Catholic Wisdom

In your own small way you can be of service to people – by getting out of their way. There is the noble art of getting things done and the noble art of leaving things undone.
— Anthony de Mello in The Heart of the Enlightened

Activist Wisdom

Service is the rent each of us pays for living – the very purpose of life.
— Marian Wright Edelman quoted in Open Mind by Diane Mariechild

Quaker Wisdom

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow-creature, let me do it now; let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
— Stephen Grellet, nineteen century French-American Quaker missionary

Sufi Wisdom

If we truly care for one another, we will want to serve one another, and in doing so, we also serve the divine within them; our service is a privilege and a gift.
— Robert Frager in Heart, Self & Soul

Hindu Wisdom

Neem Karoli Baba, the playful and wise Indian guru, told his followers to maintain their spiritual practice by doing just three things: “Love, serve, and remember.”
— Wayne Muller in How, Then, Shall We Live?

Jewish Wisdom

Waiters have taught me to find joy in serving people. Barbers tell me they derive great pleasure from helping people look better and feel better. All are sacred missions.
— Jeffrey K. Salkin in Being God’s Partner

Psychological Wisdom

Treating things as if they had souls, carefully, with good manners – that’s quality service.
— James Hillman in Kinds of Power


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