripple through communities. As we navigate life's challenges, the goal to enrich others' lives becomes a priority, encouraging a legacy of giving.
This aspiration ensures that, as we permanently close our eyes, we can smile with satisfaction, knowing our actions inspire others to contribute positively, too.
Here are some giving-back quotes that resonate with this sentiment.
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal."
- Albert Pike
"At the end it's not about what you have or even what you've accomplished. It's about who you've lifted up, who you've made better. It's about what you've given back."
- Denzel Washington
"I think a hero is any person really intent on making this a better place for all people."
- Maya Angelou
Giving Back Quotes To Make The World A Better Place
Being positive in any way, especially when we give our time, talent, and other resources, definitely contributes to the betterment of society.
The reality is that the world, with its challenges and disagreements, is far from perfect and will never be. However, the act of giving back keeps us aligned with the path of improvement not only for our sake but for others, too.
Let's continuously contribute wherever possible, making every effort to nurture a better place for everyone.
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
"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."
- Chinua Achebe
"We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men."
- Herman Melville
"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."
- Albert Einstein
"It is every man's obligation to put back into the world, at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it."
- Albert Einstein
"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
- Anne Frank
More Insights From Generous People
Generous individuals flourish globally, nudging us to join their ranks for collective impact. Reflecting on insights from others, Ken Blanchard shares his conviction in the cyclical nature of giving and receiving—highlighting that generosity multiplies.
Similarly, Ron Conway emphasizes the duty of giving back, underscoring it as the backbone of success and a creator of fruitful cycles beneficial to all.
Embrace the wisdom of the following giving-back quotes and contribute to a cycle of generosity.
"I believe that we all have a responsibility to give back. No one becomes successful without lots of hard work, support from others, and a little luck. Giving back creates a virtuous cycle that makes everyone more successful."
- Ron Conway
"I absolutely believe in the power of tithing and giving back. My own experience about all the blessings I've had in my life is that the more I give away, the more that comes back. That is the way life works, and that is the way energy works."
- Ken Blanchard
"I am a huge believer in giving back and helping out in the community and the world. Think globally, act locally I suppose. I believe that the measure of a person's life is the affect they have on others."
- Steve Nash
"Charity work is very important to me and gives me an opportunity to give back to my community. I've always been a big supporter of many different charities, have donated millions of dollars to them, and it just feels great to do and be able to help others, especially children."
- Richard MacDonald
"Giving back to the communities and institutions that helped us achieve success is a value we share and a privilege we embrace."
- Dinesh Paliwal
Inspirational Quotes From Mother Teresa About Being Generous
Saint Teresa of Calcutta, better known as Mother Teresa, dedicated her existence to assisting the poorest of the poor. Launching the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, she tirelessly served India's destitute for over four decades, showcasing the power of generosity.
Her life's work teaches us that contributing to community welfare in the face of difficulties is a noble pursuit everyone should aim for. Choose your advocacy and fight for the cause as you get inspiration from her quotes below.
"It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."
- Mother Teresa
"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."
- Mother Teresa
"I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world."
- Mother Teresa
"If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one."
- Mother Teresa
More Giving Back Quotes From Famous People
Here are more quotes from well-known people reminding us to give back. In this last section, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., poet Maya Angelou, and artists Pablo Picasso and Charles Dickens have eloquently expressed the importance of giving back.
Aside from the life story of Mother Teresa mentioned above, the biographies of these figures should also be studied in order to appreciate how their actions exemplify generosity.
Let their quotes motivate you to make a difference. Explore their stories and be inspired to give back in your own unique way.
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'"
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
"I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back."
- Maya Angelou
"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give."
- Winston Churchill
"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away."
- Pablo Picasso
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another."
- Charles Dickens
Isabela is a determined millennial passionate about continuously seeking out ways to make an impact. With a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering with honors, Isabela’s research expertise and interest in artistic works, coupled with a creative mindset, offers readers a fresh take on different environmental, social, and personal development topics.
