He who would do good to another must do it in Minute Particulars: general Good is the plea of the scoundrel, hypocrite, and flatterer, for Art and Science cannot exist but in minutely organized Particulars.
Altruism
Blake, William
1757-1827 British Poet Painter
That man is good who does good to others; if he suffers on account of the good he does, he is very good; if he suffers at the hands of those to whom he has done good, then his goodness is so great that it could be enhanced only by greater sufferings; and if he should die at their hands, his virtue can go no further: it is heroic, it is perfect.
Altruism
Bruyere, Jean De La
1645-1696 French Classical Writer
No people do so much harm as those who go about doing good.
Altruism
Creighton, Mandell
1843-1901 British Historian Bishop
The compulsion to do good is an innate American trait. Only North Americans seem to believe that they always should, may, and actually can choose somebody with whom to share their blessings. Ultimately this attitude leads to bombing people into the acceptance of gifts.
Altruism
Illich, Ivan
1926 Austrian-born American Theologian Author
She is such a good friend that she would throw all her acquaintances into the water for the pleasure of fishing them out again.
Altruism
Talleyrand, Charles Maurice De
1754-1838 French Statesman