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Albert Schweitzer Quotes - Page 10

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Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose.

Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose.

Albert Schweitzer
Sacrifice, Being Sad, Humanity

The fellowship of those who bear the mark of pain: who are the members of this Fellowship? Those who have learnt by experience what physical pain and bodily anguish mean, belong together all the world over; they are united by a secret bond.

Albert Schweitzer
Pain, Mean, Secret
Albert Schweitzer, Albert Schweitzer Institute for the Humanities (1998). “The Primeval Forest”, p.128, JHU Press

Jesus no doubt fits his teaching into the late-Jewish messianic dogma. But he does not think dogmatically. He formulates no doctrine. He is far from judging any man's belief by reference to any standard of dogmatic correctness. Nowhere does he demand of his hearers that they shall sacrifice thinking to believing.

Albert Schweitzer
Jesus, Believe, Teaching
Albert Schweitzer (1953). “Out of My Life and Thought: An Autobiography: Postscript 1932-1949 by Everett Skillings”

Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.

Albert Schweitzer
Truth, Future, Spirit
Albert Schweitzer (2014). “Out of My Life and Thought: An Autobiography”, p.245, Henry Holt and Company

Anyone who proposes to do good must not expect people to roll stones out of his way, but must accept his lot calmly if they even roll a few more on it. A strength which becomes clearer and stronger through experiences of such obstacles is the only strength that can conquer them. Resistance is only a waste of strength.

Albert Schweitzer
Strength, People, Stronger
Albert Schweitzer (2014). “A Treasury of Albert Schweitzer”, p.62, Open Road Media

If there is anything I have learned about men and women, it is that there is a deeper spirit of altruism than is ever evident. Just as the rivers we see are minor compared to the underground streams, so, too, the idealism that is visible is minor compared to what people carry in their hearts unreleased or scarcely released.

Albert Schweitzer
Heart, Men, Compassion

As soon as man does not take his existence for granted, but beholds it as something unfathomably mysterious, thought begins.

Albert Schweitzer
Gratitude, Science, Thoughtful
Albert Schweitzer (1966). “The Teaching of Reverence for Life”

All people are endowed with the faculty of compassion, and for this reason can develop the humanitarian spirit.

Albert Schweitzer
Compassion, People, Spirit
Albert Schweitzer (1984). “The Words of Albert Schweitzer”

Where principles and heart stand in conflict with each other, let us make the law of the spirit free from the law of principles.

Albert Schweitzer
Heart, Law, Principles

It is only through love that we can attain to communion with God. All living knowledge of God rests upon this foundation: that we experience him in our lives as Will-to-love.

Albert Schweitzer
Love, Foundation, Knowledge Of God
Albert Schweitzer (2014). “A Treasury of Albert Schweitzer”, p.67, Open Road Media

If you are called upon to play a church service, it is a greater honor than if you were to play a concert on the finest organ in the world... Thank God each time when you are privileged to sit before the organ console and assist in the worship of the Almighty.

Albert Schweitzer
Church Service, Play, Honor

Ethics has not only to do with mankind but with the animal creation as well. This is witnessed in the purpose of St. Francis of Assisi. Thus we shall arrive that ethics is reverence for all life. This is the ethic of love widened universally. It is the ethic of Jesus now recognized as a necessity of thought...Only a universal ethic which embraces every living creature can put us in touch with the universe and the will which is there manifest.

Albert Schweitzer
Jesus, Animal, Vegetarianism

Most men are scantily nourished on a modicum of happiness and a number of empty thoughts which life lays on their plates. They are kept in the road of life through stern necessity by elemental duties which they cannot avoid.

Albert Schweitzer
Life, Happiness, Men
Albert Schweitzer (1956). “An anthology”

I believe that I possess this value: to serve Jesus. I am less at peace than if my goal would be to attain a professorship and a good life, but I live. And that gives me the tremendous feeling of happiness, as if one would hear music. One feels uprooted, because one asks, what lies ahead, what decisions should I make-but more alive, happier than those anchored in life. To drift with released anchor.

Albert Schweitzer
Jesus, Good Life, Lying

Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel instinct. Most of it comes from thoughtlessness or inherited habit. Extract from 'Memories of childhood and youth.'

Albert Schweitzer
Memories, Men, Animal

There is within each of us a modulation, an inner exaltation, which lifts us above the buffetings with which events assail us. Likewise, it lifts us above dependence upon the gifts of events for our joy.

Albert Schweitzer
Joy, Exaltation, Events
Albert Schweitzer (2014). “A Treasury of Albert Schweitzer”, p.32, Open Road Media

The highest knowledge is to know that we are surrounded by mystery.

Albert Schweitzer
Mystery, Spiritual Life, Knows
Albert Schweitzer (1956). “An anthology”

We cannot abdicate our conscience to an organization, nor to a government. 'Am I my brother's keeper?' Most certainly I am! I cannot escape my responsibility by saying the State will do all that is necessary. It is a tragedy that nowadays so many think and feel otherwise.

Albert Schweitzer
Brother, Responsibility, Thinking
Albert Schweitzer, Charles Rhind Joy (1947). “Albert Schweitzer: An Anthology”, Boston : Beacon Press

The man who has become a thinking being feels a compulsion to give every will-to-live the same reverence for life that he gives to his own. He experiences that other life in his own.

Albert Schweitzer
Life, Men, Thinking
Albert Schweitzer (2015). “The Light Within Us”, p.31, Open Road Media

Ethical existence [is] the highest manifestation of spirituality.

Albert Schweitzer
Spiritual, Ethical, Existence
Albert Schweitzer (1956). “An anthology”

We are gripped by God’s will of love, and must help carry out that will in this world, in small things as in great things, in saving as in pardoning. To be glad instruments of God’s love in this imperfect world is the service to which we are called.

Albert Schweitzer
Imperfect World, Saving, Helping
Albert Schweitzer, Steven E. G. Melamed (2003). “The African Sermons”, p.20, Syracuse University Press

Who shall enumerate the many ways in which that costly piece of fixed capital, a human being , may be employed! More of him is wanted everywhere! Hunt, then, for some situation in which your humanity may be used.

Albert Schweitzer
Humanity, Pieces, May

Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment, and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals.

Albert Schweitzer
Learning, Responsibility, Exercise

By respect for life we become religious in a way that is elementary, profound and alive.

Albert Schweitzer
Respect, Religious, Profound
Albert Schweitzer (1956). “An anthology”

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.

Albert Schweitzer
Inspirational, Life, Beach
Albert Schweitzer (1929). “Civilization and Ethics”

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