--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had always wanted to contribute in some…" description: "\"“I had always wanted to contribute in some way. Leave a little more than I took.”\" — Gabrielle Hamilton" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/gabrielle-hamilton-23556_contribute_i-had-always-wanted-to-contribute-in-som_661324.jpg" --- # I had always wanted to contribute in some way. Leave a… ![“I had always wanted to contribute in some way. Leave a little more than I took.” quote by Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/gabrielle-hamilton-23556_contribute_i-had-always-wanted-to-contribute-in-som_661324.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/gabrielle-hamilton-23556_contribute_i-had-always-wanted-to-contribute-in-som_661324.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a8b/gabrielle-hamilton-23556_contribute_i-had-always-wanted-to-contribute-in-som_661324.jpg) > ““I had always wanted to contribute in some way. Leave a little more than I took.”” [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She as to leave a positive impact, giving more than she receives, reflecting a desire for generosity. **In simple terms:** Want to give more than you take. Key Takeaway Seek ways to contribute beyond self‑interest. Themes generosity legacy purpose Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - philanthropy - career decisions Key Concepts ethics personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What legacy do you wish to leave? - How can you give without self‑sacrifice? A Different Perspective Balancing personal needs with altruism can be challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [“Vicary had decided he wanted to contribute. He wanted to do something instead of watching the world through his well-guarded window.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-silva/vicary-had-decided-he-wanted-to-contribute-he-wanted-to-do-something/) [Daniel Silva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-silva/) > [You want to help the team win and contribute any way possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-yelich/you-want-to-help-the-team-win-and-contribute-any-way-possible/) [Christian Yelich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-yelich/) > [We all have to contribute in any way we can to telling stories that include everyone; that's our jobs, to speak out and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-dynevor/we-all-have-to-contribute-in-any-way-we-can-to-telling-stories-that/) [Phoebe Dynevor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-dynevor/) > [I just want to do well and contribute in any way I can for my team whenever I get the chance to perform.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuzvendra-chahal/i-just-want-to-do-well-and-contribute-in-any-way-i-can-for-my-team/) [Yuzvendra Chahal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuzvendra-chahal/) > [I suppose for me as an artist it wasn't always just about expressing my work; I really wanted, more than anything else, to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-suppose-for-me-as-an-artist-it-wasn-t-always-just-about-expressing/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [If I wanted to contribute to the hyphy movement, what good is it making a hyphy record that isn't embraced by that community?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-shadow/if-i-wanted-to-contribute-to-the-hyphy-movement-what-good-is-it/) [DJ Shadow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-shadow/) > [I was a child when the March on Washington led by Martin Luther King occurred, and I wanted to hear what was going on.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-braugher/i-was-a-child-when-the-march-on-washington-led-by-martin-luther-king/) [Andre Braugher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-braugher/) > [I'm not saying that people on welfare don't contribute in their own way, but as many as possible should be encouraged to be economically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-abbott/i-m-not-saying-that-people-on-welfare-don-t-contribute-in-their-own/) [Tony Abbott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-abbott/) > [You're always just so inspired to get in the game and try to contribute any way you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/you-re-always-just-so-inspired-to-get-in-the-game-and-try-to/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-purpose-of-life-is-to-contribute-in-some-way-to-making-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never tell someone everything about you.always leave a little bit to be discovered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melchor-lim/never-tell-someone-everything-about-you-always-leave-a-little-bit-to/) [Melchor Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melchor-lim/) > [“How could he give her so much, yet leave her so little.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorraine-heath/how-could-he-give-her-so-much-yet-leave-her-so-little/) [Lorraine Heath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorraine-heath/) > [Some things just aren't meant to last. They take up a little space in your heart and leave you a little smarter for next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/some-things-just-aren-t-meant-to-last-they-take-up-a-little-space-in/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Leave everything a little better than you found it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackson-brown/leave-everything-a-little-better-than-you-found-it/) Jackson Brown > [I delight in my family obligations, but they leave little time for breaks let alone quick trips across the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carre-otis/i-delight-in-my-family-obligations-but-they-leave-little-time-for/) [Carre Otis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carre-otis/) ## More by Gabrielle Hamilton > [“There are two things you should never do with your father: learn how to drive and learn how to kill a chicken.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/there-are-two-things-you-should-never-do-with-your-father-learn-how/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [My father has said a hundred times, and I have paid attention, that it's stupid to let money be the reason you don't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/my-father-has-said-a-hundred-times-and-i-have-paid-attention-that-it/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [ “\[I\] like to be anchored by routine, not shackled by it.