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Quotes of the Day for 6 December 2007 – Charity
Today is the Feast of Saint Nicholas, who died on this day in 326. Relatively little is known about Nicholas, but he served as Bishop of Myra in western Asiatic Turkey. He didn't wear red, he wasn't fat, and he didn't come down the chimney, but he was the origin of Santa Claus. In his diocese one poor family had three daughters, and with nothing to offer as dowry, the three girls despaired of getting married and looked forward to a life of prostitution or worse. According to pious tradition, on three nights Nicholas walked past their home and threw a bag of gold coins through a window, thus solving the problem. In colder climes, the story was modified to throwing the coins down the chimney. At all times, but particularly in the dark and cold of December, it is good to remember and practice Charity.
The quotes:
Service.... Giving what you don't have to give. Giving when you don't need to give. Giving because you want to give.
- Damien Hess
Never let your zeal outrun your charity. The former is but human, the latter is divine.
- Hosea Ballou, 1771 - 1852
To give and not to feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving.
- Max Beerbohm, 1872 - 1956
Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.
- Mother Teresa, 1910 - 1997
People are very fond of giving away what they need most themselves. It is what I call the depths of generosity.
- Oscar Wilde, 1854 - 1900
Anticipate charity by preventing poverty; assist the reduced fellow man, either by a considerable gift or a sum of money or by teaching him a trade or by putting him in the way of business so that he may earn an honest livelihood and not be forced to the dreadful alternative of holding out his hand for charity. This is the highest step and summit of charity's golden ladder.
- Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides), 1135 - 1204
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