--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reverence for Life affords me my…" description: "\"Reverence for Life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining, assisting, and enhancing life and that t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/albert-schweitzer-701_affirmation_reverence-for-life-affords-me-my-fundame_1950649.jpg" --- # Reverence for Life affords me my fundamental principle of… ![“Reverence for Life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining, assisting, and enhancing life and that to destroy, harm, or to hinder life is evil. Affirmation of the world - that is affirmation of the will to live, which appears in phenomenal forms…” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/albert-schweitzer-701_affirmation_reverence-for-life-affords-me-my-fundame_1950649.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/albert-schweitzer-701_affirmation_reverence-for-life-affords-me-my-fundame_1950649.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f8/albert-schweitzer-701_affirmation_reverence-for-life-affords-me-my-fundame_1950649.jpg) > “Reverence for Life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining, assisting, and enhancing life and that to destroy, harm, or to hinder life is evil. Affirmation of the world - that is affirmation of the will to live, which appears in phenomenal forms all around me - is only possible for me in that I give myself out for other life.” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote defines morality as protecting and improving life, seeing harm to any life as evil and self‑sacrifice as moral. **In simple terms:** Morality is about protecting life and helping others. Key Takeaway Prioritize actions that preserve and enhance life. Themes ethics compassion responsibility Mood reflective serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - healthcare - environmental activism - volunteering - animal welfare Key Concepts Altruism humanism bioethics Questions to Reflect On - How do you decide when to help others versus caring for yourself? - What limits should be placed on personal sacrifice? A Different Perspective Balancing self‑care with self‑sacrifice can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affirmation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affirmation/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Fundamental principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fundamental-principles/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Insightful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insightful/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Phenomenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/phenomenal/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Reverence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverence/) [Reverence for life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reverence-for-life/) [Serving others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serving-others/) [Will to live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/will-to-live/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Reverence for life affords me my fundamental principle of morality, namely that good consists in maintaining, assisting, and enhancing life, and that to destroy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/reverence-for-life-affords-me-my-fundamental-principle-of-morality/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Reverence for life affords me my fundamental principle of morality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/reverence-for-life-affords-me-my-fundamental-principle-of-morality-2/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics, too, are nothing but reverence for life. This is what gives me the fundamental principle of morality, namely, that good consists in maintaining,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-too-are-nothing-but-reverence-for-life-this-is-what-gives-me/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life prompts us to keep each other alert to what troubles us and to speak and act dauntlessly together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-prompts-us-to-keep-each-other-alert/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Reverence for life brings us into a spiritual relation with the world which is independent of all knowledge of the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/reverence-for-life-brings-us-into-a-spiritual-relation-with-the-world/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The mistake made by all previous systems of ethics has been the failure to recognize that life as such is the mysterious value with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-mistake-made-by-all-previous-systems-of-ethics-has-been-the/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Reverence for life . . . does not allow the scholar to live for his science alone, even if he is very useful .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/reverence-for-life-does-not-allow-the-scholar-to-live-for-his-science/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [What we call love is in its essence reverence for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/what-we-call-love-is-in-its-essence-reverence-for-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Just as white light consists of colored rays, so reverence for life contains all the components of ethics: love, kindliness, sympathy, empathy, peacefulness and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/just-as-white-light-consists-of-colored-rays-so-reverence-for-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is nothing else than reverence for life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-nothing-else-than-reverence-for-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Reverence for life is the highest court of appeal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/reverence-for-life-is-the-highest-court-of-appeal/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [ What does Reverence for Life say abut the relations between \[humanity\] and the animal world? Whenever I injury any kind of life I must… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/what-does-reverence-for-life-say-abut-the-relations-between-humanity/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [By having a reverence for life, we enter into a spiritual relation with the world By practicing reverence for life we become good, deep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/by-having-a-reverence-for-life-we-enter-into-a-spiritual-relation/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“The ethics of reverence for life makes no distinction between higher and lower, more precious and less precious lives. It has good reasons for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethics-of-reverence-for-life-makes-no-distinction-between-higher/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as peoples we do not yet trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/when-we-observe-contemporary-society-one-thing-strikes-us-we-debate/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [For those who sincerely seek the truth should not fear the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/for-those-who-sincerely-seek-the-truth-should-not-fear-the-outcome/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I still remain convinced that truth, love, peaceableness, meekness, and kindness are the violence which can master all other violence. The world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-still-remain-convinced-that-truth-love-peaceableness-meekness-and/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Every start on an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-start-on-an-untrodden-path-is-a-venture-which-only-in-unusual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Explore all 400 Albert Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## More Affirmation quotes > [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [Art, if it is successful in the task of questioning reality, if it is good painting and not merely a performance of dexterity, will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-swift/art-if-it-is-successful-in-the-task-of-questioning-reality-if-it-is/) [Patrick Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-swift/) > [There's a certain feeling of giving, a certain feeling of generosity in love songs. When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/there-s-a-certain-feeling-of-giving-a-certain-feeling-of-generosity/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [Communism... is the genuine resolution of the antagonism between man and nature and between man and man; it is the true resolution of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/communism-is-the-genuine-resolution-of-the-antagonism-between-man-and/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [Affirmations need to be used if they are to become incorporated into the fabric of your being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-maisel/affirmations-need-to-be-used-if-they-are-to-become-incorporated-into/) [Eric Maisel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-maisel/) > [That the sun will not rise tomorrow is no less intelligible a proposition, and implies no more contradiction, than the affirmation, that it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/that-the-sun-will-not-rise-tomorrow-is-no-less-intelligible-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [“Affirmation without discipline is like enthusiasm without direction.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-mininni/affirmation-without-discipline-is-like-enthusiasm-without-direction/) [Lisa Mininni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-mininni/) > [Whenever I'm in need of inspiration and mantras, I go straight to simple affirmations. 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I give magical service for magical pay.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florence-scovel-shinn/i-have-a-magical-work-in-a-magical-way-i-give-magical-service-for/) [Florence Scovel Shinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florence-scovel-shinn/) > [“On one side it seems there is faith in a Creator-God - and at the same time, the rejection of his creation; and on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-schmemann/on-one-side-it-seems-there-is-faith-in-a-creator-god-and-at-the-same/) [Alexander Schmemann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-schmemann/) > [For you deal here above all with human life, and human life is sacred; no one may dare make an attempt upon it. 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