--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No one is self-sufficient. And it's not a…" description: "\"No one is self-sufficient. And it's not a one-way thing- -the generosity of spirit from one side provokes a response in kind from the other side.\" — De..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/desmond-tutu-442_generosity_no-one-is-self-sufficient-and-it-s-not-a_3119203.jpg" --- # No one is self-sufficient. And it's not a one-way thing… ![“No one is self-sufficient. And it's not a one-way thing- -the generosity of spirit from one side provokes a response in kind from the other side.” quote by Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/desmond-tutu-442_generosity_no-one-is-self-sufficient-and-it-s-not-a_3119203.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/desmond-tutu-442_generosity_no-one-is-self-sufficient-and-it-s-not-a_3119203.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d5/desmond-tutu-442_generosity_no-one-is-self-sufficient-and-it-s-not-a_3119203.jpg) > “No one is self-sufficient. And it's not a one-way thing- -the generosity of spirit from one side provokes a response in kind from the other side.” [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. No one can thrive alone; generosity invites reciprocal generosity, creating mutual support. **In simple terms:** We need each other's help. Key Takeaway Cultivate generosity to inspire reciprocity. Themes interdependence generosity community Mood hopeful empathetic Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - friendships - teamwork - volunteering - conflict resolution Key Concepts social contract reciprocity Questions to Reflect On - How can you give without expecting return? - What barriers prevent mutual generosity? A Different Perspective Reciprocity may not be immediate or equal. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Generosity of spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity-of-spirit/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self sufficient](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-sufficient/) [Spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit/) ## Related quotes > [“It is a privilege to help children learn the true meaning of Christmas, which is gratitude to God for sending us his son Jesus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-guinn/it-is-a-privilege-to-help-children-learn-the-true-meaning-of/) [Jeff Guinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-guinn/) > [However much your life may have become an expression of creativity, of generosity of spirit, there's always the further possibility of more or just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjuna-ardagh/however-much-your-life-may-have-become-an-expression-of-creativity-of/) [Arjuna Ardagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjuna-ardagh/) > [When I saw the generosity of spirit of the people who live in America and their willingness to give second chances, it had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yu-darvish/when-i-saw-the-generosity-of-spirit-of-the-people-who-live-in-america/) [Yu Darvish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yu-darvish/) > [Our first Prime Minister saw a country that would be known for its generosity of spirit. And so it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-campbell/our-first-prime-minister-saw-a-country-that-would-be-known-for-its/) [Kim Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-campbell/) > [The presumption of innocence is not just a legal concept. In commonplace terms, it rests on that generosity of spirit which assumes the best,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kingman-brewster-jr/the-presumption-of-innocence-is-not-just-a-legal-concept-in/) [Kingman Brewster, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kingman-brewster-jr/) > [Generosity of spirit is worthwhile. I've had many requests over the years to attend things, to sing somewhere. I try not to turn things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/generosity-of-spirit-is-worthwhile-i-ve-had-many-requests-over-the/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) > [Success with a small s is based on accumulation and materialism. Success with a large S is based on the unfoldment of our soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-beckwith/success-with-a-small-s-is-based-on-accumulation-and-materialism/) [Michael Beckwith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-beckwith/) > [The energy and generosity of spirit of the people I meet everywhere I perform is what inspires me to make music and through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-hewitt/the-energy-and-generosity-of-spirit-of-the-people-i-meet-everywhere-i/) Emma Hewitt > [The more you love, the more loving you become. That's just the way it works. It is a generosity of spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-houston/the-more-you-love-the-more-loving-you-become-that-s-just-the-way-it/) [Jean Houston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-houston/) > [If you believe in practising generosity of spirit, at heart you believe in the power of an individual to make a difference and at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-kelly/if-you-believe-in-practising-generosity-of-spirit-at-heart-you/) [Gail Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-kelly/) > [America is a great nation, not just because of your power and your wealth, but because of your high ideals, openness, and generosity of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-hsien-loong/america-is-a-great-nation-not-just-because-of-your-power-and-your/) [Lee Hsien Loong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-hsien-loong/) > [The most important thing that everyone should bring to the dining experience is a certain generosity of spirit. Just remember that there are two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-olsen/the-most-important-thing-that-everyone-should-bring-to-the-dining/) [John Olsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-olsen/) > [Wine to me is passion. It's family and friends. It's warmth of heart and generosity of spirit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mondavi/wine-to-me-is-passion-it-s-family-and-friends-it-s-warmth-of-heart/) [Robert Mondavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mondavi/) > [“Nothing gets in the way of love. Generosity of spirit empowers us to perform miracles and wonders.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/nothing-gets-in-the-way-of-love-generosity-of-spirit-empowers-us-to/) [Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/) > [An artist gives. Gives visually, gives through courses, or with free advice, through generosity of spirit and through a need to share.