Quotes from Albert Schweitzer

In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.

A man does not have to be an angel to be a saint.

Man is a clever animal who behaves like an imbecile.

He who does not reflect his life back to God in gratitude does not know himself.

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.

The tragedy in a man's life is what dies inside of him while he lives.

No one can give a definition of the soul. But we know what it feels like. The soul is the sense of something higher than ourselves, something that stirs in us thoughts, hopes, and aspirations which go out to the world of goodness, truth and beauty. The soul is a burning desire to breathe in this world of light and never to lose it--to remain children of light.

The greatest discovery of any generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering the attitudes of their minds.

The thinking (person) must oppose all cruel customs, no matter how deeply rooted in tradition and surrounded by a halo. When we have a choice, we must avoid bringing torment and injury into the life of another.

Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.

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

O heavenly Father, protect and bless all things that have breath: guard them from all evil and let them sleep in peace.

The the question whether I am a pessimist or an optimist, I answer that my knowledge is pessimistic, but my willing and hope are optimistic.

Seek always to do some good, somewhere... Even if it's a little thing, so something for those that need help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.

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.

By ethical conduct toward all creatures, we enter into a spiritual relationship with the universe.

I have always held firmly to the thought that each one of us can do a little to bring some portion of misery to an end.

We cannot possibly let ourselves get frozen into regarding everyone we do not know as an absolute stranger.

Constant Kindness can accomplish much.

Do not let Sunday be taken from you. If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan.

There is no higher religion than human service.

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

Only those who respect the personality of others can be of real use to them.

My life is full of meaning to me. The life around me must be full of significance to itself. If I am to expect others to respect my life, then I must respect the other life I see.