---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every noble impulse, every unselfish…"
description: "\"Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love, every surrender of self to something higher than self, every loyalty to an ideal, every fine c..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d93/david-o-mckay-2062_courage_every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expr_1767313.jpg"
---

#  Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love…

![“Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love, every surrender of self to something higher than self, every loyalty to an ideal, every fine courage of the soul – by doing good for good’s sake – that is spirituality. –” quote by David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d93/david-o-mckay-2062_courage_every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expr_1767313.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d93/david-o-mckay-2062_courage_every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expr_1767313.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d93/david-o-mckay-2062_courage_every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expr_1767313.jpg)

> “Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love, every surrender of self to something higher than self, every loyalty to an ideal, every fine courage of the soul – by doing good for good’s sake – that is spirituality. –”

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

True spirituality is expressed through selfless love, dedication to higher ideals, loyalty, and courage, performed for its own sake rather than for personal gain.

**In simple terms:** Spirituality is selfless good for a higher..

Key Takeaway

Practice altruistic actions.

Themes

spirituality selflessness idealism

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- volunteering
- community service
- personal growth
- leadership

Key Concepts

ethics philosophy psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- What selfless act can you commit today?
- How do you stay motivated without external rewards?

A Different Perspective

May be challenged by selfish motives or external pressures.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Courage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/) [Doing good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-good/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Expression of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression-of-love/) [Expressions of love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expressions-of-love/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Higher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher/) [Higher self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/higher-self/) [Impulse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impulse/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Loyalty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loyalty/) [Noble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noble/) [Sake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake/) [Sake Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sake-spirituality-1745524/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirituality/) [Surrender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/surrender/) [Unselfish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unselfish/)

## Related quotes

> [“Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love; every brave suffering for the right; every surrender of self to something higher than self; every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expression-of-love-every-brave/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [Reason is powerless in the expression of Love. Love alone is capable of revealing the truth of Love and being a Lover. The way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/reason-is-powerless-in-the-expression-of-love-love-alone-is-capable/)

[Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/)

> [If love is the soul of Christian existence, it must be at the heart of every other Christian virtue. Thus, for example, justice without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-rohr/if-love-is-the-soul-of-christian-existence-it-must-be-at-the-heart-of/)

[Richard Rohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-rohr/)

> [We either allow our past to keep interfering with our optimal expression of love and happiness, or we can move beyond our past with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/we-either-allow-our-past-to-keep-interfering-with-our-optimal/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Think of your career as your ministry. Make your work an expression of love, in service to mankind. Within the worldly illusion, we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/think-of-your-career-as-your-ministry-make-your-work-an-expression-of-2/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a commitment. It is a choice to show mercy, not to hold the offense up against the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-chapman/forgiveness-is-not-a-feeling-it-is-a-commitment-it-is-a-choice-to/)

[Gary Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-chapman/)

> [The feeling of love is a rich feeling, but the expression of love in word or deed is a joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-lowen/the-feeling-of-love-is-a-rich-feeling-but-the-expression-of-love-in/)

[Alexander Lowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-lowen/)

> [Think of your career as your ministry. Make your work an expression of love in service to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/think-of-your-career-as-your-ministry-make-your-work-an-expression-of/)

[Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/)

> [Life . . . is a joyful expression of love, praise and thanksgiving instead of a hopeless struggle which eventually ends in death. Giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-scheid/life-is-a-joyful-expression-of-love-praise-and-thanksgiving-instead/)

[Robert Scheid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-scheid/)

> [I’ve become skeptical of the unwritten rule that just because a boy and girl appear in the same feature, a romance must ensue. Rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayao-miyazaki/i-ve-become-skeptical-of-the-unwritten-rule-that-just-because-a-boy/)

[Hayao Miyazaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayao-miyazaki/)

> [Grief is neither a disorder nor a healing process; it is a sign of health itself, a whole and natural gesture of love. Nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-may/grief-is-neither-a-disorder-nor-a-healing-process-it-is-a-sign-of/)

[Gerald May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-may/)

> [Art must be an expression of love or it is nothing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-chagall/art-must-be-an-expression-of-love-or-it-is-nothing/)

[Marc Chagall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-chagall/)

> [I come from a loving, supportive family, and my mother taught me that there are more valuable ways to achieve beauty than just through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lupita-nyong-o/i-come-from-a-loving-supportive-family-and-my-mother-taught-me-that/)

[Lupita Nyong'o](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lupita-nyong-o/)

> [In Italy, food is an expression of love. It is how you show those around you that you care for them. Having a love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/in-italy-food-is-an-expression-of-love-it-is-how-you-show-those/)

[Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/)

> [Every genuine expression of love grows out of a consistent and total surrender to God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/every-genuine-expression-of-love-grows-out-of-a-consistent-and-total/)

[Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/)

