--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: John Bunyan, author of the classic book…" description: "\"John Bunyan, author of the classic book the Pilgrim’s Progress, said “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/joel-osteen-194_bless_john-bunyan-author-of-the-classic-book-t_413106.jpg" --- # John Bunyan, author of the classic book the Pilgrim’s… ![“John Bunyan, author of the classic book the Pilgrim’s Progress, said “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay you back.” Make a decision that you will live to give. Be on the lookout each day for somebody you can bless. Don’t’ live for yourself; learn to…” quote by Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/joel-osteen-194_bless_john-bunyan-author-of-the-classic-book-t_413106.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/joel-osteen-194_bless_john-bunyan-author-of-the-classic-book-t_413106.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/75e/joel-osteen-194_bless_john-bunyan-author-of-the-classic-book-t_413106.jpg) > “John Bunyan, author of the classic book the Pilgrim’s Progress, said “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay you back.” Make a decision that you will live to give. Be on the lookout each day for somebody you can bless. Don’t’ live for yourself; learn to give yourself away, and your life will make a difference.” [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Living fully means serving others without expecting payment, turning daily life into acts of generosity. **In simple terms:** Serve others without expecting pay. Key Takeaway Give daily, find purpose. Themes generosity service purpose Mood inspirational compassionate Type ethical motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - random acts of kindness - community support - mentor relationships Key Concepts Altruism reciprocity selflessness Questions to Reflect On - How can you set healthy boundaries while giving? - What small act can you do today? A Different Perspective May be hard to balance self‑care with constant giving. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bless/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Book Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book-pilgrim-3678335/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Classic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classic/) [Classic book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classic-book/) [Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Each day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/each-day/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/john-bunyan/) [Life Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-make/) [Live for yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/live-for-yourself/) [Make Decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decision/) [Making a difference](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-a-difference/) [Pay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay/) [Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilgrim/) [Pilgrim Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilgrim-progress-1369794/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) ## Related quotes > [Next to the Bible, the book I value most is John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress. I believe I have read it through at least a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/next-to-the-bible-the-book-i-value-most-is-john-bunyan-s-pilgrim-s/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [“Sinclair’s was also an age when writers, both journalists and novelists, were experiencing a thrilling sense of their own efficacy. The investigative exposé—what President…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/upton-sinclair/sinclair-s-was-also-an-age-when-writers-both-journalists-and/) [Upton Sinclair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/upton-sinclair/) > [From a child I was fond of reading, and all the little money that came into my hands was ever laid out in books.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/from-a-child-i-was-fond-of-reading-and-all-the-little-money-that-came-2/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [In my case Pilgrim's Progress consisted in my having to climb down a thousand ladders until I could reach out my hand to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/in-my-case-pilgrim-s-progress-consisted-in-my-having-to-climb-down-a/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Truth should be the very breath of our life. When once this state in the pilgrim's progress is reached, all other rules of correct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/truth-should-be-the-very-breath-of-our-life-when-once-this-state-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pilgrim's Progress , about a man that left his family, it didn't say why. I read considerable in it now and then. The statements…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/pilgrim-s-progress-about-a-man-that-left-his-family-it-didn-t-say-why/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“As I ponder my pilgrim’s progress to Orthodoxy, however, I realize that I didn’t make the trip alone, but in a two-seater. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederica-mathewes-green/as-i-ponder-my-pilgrim-s-progress-to-orthodoxy-however-i-realize-that/) [Frederica Mathewes-Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederica-mathewes-green/) > [Literate households in the 17th century would have had the Bible, John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress," and a couple of other books. Shakespeare plays…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-greenblatt/literate-households-in-the-17th-century-would-have-had-the-bible-john/) [Stephen Greenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-greenblatt/) > [“Who would have such a man around him as John Bunyan in his time? He, a Bedford tinker, couldn’t get inside one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/who-would-have-such-a-man-around-him-as-john-bunyan-in-his-time-he-a/) [D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/) > [“On Pilgrim's Progress: “I could not have believed beforehand that Calvinism could be painted in such exquisitely delightful colors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/on-pilgrim-s-progress-i-could-not-have-believed-beforehand-that/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [At religious instruction classes, I encountered The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan, and the sincerity of the traveller in that book was overwhelming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lionel-blue/at-religious-instruction-classes-i-encountered-the-pilgrims-progress/) [Lionel Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lionel-blue/) > [“The name itself is trouble. “Slough” means, literally, muddy field. A snake sloughs, or sheds, its dead skin. John Bunyan wrote of the “slough…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-weiner/the-name-itself-is-trouble-slough-means-literally-muddy-field-a-snake/) [Eric Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-weiner/) > [“Godly fear,” wrote John Bunyan, flows from a sense of the love and kindness of God to the soul. Where there is no sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-bridges/godly-fear-wrote-john-bunyan-flows-from-a-sense-of-the-love-and/) [Jerry Bridges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-bridges/) > [“It is true, as John Bunyan said, that God infinitely prefers a heart without words to words without a heart when we pray.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-kreeft/it-is-true-as-john-bunyan-said-that-god-infinitely-prefers-a-heart/) [Peter Kreeft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-kreeft/) > [“Earth’s nobility are soon forgotten. John Bunyan, the Bedford tinker, has outlived the whole crowd of those who were the nobility in his day.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-l-moody/earth-s-nobility-are-soon-forgotten-john-bunyan-the-bedford-tinker/) [D.L. Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-l-moody/) ## More by Joel Osteen > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I don't have to figure out how God is going to solve my problem. I don't have to understand how He's going to bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-don-t-have-to-figure-out-how-god-is-going-to-solve-my-problem-i-don/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [The only difference between black coal and a precious diamond is the amount of pressure it endured.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-only-difference-between-black-coal-and-a-precious-diamond-is-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Faith is easy; I think people complicate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/faith-is-easy-i-think-people-complicate-it/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [There's pros and cons of a big church. Cons is I don't get to know everybody, I don't get to go to their ballgame,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/there-s-pros-and-cons-of-a-big-church-cons-is-i-don-t-get-to-know/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [When you smile and project an aura of warmth, kindness, and friendliness, you will attract warms, kindness, and friendliness. Happy people will be drawn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/when-you-smile-and-project-an-aura-of-warmth-kindness-and/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [You were never created to live depressed, defeated, guilty, condemned, ashamed or unworthy. You were created to be victorious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-were-never-created-to-live-depressed-defeated-guilty-condemned/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [You may not have the approval of someone 'important,' but you have the favor of God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/you-may-not-have-the-approval-of-someone-important-but-you-have-the/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“In the Bible, God called Gideon a mighty man of (fearless) courage. Gideon looked around and said, “Who’s He talking to? That’s not me.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/in-the-bible-god-called-gideon-a-mighty-man-of-fearless-courage/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [At the start of each new day, remind yourself: I am talented. I am creative. I am greatly favored by God. I am equipped.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/at-the-start-of-each-new-day-remind-yourself-i-am-talented-i-am/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [Don't be intimidated by the size of your problem or the size of your dream. God will see to it that it is finished…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/don-t-be-intimidated-by-the-size-of-your-problem-or-the-size-of-your/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [No matter what's happening, choose to be happy. Don't focus on what's wrong. Find something positive in your life. Thank God for the small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/no-matter-what-s-happening-choose-to-be-happy-don-t-focus-on-what-s/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I deal with more practical issues of the Bible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-deal-with-more-practical-issues-of-the-bible/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I've learned a simple principle: all I have to do is be the best 'me' that I can be. One day when I read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-ve-learned-a-simple-principle-all-i-have-to-do-is-be-the-best-me/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Too often we don’t realize how great we have it until something is taken away.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/too-often-we-don-t-realize-how-great-we-have-it-until-something-is/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) [Explore all 960 Joel Osteen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) ## More Bless quotes > [For many, the call to be a Christian can seem demanding, even overwhelming. But we need not be afraid or feel inadequate. The Savior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-d-hales/for-many-the-call-to-be-a-christian-can-seem-demanding-even/) [Robert D. Hales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-d-hales/) > [May God bless each of us in our calls to serve. May our faith strengthen as we serve in righteousness, faithfully keeping the commandments.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-tom-perry/may-god-bless-each-of-us-in-our-calls-to-serve-may-our-faith/) [L. Tom Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-tom-perry/) > [Let death bless me with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-death-bless-me-with-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Choosing a job or business is the same thing. I'm not the best one to advise someone how to make billions of dollars; I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-roy/choosing-a-job-or-business-is-the-same-thing-i-m-not-the-best-one-to/) [Rachel Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-roy/) > [The word of the Lord is this: "Just bless those that persecute you and ask for Justice, for the battle does not belong to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-loren/the-word-of-the-lord-is-this-just-bless-those-that-persecute-you-and/) [Julia Loren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-loren/) > [If it was a sin for you to choose me . . . then I would go to the Devil himself and bless him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-gabaldon/if-it-was-a-sin-for-you-to-choose-me-then-i-would-go-to-the-devil/) [Diana Gabaldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-gabaldon/) > [May god bless u](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoinette/may-god-bless-u/) [Antoinette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoinette/) > [SCIENCE! thou fair effusive ray From the great source of mental Day, Free, generous, and refin'd! Descend with all thy treasures fraught, Illumine each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-akenside/science-thou-fair-effusive-ray-from-the-great-source-of-mental-day/) [Mark Akenside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-akenside/) > [When we lack integrity, we use power to control. When we lead with integrity, we use power to bless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-mcmanus/when-we-lack-integrity-we-use-power-to-control-when-we-lead-with/) [Erwin McManus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-mcmanus/) > [“Be quick to bless but lazy to curse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bamikole/be-quick-to-bless-but-lazy-to-curse/) [Paul Bamikole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bamikole/) > [The pious farmer, who ne'er misses pray'rs, With patience suffers unexpected rain; He blesses Heav'n for what its bounty spares, And sees, resign'd, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wortley-montagu/the-pious-farmer-who-ne-er-misses-pray-rs-with-patience-suffers/) [Mary Wortley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wortley-montagu/) > [May God bless you and your family today and always.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/may-god-bless-you-and-your-family-today-and-always/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I bless the gods for not letting my education in rhetoric, poetry, and other literary studies come easily to me, and thereby sparing me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/i-bless-the-gods-for-not-letting-my-education-in-rhetoric-poetry-and/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“ I'm here to bless not to impress”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-bieber/i-m-here-to-bless-not-to-impress/) [Justin Bieber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-bieber/) > [How many people you bless is how you measure success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-ross/how-many-people-you-bless-is-how-you-measure-success/) [Rick Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-ross/) [Browse all 1,218 Bless quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bless/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "John Bunyan, author of the classic book the Pilgrim’s Progress, said “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who cannot pay you back.” Make a decision that you will live to give. 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