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/an-artist-gives-gives-visually-gives-through-courses-or-with-free/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) ## More by Desmond Tutu > [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Freedom and liberty lose out by default because good people are not vigilant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/freedom-and-liberty-lose-out-by-default-because-good-people-are-not/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [We shall be free only together, black and white. We shall survive only together, black and white. We can be human only together, black…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/we-shall-be-free-only-together-black-and-white-we-shall-survive-only/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Many people would be surprised that, in fact, I'm quite shy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/many-people-would-be-surprised-that-in-fact-i-m-quite-shy/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Too many people think that reconciliation means you soft-pedal differences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/too-many-people-think-that-reconciliation-means-you-soft-pedal/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Our Christian faith is actually very subversive of the conventional notion of success - the notion that what invests a person with worth is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/our-christian-faith-is-actually-very-subversive-of-the-conventional/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Every situation of justice is an occasion where someone is being humiliated and they want to restore their dignity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/every-situation-of-justice-is-an-occasion-where-someone-is-being/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Race should not be used to claim privileges and rights for one group, exclusively, which are denied other different groups. Then that is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/race-should-not-be-used-to-claim-privileges-and-rights-for-one-group/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [People are able to justify immense cruelty and say that it is something that is sanctioned by their faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/people-are-able-to-justify-immense-cruelty-and-say-that-it-is/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [South Africa, so utterly improbably, is a beacon of hope in a dark and troubled world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/south-africa-so-utterly-improbably-is-a-beacon-of-hope-in-a-dark-and/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [I don't often want to speak. I try to be a reasonable person and to be diplomatic, but you go to that place and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/i-don-t-often-want-to-speak-i-try-to-be-a-reasonable-person-and-to-be/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [“child of God, known by name and whose very hairs are numbered. Praise and adore God and thank him for ever and ever. Amen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/child-of-god-known-by-name-and-whose-very-hairs-are-numbered-praise/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [To remain neutral in situations of injustice is to be complicit in that injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/to-remain-neutral-in-situations-of-injustice-is-to-be-complicit-in/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [It's a fantastic thing that from moment to the next moment if God were to have stopped for a split second we would disintegrate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/it-s-a-fantastic-thing-that-from-moment-to-the-next-moment-if-god/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) > [Once lost, trust can only be regained if we are as good as our word.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/once-lost-trust-can-only-be-regained-if-we-are-as-good-as-our-word/) [Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) [Explore all 558 Desmond Tutu quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/) ## More Generosity quotes > [The greatest charity you can contribute to is yourself. Instead of spending a dollar to help feed hungry children, why not spend that dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-greatest-charity-you-can-contribute-to-is-yourself-instead-of/) [Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/) > [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [I would have none of that rigid circumspect charity which is never done without scrutiny, and which always mistrusts the truth of the necessities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-massillon/i-would-have-none-of-that-rigid-circumspect-charity-which-is-never/) [Jean Baptiste Massillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-massillon/) > [I'm publicist, patron of nine charities, creative director, food consultant, recipe developer - and mum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/i-m-publicist-patron-of-nine-charities-creative-director-food/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) > [The next time you're looking at a charity, don't ask about the rate of their overhead. Ask about the scale of their dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-next-time-you-re-looking-at-a-charity-don-t-ask-about-the-rate-of/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Businesses acting as businesses, not as charitable donors, are the most powerful force for addressing the pressing issues society face(s)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-elumelu/businesses-acting-as-businesses-not-as-charitable-donors-are-the-most/) Tony Elumelu > [Both fact and logic seem to me to support the view that savings invested in privately owned economic tools of production amount to an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-a-harper/both-fact-and-logic-seem-to-me-to-support-the-view-that-savings/) F. A. Harper > [Capitalists have done more good for society through their charitable giving, philanthropy and generosity than all their critics combined.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/capitalists-have-done-more-good-for-society-through-their-charitable/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [I think more and more people are becoming much more sensitive to what they do with their money when they die, especially if they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-rippon/i-think-more-and-more-people-are-becoming-much-more-sensitive-to-what/) [Angela Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-rippon/) > [Children must early learn the the beauty of generosity. They are taught to give what they prize most, that they may taste the happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/children-must-early-learn-the-the-beauty-of-generosity-they-are/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was always clear that I didn't want to just do pure charity. My thinking was definitely about looking at the levers in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohini-nilekani/i-was-always-clear-that-i-didn-t-want-to-just-do-pure-charity-my/) [Rohini Nilekani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rohini-nilekani/) > [Love doesnt stake claims. It is free for the giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-minagar/love-doesnt-stake-claims-it-is-free-for-the-giving/) [Melody Minagar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-minagar/) > [“THE UNFORGIVEN Tell me if you've ever had to deal with these kinds of people: The kind who take and don't give. The kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/the-unforgiven-tell-me-if-you-ve-ever-had-to-deal-with-these-kinds-of/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Secure-attachment 7Rs show more generosity than average. Thus 7R has something to do with generosity—but its effect is entirely context dependent.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/secure-attachment-7rs-show-more-generosity-than-average-thus-7r-has/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) [Browse all 3,867 Generosity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "No one is self-sufficient. 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