## More by David O. McKay

> [But there is a beauty every girl has—a gift from God, as pure as the sunlight, and as sacred as life. It is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/but-there-is-a-beauty-every-girl-has-a-gift-from-god-as-pure-as-the/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [Free agency is a gift of God…The world does not comprehend the significance of that divine gift to the individual. It is as inherent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/free-agency-is-a-gift-of-god-the-world-does-not-comprehend-the/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [The latest I like to be to meeting is 15 minutes early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-latest-i-like-to-be-to-meeting-is-15-minutes-early/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [Adversity itself may lead toward and not away from God and spiritual enlightenment; and privation may prove a source of strength if we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/adversity-itself-may-lead-toward-and-not-away-from-god-and-spiritual/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [No parent can consistently teach faith in Christ who profanes the name of Deity. Profanity is never heard in the well-ordered home. Swearing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-parent-can-consistently-teach-faith-in-christ-who-profanes-the/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [ \[One\] principle that actuated the lives of the fathers who founded our Constitution was faith in God. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/one-principle-that-actuated-the-lives-of-the-fathers-who-founded-our/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [“No thing worth while is obtained in this life without sacrificing, without putting forth effort. The evil one thrusts things upon us but God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/no-thing-worth-while-is-obtained-in-this-life-without-sacrificing/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [There are seeds of happiness in every soul. Our mental attitude and dispositions constitute the environment in which these seeds germinate. There is as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/there-are-seeds-of-happiness-in-every-soul-our-mental-attitude-and/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [The most powerful thing in the world is an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-most-powerful-thing-in-the-world-is-an-idea/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [He who harbors hatred and bitterness injures himself far more than the one towards whom he manifests these evil propensities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/he-who-harbors-hatred-and-bitterness-injures-himself-far-more-than/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [The Gospel of Jesus Christ can make bad men good and good men better, can alter human nature, and can change human lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-gospel-of-jesus-christ-can-make-bad-men-good-and-good-men-better/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [The basis of all sin is selfishness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/the-basis-of-all-sin-is-selfishness/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [“When you are tempted to stay away from that seventies' meeting, from that elder's meeting, from that deacons' quorum and you shrink from going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/when-you-are-tempted-to-stay-away-from-that-seventies-meeting-from/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [And what is true education? It is awakening a love for truth; giving a just sense of duty; opening the eyes of the soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/and-what-is-true-education-it-is-awakening-a-love-for-truth-giving-a/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

> [Today, as never before, the issue is clearly defined-liberty and freedom of choice, or oppression and subjugation for the individual and for nations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/today-as-never-before-the-issue-is-clearly-defined-liberty-and/)

[David O. McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

[Explore all 188 David O. McKay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/)

## More Courage quotes

> [The greatest act of courage is to be and to ownall of who you are—without apology, without excuses, without masks to cover the truth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/the-greatest-act-of-courage-is-to-be-and-to-ownall-of-who-you-are/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [“It takes tremendous courage, persistence, and perseverance to pursue your ultimate purpose.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/it-takes-tremendous-courage-persistence-and-perseverance-to-pursue/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/)

> [“Yes, the issue was courage. It always had been, even as a kid. Things scared him. He couldn't help it. Noise scared him, dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-brien/yes-the-issue-was-courage-it-always-had-been-even-as-a-kid-things/)

[Tim O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-brien/)

> [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/)

[James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/)

> [Courage: the most important of all the virtues because without courage, you can't practice any other virtue consistently](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/courage-the-most-important-of-all-the-virtues-because-without-courage/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/)

[Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/)

> [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/)

[Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/)

> [“Of all the train, none escaped except Wamba, who showed upon the occasion much more courage than those who pretended to greater sense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-scott/of-all-the-train-none-escaped-except-wamba-who-showed-upon-the/)

[Walter Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-scott/)

> [The four Cs of making dreams come true: Curiosity, Courage, Consistency, Confidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-disney/the-four-cs-of-making-dreams-come-true-curiosity-courage-consistency/)

[Walt Disney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-disney/)

> [Certainly these are not easy times. But history does not contain very many easy times. Years from now, we will look back at this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/certainly-these-are-not-easy-times-but-history-does-not-contain-very/)

[Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/)

> [Have the courage to go against the tide of current values that do not conform to the path of Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/have-the-courage-to-go-against-the-tide-of-current-values-that-do-not/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“There is nothing purer, braver, or more beautiful than the try.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-armstrong/there-is-nothing-purer-braver-or-more-beautiful-than-the-try/)

[Kristen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-armstrong/)

> [“One theory on cannibals, of course, is that they eat parts of their slain enemies to benefit from that person's greatest assets - their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-powell/one-theory-on-cannibals-of-course-is-that-they-eat-parts-of-their/)

[Julie Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-powell/)

> [It is a tragedy that we live in a world where physical courage is so common, and moral courage is so rare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-monet/it-is-a-tragedy-that-we-live-in-a-world-where-physical-courage-is-so/)

[Claude Monet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-monet/)

> [I have pictures with Morimoto where I'm all embarrassed and he's so serious, it took me 30 minutes to get up the courage to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcela-valladolid/i-have-pictures-with-morimoto-where-i-m-all-embarrassed-and-he-s-so/)

[Marcela Valladolid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcela-valladolid/)

[Browse all 14,559 Courage quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courage/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love, every surrender of self to something higher than self, every loyalty to an ideal, every fine courage of the soul – by doing good for good’s sake – that is spirituality. –",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "David O. McKay"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expression-of-love-every/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Courage"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expression-of-love-every/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d93/david-o-mckay-2062_courage_every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expr_1767313.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d93/david-o-mckay-2062_courage_every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expr_1767313.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d93/david-o-mckay-2062_courage_every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expr_1767313.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression of love, every surrender of self to something higher than…” — David O. McKay",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "David O. McKay",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-o-mckay/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Every noble impulse, every unselfish expression...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expression-of-love-every/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-o-mckay/every-noble-impulse-every-unselfish-expression-of-love-every/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
