Albert Schweitzer

• The great secret of success is to go through life as a man who never gets used up. That is possible for him who never argues and strives with men and facts, but in all experience retires upon himself, and looks for the ultimate cause of things in himself.
  • Memoirs of Childhood and Youth

• I was convinced —and I am so still —that the fundamental principles of Christianity have to be proved true by reasoning, and by no other method. Reason, I said to myself, is given us that we may bring everything within the range of its action, even the most exalted ideas of religion. And this certainty filled me with joy.
  • Memoirs of Childhood and Youth

Reverence for Life

• At sunset of the third day, near the village of Igendja, we moved along an island set in the middle of the wide river. On a sandback to our left, four hippopotamuses and their young plodded along in our same direction. Just then, in my great tiredness and discouragement, the phrase, Reverence for Life, struck me like a flash. As far as I knew, it was a phrase I had never heard nor ever read. I realized at once that it carried within itself the solution to the problem that had been torturing me. Now I knew that a system of values which concerns itself only with our relationship to other people is incomplete and therefore lacking in power for good. Only by means of reverence for life can we establish a spiritual and humane relationship with both people and all living creatures within our reach. Only in this fashion can we avoid harming others, and, within the limits our our capacity, go to their aid whenever they need us."

• Those who thank God much are the truly wealthy. So our inner happiness depends not on what we experience but on the degree of our gratitude to God, whatever the experience.

• Whoever has looked into the eyes of Jesus as he appears to us in his words knows that true happiness consists of service to this great One and his Spirit —and a life offerred to his work. Those who accept this mode of life, who know how to live it, become brothers and sisters.

• The man who dares to live his life with death before his eyes, the man who receives life back bit by bit and lives as though it did not belong to him by right but has been bestowed on him as a gift, the man who has such freedom and peace of mind that he has overcome death in his thoughts —such a man believes in eternal life because it is already his, it is a present experience, and he already benefits from its peace and joy. He cannot describe this experience in words. He may not be able to conform his view with the traditional picture of it. But one thing he knows for certain: Something within us does not pass away, something goes on living and working wherever the kingdom of the spirit is present. It is already working and living within us, because in our hearts we have been able to reach life by overcoming death."

• I do not want to frighten you by telling you about the temptations life will bring. Anyone who is healthy in spirit will overcome them. But there is something I want you to realize. It does not matter so much what you do. What matters is whether your soul is harmed by what you do. If your soul is harmed, something irreparable happens, the extent of which you won't realize until it will be too late.

• Don't let your hearts grow numb. Stay alert. It is your soul which matters.

• Any religion or philosophy which is not based on a respect for life is not a true religion or philosophy.

• Not less strong than the will to truth must be the will to sincerity.  Only an age, which can show the courage of sincerity, can possess truth, which works as a spiritual force within it.

• Only at quite rare moments have I felt really glad to be alive. I could not but feel with a sympathy full of regret all the pain that I saw around me, not only that of men but that of the whole creation. From this community of suffering I have never tried to withdraw myself. It seemed to me a matter of course that we should all take our share of the burden of pain which lies upon the world.

• Profound love demands a deep conception and out of this develops reverence for the mystery of life. It brings us close to all beings, to the poorest and smallest as well as all others.

• The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.

Attributed

• An optimist is a person who sees a green light everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red stoplight… The truly wise person is color-blind.

• Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly, even if they roll a few stones upon it.

• Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.

• Do something for somebody every day for which you do not get paid.

• Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It's the only thing.

• Grow into your ideals so that life cannot rob you of them.

• Happiness? That's nothing more than health and a poor memory.
  • also: Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.

• I am life which wills to live in the midst of life which wills to live.

• I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve.

• It is man's sympathy with all creatures that first makes him truly a man.

• It is not enough merely to exist. It's not enough to say, 'I'm earning enough to support my family. I do my work well. I'm a good father, husband, churchgoer.' That's all very well. But you must do something more. Seek always to do some good, somewhere. Every man has to seek in his own way to realize his true worth. You must give some time to your fellow man. Even if it's a little thing, do something for those who need help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. For remember, you don't live in a world all your own. Your brothers are here, too.

• Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life for itself, but always in the experience which is going on around me.

• Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.

• Man is a clever animal who behaves like an imbecile.

• Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will —his personal responsibility.

• One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity.

• Reverence for life affords me my fundamental principle of morality.

• Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into a flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who rekindled this light.

• Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.

• The first step in the evolution of ethics is a sense of solidarity with other human beings.

• There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.

• To affirm life is to deepen, to make more inward, and to exalt the will to live.

• To educate yourself for the feeling of gratitude means to take nothing for granted, but to always seek out and value the kind that will stand behind the action. Nothing that is done for you is a matter of course.

• Truth has not special time of its own. Its hour is now —always and indeed then most truly when it seems unsuitable to actual circumstances.

• Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.

• Whoever is spared personal pain must feel himself called to help in diminishing the pain of others. We must all carry our share of the misery which lies upon the world.

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