quotations about benevolence
When our passive feelings are almost always so sordid and so selfish, how comes it that our active principles should often be so generous and so noble? When we are always so much more deeply affected by whatever concerns ourselves, than by whatever concerns other men; what is it which prompts the generous, upon all occasions, and the mean upon many, to sacrifice their own interests to the greater interests of others? It is not the soft power of humanity, it is not that feeble spark of benevolence which Nature has lighted up in the human heart, that is thus capable of counteracting the strongest impulses of self-love. It is a stronger power, a more forcible motive, which exerts itself upon such occasions. It is reason, principle, conscience, the inhabitant of the breast, the man within, the great judge and arbiter of our conduct.
ADAM SMITH
The Theory of Moral Sentiments
It is the business of the benevolent man to seek to promote what is beneficial to the world and to eliminate what is harmful, and to provide a model for the world. What benefits he will carry out; what does not benefit men he will leave alone.
MAZI
Mazi
By acknowledging and accepting the ultimate commonality, we can naturally and voluntarily develop the attitude of compassion and benevolence toward other people, other life-forms, and all beings. We will want to live for the good of all because we know that's the way we benefit ourselves, too.
ILCHI LEE
Change: Realizing Your Greatest Potential
Dress yourself in the silks of benevolence because kindness makes you beautiful.
RICHELLE E. GOODRICH
Making Wishes
Every virtue carries with it its own reward, but none so distinguished and pre-eminent in degree as benevolence.
ROBERT PEDDER BUDDICOM
attributed, Day's Collacon
Nine parts of self-interest gilt over with one part of philanthropy.
HERBERT SPENCER
Social Statics
He who bestows his goods upon the poor,
Shall have as much again, and ten times more.
JOHN BUNYAN
The Pilgrim's Progress
Benign or harmless benevolence is typically local in its objects, or confined to a special class of people (the sick, for example); whereas dangerous benevolence typically has for its object all present and future human beings ... it is proposed to bring about the happiness of others, not by changing them, but by changing their circumstances: by giving them money, for example, or better surroundings, or legal rights which they did not have before.
DAVID CHARLES STOVE
What's Wrong with Benevolence
We talk a lot about kindness and benevolence but our behaviours reflects our animality.
OSHO
attributed, The Inward Journey in Osho's Guidance
The propriety of cultivating feelings of benevolence toward our fellow-creatures is seldom denied in theory, however frequently the duty may be omitted in practice.
ELIZABETH HAMILTON
attributed, Day's Collacon
Nothing is so wholesome, nothing does so much for people's looks, as a little interchange of the small coin of benevolence.
RUFFINI
attributed, Day's Collacon
He saw the goodness, not the taint,
In many a poor do-nothing creature,
And gave to sinner and to saint,
But kept his faith in human nature.
E.C. STEDMAN
Horace Greeley
Benevolence always flows from a pure fountain.
ELIZA SUSAN QUINCY
attributed, Day's Collacon
His love was like the liberal air--
Embracing all, to cheer and bless;
And every grief that mortals share
Found pity in his tenderness.
WILLIAM WINTER
I.H. Bromley
Benevolence is the heroin of the Enlightened.
DAVID CHARLES STOVE
What's Wrong with Benevolence
Benevolence is the most commendable when it is bestowed upon those in distress; it is a token of righteousness, whereby we acknowledge the gifts which God hath put into our hands.
RICHARD JOHNSON
attributed, Day's Collacon
Genuine benevolence is not stationary, but peripatetic. It goeth about doing good.
WILLIAM NEVINS
attributed, Pearls of Thought
I had such great expectations
Of the world's benevolence
Of benevolence
But I prefer hallucinations
'cause they tend to make more sense
TODD RUNDGREN
"Temporary Sanity"
It is necessary that universal benevolence should supersede the regulations of precedent and prescription, before these regulations can safely be abolished. Meanwhile, their very subsistence depends on the system of injustice and violence, which they have been devised to palliate.
PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY
Essay on Christianity
To feel much for others, and little for ourselves, to restrain our selfish, and to indulge our benevolent affections, constitute the perfection of human nature.
ADAM SMITH
The Theory of Moral Sentiments