Catching Quote by Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke
“One great reason why men practice generosity so little in the world, is, their finding so little there: generosity is catching; and if so many men escape it, it is in a great degree from the same reason that country-men escape the smallpox, because they meet no one to give it to them.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Letter to a friend, 1620
Generosity spreads like contagion; without giving, people never receive it, so scarcity of generosity persists.
In simple terms: Giving creates more giving.
Key Takeaway
Practice generosity regularly.
Themes
generosity
social contagion
reciprocity
community
human nature
Mood
hopeful
reflective
Type
inspirational
ethical
When to use this quote
- volunteering
- charitable donations
- random acts of kindness
- team collaboration
Key Concepts
social dynamics
psychology
altruism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you start giving in a low‑risk way?
- What benefits have you seen from small acts?
A Different Perspective
If others are selfish, generosity may feel unsafe.
![“When they [people with insomnia] start worrying about not sleeping, I'll say, "Say the mantra to myself; if I don't sleep tonight, I'll likely sleep tomorrow, and if not tomorrow then definitely the third" because our body has a way of naturally catching up.” quote by Shelby Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/234/shelby-harris-10520_body_when-they-people-with-insomnia-start-wor_5850.jpg)
