---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It was like a life-line to a sinking man…"
description: "\"It was like a life-line to a sinking man. It seemed to bring hope where there was none. The generosity of it was beyond our belief.\" — Ernest Bevin"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/ernest-bevin-30453_belief_it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man_2687150.png"
---

#  It was like a life-line to a sinking man. It seemed to…

![“It was like a life-line to a sinking man. It seemed to bring hope where there was none. The generosity of it was beyond our belief.” quote by Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/ernest-bevin-30453_belief_it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man_2687150.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/ernest-bevin-30453_belief_it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man_2687150.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/ernest-bevin-30453_belief_it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man_2687150.png)

> “It was like a life-line to a sinking man. It seemed to bring hope where there was none. The generosity of it was beyond our belief.”

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

## About This Quote

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

Describes aid as a lifeline that brings hope and generosity beyond expectations, highlighting the profound impact of humanitarian help.

**In simple terms:** Aid provides hope and generosity.

Key Takeaway

Value humanitarian aid.

Themes

humanitarianism hope generosity

Mood

inspirational hopeful

Type

humanitarian motivational

When to use this quote

- disaster relief
- community support

Key Concepts

lifeline unexpected generosity

Questions to Reflect On

- How does aid change societies?
- What limits exist?

A Different Perspective

Aid can create dependency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Belief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Cold war](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold-war/) [Faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faith/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Hope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hope/) [Life line](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-line/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/)

## Related quotes

> [That's the whole challenge of life - to act with honor and hope and generosity, no whatter what you've drawn. You can't help when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-myrer/that-s-the-whole-challenge-of-life-to-act-with-honor-and-hope-and/)

Anton Myrer

> [The patient is sinking while the doctors deliberate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/the-patient-is-sinking-while-the-doctors-deliberate/)

[George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/)

> [I laid my life on the line, so I expect nothing less from you](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-day-to-remember/i-laid-my-life-on-the-line-so-i-expect-nothing-less-from-you/)

[A Day To Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-day-to-remember/)

> [“Most people go through life by the line of least resistance in every circumstance where they can make a choice. They do not recognize…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/most-people-go-through-life-by-the-line-of-least-resistance-in-every/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [Your life is on the line, practice well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaaki-hatsumi/your-life-is-on-the-line-practice-well/)

[Masaaki Hatsumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaaki-hatsumi/)

> [Reincarnation is, indeed, the key which unlocks all doors, the universal "combination," before which our manacles fall from our limbs -- the life-line by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaw-desmond/reincarnation-is-indeed-the-key-which-unlocks-all-doors-the-universal/)

Shaw Desmond

> [If you put your life on the line on a daily basis to help protect and save lives, you are a story of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/if-you-put-your-life-on-the-line-on-a-daily-basis-to-help-protect-and/)

[Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/)

> [Pimpin' ain't dead 'cause I be the life line.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/pimpin-ain-t-dead-cause-i-be-the-life-line/)

[Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/)

> [LIFE IS LIKE A COIN ….. PLEASURE AND PAIN ARE TWO SIDES … ONLY ONE SIDE IS VISIBLE AT A TIME … . BUT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjufago/life-is-like-a-coin-pleasure-and-pain-are-two-sides-only-one-side-is/)

[Sanjufago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjufago/)

> [It is said that angels come as thoughts, as visions, as dreams, as animals, as the light on the water or in clouds and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophy-burnham/it-is-said-that-angels-come-as-thoughts-as-visions-as-dreams-as/)

[Sophy Burnham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophy-burnham/)

> [Almost every officer is going to put their life on the line at some point in their career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-james/almost-every-officer-is-going-to-put-their-life-on-the-line-at-some/)

[Peter James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-james/)

> [But I put my life on the line to save animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-irwin/but-i-put-my-life-on-the-line-to-save-animals/)

[Steve Irwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-irwin/)

> [“Communication is the life line of any relationship. Without it, the relationship will starve itself to death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-bourgeret/communication-is-the-life-line-of-any-relationship-without-it-the/)

[Elizabeth Bourgeret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-bourgeret/)

> [“If You Knew What if you knew you'd be the last to touch someone? If you were taking tickets, for example, at the theater,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-bass/if-you-knew-what-if-you-knew-you-d-be-the-last-to-touch-someone-if/)

[Ellen Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-bass/)

> [I put my career and my life on the line every time I step in the ring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demetrius-andrade/i-put-my-career-and-my-life-on-the-line-every-time-i-step-in-the-ring/)

[Demetrius Andrade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demetrius-andrade/)