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/i-like-to-be-anchored-by-routine-not-shackled-by-it/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [I was purely content to sit in the car and wander around my own mind. Watching the world itself, the people in it, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/i-was-purely-content-to-sit-in-the-car-and-wander-around-my-own-mind/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [“It became such a recurring experience during this period when I was twenty -- to be starving and afraid of running out of money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/it-became-such-a-recurring-experience-during-this-period-when-i-was/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [“For the first time in probably the entire decade that had passed since I had seen or spoken to my own mother, I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/for-the-first-time-in-probably-the-entire-decade-that-had-passed/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [It's promising and seductive, that huge Italian family, sitting around the dinner table, surrounded by olive trees. But it's not my family and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/it-s-promising-and-seductive-that-huge-italian-family-sitting-around/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [“Each housing development has a "country" name - Squirrel Valley, Pine Ridge, Eagle crossing, Deer Path, which has an unkind way of invoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/each-housing-development-has-a-country-name-squirrel-valley-pine/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [“But it was from him - with his cool, long sideburns and aviator sunglasses, and box of watercolor paints (and artist's paycheck) - from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/but-it-was-from-him-with-his-cool-long-sideburns-and-aviator/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [“I am often slow in catching up to the times, but even so, I still cannot even grip this idea: With nothing more than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/i-am-often-slow-in-catching-up-to-the-times-but-even-so-i-still/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [Badass is a juvenile aspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/badass-is-a-juvenile-aspiration/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [How can it be, after all this concentrated effort and separation, how can it be that I still resemble, so very closely, my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/how-can-it-be-after-all-this-concentrated-effort-and-separation-how/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [“That is my favorite kind of integrated person. Some of each thing and not too much of any one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/that-is-my-favorite-kind-of-integrated-person-some-of-each-thing-and/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [“So what is there to make of the simplistic thing I've come to utter in explanation, which is so drab, so monochromatic, so water…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/so-what-is-there-to-make-of-the-simplistic-thing-i-ve-come-to-utter/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) > [“Be careful what you get good at doin' 'cause you'll be doin' it for the rest of your life. -Jo Carson”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-hamilton/be-careful-what-you-get-good-at-doin-cause-you-ll-be-doin-it-for-the/) [Gabrielle Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) [Explore all 25 Gabrielle Hamilton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-hamilton/) ## More Contribute quotes > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Don't underestimate the power of your vision to change the world. Whether that world is your office, your community, an industry or a global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/don-t-underestimate-the-power-of-your-vision-to-change-the-world/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [By allowing multiple partners to contribute, an open platform can nurture an entire ecosystem of developers and apps. Good products integrate and become great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holmes/by-allowing-multiple-partners-to-contribute-an-open-platform-can/) [Ryan Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holmes/) > [The most successful cultural diplomacy strategy integrates people-to-people or arts/culture/media-to-people interactions into the basic business of diplomacy. The programs in Afghanistan, Egypt, and Iran…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-p-schneider/the-most-successful-cultural-diplomacy-strategy-integrates-people-to/) [Cynthia P. Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-p-schneider/) > [It is the responsibility of leadership to provide opportunity, and the responsibility of individuals to contribute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-pollard/it-is-the-responsibility-of-leadership-to-provide-opportunity-and-the/) [William Pollard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-pollard/) > [If there is a risk in a bank, our first question should be 'Okay, what are you in the bank going to do about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeroen-dijsselbloem/if-there-is-a-risk-in-a-bank-our-first-question-should-be-okay-what/) [Jeroen Dijsselbloem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeroen-dijsselbloem/) > [I feel like that's really huge - not so much myself, just as a baseball player - being able to contribute where you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fernando-tatis-jr/i-feel-like-that-s-really-huge-not-so-much-myself-just-as-a-baseball/) [Fernando Tatis Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fernando-tatis-jr/) > [I stayed in the astronaut program until 1993. People ask me why I left. I thought I had a lot of things to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-stayed-in-the-astronaut-program-until-1993-people-ask-me-why-i-left/) [Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/) > [The critical question is not "How can I achieve?" but "What can I contribute?"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-drucker/the-critical-question-is-not-how-can-i-achieve-but-what-can-i/) [Peter Drucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-drucker/) > [“Contributors and distributors tend to do better at personal branding than takers and fakers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lilly/contributors-and-distributors-tend-to-do-better-at-personal-branding/) [Ryan Lilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lilly/) > [Although our inattention can contribute to our lack of total well-being, we also have the power to choose positive behaviors and responses. In that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-anderson/although-our-inattention-can-contribute-to-our-lack-of-total-well/) [Greg Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-anderson/) > [Silence has been destroyed, but also the idea that it's important to learn how another person thinks, to enter the mind of another person.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/silence-has-been-destroyed-but-also-the-idea-that-it-s-important-to/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [Life is revealed as a place to contribute and we as contributors. Not because we have done a measurable amount of good, but because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-zander/life-is-revealed-as-a-place-to-contribute-and-we-as-contributors-not/) [Benjamin Zander](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-zander/) > [When we consider the fact that nearly three-quarters of the surface of the globe is covered by oceanic water, we begin to realise that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-v-raman/when-we-consider-the-fact-that-nearly-three-quarters-of-the-surface/) [C. V. Raman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-v-raman/) > [These issues are so important. I just felt the best thing to do right now is contribute and go forward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-luther/these-issues-are-so-important-i-just-felt-the-best-thing-to-do-right/) Bill Luther Browse all 254 Contribute quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“I had always wanted to contribute in some way. 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