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You must remember always to give, of everything you have. You must give foolishly even. You must be extravagant. You must give to all who come into your life. Then nothing and no one shall have power to cheat you of anything, for if you give to a thief, he cannot steal from you, and he himself is then no longer a thief. And the more you give, the more you will have to give.

William Saroyan#112

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About this quote

What does it mean?
Generosity, even when foolish, protects you from being cheated and enriches your life.
In plain terms
Give everything freely, even foolishly, and you will never be cheated.
What can you take from it?
Radical generosity removes the power of others to harm you.

Where it applies

  • interpersonal relationships
  • financial giving
  • moral choices

Putting it to work

  • practice radical giving
  • let go of control

Questions to consider

  • What would happen if you gave everything away?
  • Are you afraid of losing what you have?

Another view

Extravagant giving can lead to personal ruin in some cases.

More from William Saroyan

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  2. Everything alive is part of each of us, and many things which do not move as we move are part of us. The sun is part of us, the earth, the sky, the stars, the …

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  3. 'Mrs. Sandoval,' Homer said swiftly, 'your son is dead. Maybe it's a mistake. Maybe it wasn't your son. Maybe it was somebody else. The telegram says it was Ju…

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