Historic Excerpts of the Europeans

"I implore that Spirit from whom every good and perfect gift descends to enable me to render essential service to my country, and that I may never be governed in my public contact by any consideration other than that of my duty. Private interest must not be in opposition to public good."

Clara Barton (1821 - 1921)

During the Civil War, Clara Barton was known as "The Angel of the Battlefield" because of all the supplies and aid she gave to wounded soldiers. She was the founder of the Red Cross.

"If the alleviation of human miseries, the saving of life, and the bringing of helplessness and dependence back to methods of self-sustenance and independence are counted among the philanthropic movements of the day, then to us, who have seen so much and worked so long and so hard among it, it would seem that the Red Cross movement has some 'significance' in connection with philanthropy."

"Charity bears an open palm, to give is her mission. But I have never classed these Red Cross societies with charities, I have rather considered them as a wise national provision which seeks to garner and store up something against the hour of sudden need."

"My first and greatest endeavor had been to wipe from the scroll of my country's fame the stain of imputed lack of common humanity, to take her out of the role of barbarism."

Jefferson Davis (1808 - 1889)

"There is only one solution of old age and that is not to be an absurd parody of our former life, and that is to go on pursuing ends that give our existence meaning - devotion to individuals, to groups or causes, social, political, intellectual, or creative work. One's life has worth as long as one attributes values to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation, compassion."

Benjamin Franklin (1706 - 1790)

"The noblest question in the world is, 'What good may I do?'"

"We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately."

"The most acceptable service to God is doing good to man."

"If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing."

"Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves."

"A man wrapped up in himself makes a small bundle."

"When I am employed in serving others, I do not look upon myself as conferring favors but paying debts."

Thomas Jefferson (1743 - 1826)

"I believe that every human mind feels pleasure in doing good to another."

"I deem it the duty of every man to devote a certain portion of his income for charitable purposes; and that it is further duty to see it so applied; to do the most good of which it is capable."

"We have contributed, each in the time allotted us, our endeavors to render a permanent blessing to our country."

"I prefer to be remembered for what I have done for others, not what others have done for me."

Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)

"To correct evils great and small that spring from want of sympathy and from positive enmity, among strangers as nations, or as individuals is one of the highest functions of civilization."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807 - 1882)

Lives of great men all remind us We can make our lives sublime, And, departing, leave behind us Footprints on the sands of time.

"Look not mournfully in the Past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the Present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy Future, without fear, and with a manly heart."

"Give what you have to someone; it may be better than you dare think."

Horace Mann (1796 - 1859)

"Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity."

"To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is godlike."

"The highest service we can perform for others is to help them help themselves."

Thomas Paine (1737 - 1809)

"My country is the world and my religion is to do good."

"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."

"The duty of a man is not a wilderness of turnpike gates, through which he is to pass by tickets from one to another. It is plain and simple, and consists but of two points - his duty to God, which every man must feel; and with respect to his neighbor, to do as he would be done by."

William Penn (1644 - 1718)

"I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again."

"Do good with what thou hast, or it will do thee no good."

Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)

"When one reaches out to help another he touches the face of God."

"Behold, I do not give lectures or a little charity; when I give, I give myself."

The Mayflower Compact (1620)

The following quote is a small exerpt taken from the Mayflower Compact. "…Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith, and the Honour of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern parts of Virginia; do by these presents solemnly and mutually in the Presence of God and one of another, covenant and combine ourselves together into a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid; And by Virtue hereof to enact, constitute, and frame, such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and Offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and convenient for the General good of the Colony; unto which we promise all due submission and obedience."

Luther's Hymn

These three lines were pulled from a religious song sung by the early European Americans. "Let Freedom's voice be heard, with good The evil overcoming. Give prayer and purse"

O Brother Man (1848)

These three stanzas were the words of John Greenleaf Whittier. "Oh brother man, fold to thy heart thy brother; Where pity dwells, the peace of God is there; To worship rightly is to love each other, Each smile a hymn, each kindly deed a prayer.

For he whom Jesus loved has truly spoken: The holier worship which He deigns to bless Restores the lost, and binds the spirit broken, And feeds the widow and the fatherless.

Follow with reverent steps the great example Of Him Whose holy word was doing good; So shall the wide earth seem our Father's temple, Each loving life a psalm of gratitude."

A Model of Christian Charity (1630)

John Winthrop, Esquire "We must entertain each other in brotherly affection; we must be willing to abridge ourselves of our superfluicities, for the supply of others' 'necessities'; we must uphold a familiar commerce together in all meekness, gentleness, patience and liberality. We must delight in each other, make others' conditions of our own, rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together; always having before our eyes our commission and community in the work, our community as members of the same body."