## More by Ernest Bevin

> [Foreign policy isn't something that is great and big, it's common sense and humanity as it applies to my affairs and yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/foreign-policy-isn-t-something-that-is-great-and-big-it-s-common/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [A newspaper has three things to do. One is to amuse, another is to entertain and the rest is to mislead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/a-newspaper-has-three-things-to-do-one-is-to-amuse-another-is-to/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [If the workers see themselves faced with defeat through starvation, they will prefer to go down fighting rather than fainting — and whether or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/if-the-workers-see-themselves-faced-with-defeat-through-starvation/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [Ernest Bevin had many of the strongest characteristics of the English race. His manliness, his common sense, his rough simplicity, sturdiness and kind heart,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/ernest-bevin-had-many-of-the-strongest-characteristics-of-the-english/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [The most conservative man in this world is the British trade unionist when you want to change him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/the-most-conservative-man-in-this-world-is-the-british-trade-unionist/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [There has been great excitement at the prospect that this atomic bomb or atomic energy is likely to produce great industrial energy very quickly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/there-has-been-great-excitement-at-the-prospect-that-this-atomic-bomb/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [If you let that sort of thing go on, your bread and butter will be cut right out from under your feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/if-you-let-that-sort-of-thing-go-on-your-bread-and-butter-will-be-cut/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [There never has been a war yet which, if the facts had been put calmly before the ordinary folk, could not have been prevented…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/there-never-has-been-a-war-yet-which-if-the-facts-had-been-put-calmly/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [Unintelligent people always look for a scapegoat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/unintelligent-people-always-look-for-a-scapegoat/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [Civilisation cannot survive if it rests on a propertyless proletariat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/civilisation-cannot-survive-if-it-rests-on-a-propertyless-proletariat/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [My policy is to be able to take a ticket at Victoria station and go anywhere I damn well please!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/my-policy-is-to-be-able-to-take-a-ticket-at-victoria-station-and-go/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [There should be a study of a house directly elected by the people of the world to whom the nations are accountable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/there-should-be-a-study-of-a-house-directly-elected-by-the-people-of/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [It is placing the Executive and the Movement in an absolutely wrong position to be taking your conscience round from body to body asking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/it-is-placing-the-executive-and-the-movement-in-an-absolutely-wrong/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [What astounds me about the history of the British Navy is how cheaply we have policed the world for 300 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/what-astounds-me-about-the-history-of-the-british-navy-is-how-cheaply/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

> [If you open that Pandora's Box you never know what Trojan 'orses will jump out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/if-you-open-that-pandora-s-box-you-never-know-what-trojan-orses-will/)

[Ernest Bevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

[Explore all 17 Ernest Bevin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/)

## More Belief quotes

> [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/)

[Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/)

> [“MIND &amp; GRIND Self-belief and hard work can propel you past more talented peers”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamil-ali/mind-grind-self-belief-and-hard-work-can-propel-you-past-more/)

[Kamil Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamil-ali/)

> [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/)

[Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [It took me 20 years of hard training to get the physique I have today. what you need is what i had - BELIEF…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/branch-warren/it-took-me-20-years-of-hard-training-to-get-the-physique-i-have-today/)

[Branch Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/branch-warren/)

> [“Here is a fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is 'of the world', judges everything by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-w-pink/here-is-a-fundamental-difference-between-the-man-of-faith-and-the-man/)

[Arthur W. Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-w-pink/)

> [“She herself vacillated when it came to belief. She did not particularly believe in God. Or, rather, she didn't believe in a particular God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allegra-goodman/she-herself-vacillated-when-it-came-to-belief-she-did-not/)

[Allegra Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allegra-goodman/)

> [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/)

[Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/)

> [“Rigid traditions capture souls prisons of spiritual thought man’s religion has captured a god grown too small and very weak.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-w-earle/rigid-traditions-capture-souls-prisons-of-spiritual-thought-man-s/)

[David W Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-w-earle/)

> [We can find common qualities and common values that have made Britain the country it is. Our belief in tolerance and liberty which shines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/we-can-find-common-qualities-and-common-values-that-have-made-britain/)

[Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/)

> [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/)

[Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/)

> [I have tried to resign myself, and to console myself; and that, I hope, I may have done imperfectly; but what I cannot firmly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-have-tried-to-resign-myself-and-to-console-myself-and-that-i-hope-i/)

[Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/)

> [In business, as in politics, it is never easy to go against the beliefs and attitudes held by the majority. The businessman who moves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-paul-getty/in-business-as-in-politics-it-is-never-easy-to-go-against-the-beliefs/)

[J. Paul Getty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-paul-getty/)

> [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/)

[LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/)

> [To preserve an unclouded capacity for the enjoyment of life is an unusual moral and psychological achievement. Contrary to popular belief, it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/to-preserve-an-unclouded-capacity-for-the-enjoyment-of-life-is-an/)

[Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/)

[Browse all 10,268 Belief quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/belief/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It was like a life-line to a sinking man. It seemed to bring hope where there was none. The generosity of it was beyond our belief.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ernest Bevin"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man-it-seemed-to-bring-hope/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Belief"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man-it-seemed-to-bring-hope/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/ernest-bevin-30453_belief_it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man_2687150.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/ernest-bevin-30453_belief_it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man_2687150.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/962/ernest-bevin-30453_belief_it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man_2687150.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It was like a life-line to a sinking man. It seemed to bring hope where there was none. The generosity of it…” — Ernest Bevin",
                "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": "Ernest Bevin",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-bevin/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "It was like a life-line to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man-it-seemed-to-bring-hope/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-bevin/it-was-like-a-life-line-to-a-sinking-man-it-seemed-to-bring-hope/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
