--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Gratitude, as it were, is the moral…" description: "\"Gratitude, as it were, is the moral memory of mankind. In this respect, it differs from faithfulness by being more practical and impulsive: although it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/georg-simmel-15330_character_gratitude-as-it-were-is-the-moral-memory_291497.jpg" --- # Gratitude, as it were, is the moral memory of mankind. In… ![“Gratitude, as it were, is the moral memory of mankind. In this respect, it differs from faithfulness by being more practical and impulsive: although it may remain, of course, something purely internal, it may yet engender new actions. It is an ideal bridge which the soul comes across again and…” quote by Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/georg-simmel-15330_character_gratitude-as-it-were-is-the-moral-memory_291497.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/georg-simmel-15330_character_gratitude-as-it-were-is-the-moral-memory_291497.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/11d/georg-simmel-15330_character_gratitude-as-it-were-is-the-moral-memory_291497.jpg) > “Gratitude, as it were, is the moral memory of mankind. In this respect, it differs from faithfulness by being more practical and impulsive: although it may remain, of course, something purely internal, it may yet engender new actions. It is an ideal bridge which the soul comes across again and again, so to speak, and which, upon provocations too slight to throw a new bridge to the other person, it uses to come closer to him.” [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gratitude acts as a practical moral memory, prompting new actions and deeper connections. **In simple terms:** Gratitude drives helpful deeds and bonds. Key Takeaway Practice gratitude to foster action and empathy. Themes gratitude morality social connection Mood thoughtful encouraging Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal relationships - community service - conflict resolution Key Concepts moral memory practical ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can gratitude be turned into concrete action? - What obstacles prevent genuine gratitude? A Different Perspective Gratitude can be superficial if not sincere. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Differs Faithfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differs-faithfulness-2803287/) [Faithfulness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithfulness/) [Faithfulness Practical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faithfulness-practical-2803288/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Gratitude Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude-moral-2618159/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Moral Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral-memory-2618160/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Trust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trust/) ## Related quotes > [Gratitude is the moral memory of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/gratitude-is-the-moral-memory-of-mankind/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Every superior personality, and every superior performance, has, for the average of mankind, something mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/every-superior-personality-and-every-superior-performance-has-for-the/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [The best relationship isnt just faithfulness, also never make your partner even feel you have alternatives. You dont flirt around with other counterparts if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-nwakama/the-best-relationship-isnt-just-faithfulness-also-never-make-your/) [Anne Nwakama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-nwakama/) > [God's faithfulness means that God will always do what He said and fulfill what He has promised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/god-s-faithfulness-means-that-god-will-always-do-what-he-said-and/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [It is the faithfulness of God that allows epistemology to model ontology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-polkinghorne/it-is-the-faithfulness-of-god-that-allows-epistemology-to-model/) [John Polkinghorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-polkinghorne/) > [Galatians Chapter 5 Verse 22 But faithfulness fruit goodness is joy kindness love of patience peace Spirit the](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bless-highlyfavor/galatians-chapter-5-verse-22-but-faithfulness-fruit-goodness-is-joy/) [Bless Highlyfavor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bless-highlyfavor/) > [You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-w-kimball/you-are-unique-and-there-may-be-incidents-in-your-experience-that-are/) [Spencer W. Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-w-kimball/) > [“An atheist is someone who is disappointed in his search of god. He is a man who strongly needed god but couldn't find him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/an-atheist-is-someone-who-is-disappointed-in-his-search-of-god-he-is/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Once you let them establish their ideology in you, they will drive you crazy”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bangambiki-habyarimana/once-you-let-them-establish-their-ideology-in-you-they-will-drive-you/) [Bangambiki Habyarimana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bangambiki-habyarimana/) > [“Courage is being who you are. Courage is sacred of thyself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/courage-is-being-who-you-are-courage-is-sacred-of-thyself/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The goal of faithfulness is not that we will do work for God, but that He will be free to do His work through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/the-goal-of-faithfulness-is-not-that-we-will-do-work-for-god-but-that/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Every demonstration of God's faithfulness to us is an opportunity for us to testify of Him to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/every-demonstration-of-god-s-faithfulness-to-us-is-an-opportunity-for/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [God’s faithfulness is stronger than our unfaithfulness and our infidelities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/god-s-faithfulness-is-stronger-than-our-unfaithfulness-and-our/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Being faithful shouldn't be challenging, cheating should. Too bad its the other way around though.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-faithful-shouldn-t-be-challenging-cheating-should-too-bad-its/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Georg Simmel > [Wandering, (is) considered as a state of detachment form every given point in space.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/wandering-is-considered-as-a-state-of-detachment-form-every-given/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Every superior personality, and every superior performance, has, for the average of mankind, something mysterious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/every-superior-personality-and-every-superior-performance-has-for-the/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Cities are, first of all, seats of the highest economic division of labor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/cities-are-first-of-all-seats-of-the-highest-economic-division-of/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Secrecy sets barriers between men, but at the same time offers the seductive temptation to break through the barriers by gossip or confession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/secrecy-sets-barriers-between-men-but-at-the-same-time-offers-the/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Every relationship between two individuals or two groups will be characterized by the ratio of secrecy that is involved in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/every-relationship-between-two-individuals-or-two-groups-will-be/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [A stranger is far enough away that he is unknown but close enough that it is possible to get to know him. 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Given with it, though, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/by-my-existence-i-am-nothing-more-than-an-empty-place-an-outline-that/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [The calculative exactness of practical life which the money economy has brought about corresponds to the ideal of natural science: to transform the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/the-calculative-exactness-of-practical-life-which-the-money-economy/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Secrecy is thus, so to speak, a transition stadium between being and not-being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/secrecy-is-thus-so-to-speak-a-transition-stadium-between-being-and/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [Man's nature, originally good and common to all, should develop unhampered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/man-s-nature-originally-good-and-common-to-all-should-develop/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) > [The earliest phase of social formations found in historical as well as in contemporary social structures is this: a relatively small circle firmly closed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-simmel/the-earliest-phase-of-social-formations-found-in-historical-as-well/) [Georg Simmel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) [Explore all 42 Georg Simmel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-simmel/) ## More Character quotes > [This may sound strange, but although I feel like I know everything about my characters, the brand of shampoo they use, how many cavities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/this-may-sound-strange-but-although-i-feel-like-i-know-everything/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [Social responsibility above the level of family, or at most of tribe, requires imagination-- devotion, loyalty, all the higher virtues -- which a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/social-responsibility-above-the-level-of-family-or-at-most-of-tribe/) [Robert A. 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