Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Gratitude requires noticing kindness behind actions rather than taking them for granted.
In plain terms
Learn to appreciate the people behind the good things you receive.
What can you take from it?
Always look for the human effort behind favors.

Where it applies

  • workplace
  • family life
  • friendship

Putting it to work

  • say thank you
  • acknowledge effort
  • track favors

Questions to consider

  • Who helped you this week?
  • What do you take for granted?

Another view

Some acts are routine and lack intentional kindness.

More from Albert Schweitzer

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

    Permalink to quote #116
  2. 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.

    Permalink to quote #118
  3. This new form of activity medicine I could not represent to myself as talking about the religion of love, but only as an actual putting it into practice.

    Permalink to quote #115

Related quotes

  1. In this dim world of clouding cares, We rarely know, till wildered eyes See white wings lessening up the skies, The angels with us unawares.

    Gerald MasseyGerald Massey quote #1
  2. And whenever I saw Luis, Graca's husband, I dealt with him with a friendship that was quite genuine, since it was offered out of gratitude for Graca's love.

    V.S. NaipaulV.S. Naipaul quote #7
  3. One can pay back the loan of gold, but one lives forever in debt to those who are kind.

    Malcolm ForbesMalcolm Forbes quote #27