--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As long as a man has, he must give. And…" description: "\"“As long as a man has, he must give. And when he has nothing more, he is free. This freedom is far nobler than the former giving, for he no longer give..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/johannes-tauler-16764_freedom_as-long-as-a-man-has-he-must-give-and-wh_1459370.jpg" --- # As long as a man has, he must give. And when he has… ![“As long as a man has, he must give. And when he has nothing more, he is free. This freedom is far nobler than the former giving, for he no longer gives in accident but in essence, and he no longer gives one gift, but all gifts, and he no longer gives to just one man, but to all men.” quote by Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/johannes-tauler-16764_freedom_as-long-as-a-man-has-he-must-give-and-wh_1459370.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/johannes-tauler-16764_freedom_as-long-as-a-man-has-he-must-give-and-wh_1459370.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e65/johannes-tauler-16764_freedom_as-long-as-a-man-has-he-must-give-and-wh_1459370.jpg) > ““As long as a man has, he must give. And when he has nothing more, he is free. This freedom is far nobler than the former giving, for he no longer gives in accident but in essence, and he no longer gives one gift, but all gifts, and he no longer gives to just one man, but to all men.”” [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Giving according to means frees one from accidental charity, allowing true, universal generosity. **In simple terms:** True generosity comes from inner freedom, not obligation. Key Takeaway Cultivate inner freedom to give wholly. Themes generosity freedom spirituality Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical spiritual When to use this quote - personal growth - community service - philanthropy - spiritual practice Key Concepts Mysticism self‑actualization Questions to Reflect On - How does inner freedom change your giving? - Can you give without expecting anything? A Different Perspective True generosity may be limited by material scarcity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Generosity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/generosity/) [Gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gifts/) ## Related quotes > [Man is free, but his freedom ceases when he has no faith in it\[.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-casanova/man-is-free-but-his-freedom-ceases-when-he-has-no-faith-in-it/) [Giacomo Casanova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-casanova/) > [man is free, in so far as he has the power of contradicting himself and his essential nature. Man is free even from his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/man-is-free-in-so-far-as-he-has-the-power-of-contradicting-himself/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [“The gifts of the Magi. Unconditional Love. Selflessness. Trust. Faith. Forgiveness. Wholeness. Second Chances. Comfort. Joy. Peace. Reassurance. 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You are free, and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/you-have-a-power-of-incalculable-value-you-need-ask-nothing-of-anyone/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I cannot and will not give any undertaking at a time when I, and you, the people, are not free. Your freedom and mine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/i-cannot-and-will-not-give-any-undertaking-at-a-time-when-i-and-you/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [Whoever will be free must make himself free. Freedom is no fairy gift to fall into a man's lap. What is freedom? To have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/whoever-will-be-free-must-make-himself-free-freedom-is-no-fairy-gift-2/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) > [“Abiding in the space of the nature of mind, we not only are free, we are freedom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-wangyal/abiding-in-the-space-of-the-nature-of-mind-we-not-only-are-free-we/) [Tenzin Wangyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-wangyal/) > [One who has mastered himself is truly free. Freedom lies in the heart of the sage, servitude in the heart of the fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/one-who-has-mastered-himself-is-truly-free-freedom-lies-in-the-heart/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [I am alone in this white, garden-rimmed street. Alone and free. But this freedom is rather like death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/i-am-alone-in-this-white-garden-rimmed-street-alone-and-free-but-this/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [I'M FREE! - I'm free, And freedom tastes of reality, I'm free - I'm free, An' I'm waiting for you to follow me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-townshend/i-m-free-i-m-free-and-freedom-tastes-of-reality-i-m-free-i-m-free-an/) [Pete Townshend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-townshend/) > [We want our children to become who they are- and a developed person is, above all, free. But freedom as we define it doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-millman/we-want-our-children-to-become-who-they-are-and-a-developed-person-is/) Gregory Millman > [I am not myself free or human until or unless I recognize the freedom and humanity of all my fellowmen... I am truly free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikhail-bakunin/i-am-not-myself-free-or-human-until-or-unless-i-recognize-the-freedom/) [Mikhail Bakunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikhail-bakunin/) > [Whoever will be free must make himself free. Freedom is no fairy gift to fall into a man's lap. What is freedom? To have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/whoever-will-be-free-must-make-himself-free-freedom-is-no-fairy-gift/) [Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/) ## More by Johannes Tauler > [If we really want to achieve true prayer, we must turn our backs upon everything temporal, everything external, everything that is not divine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/if-we-really-want-to-achieve-true-prayer-we-must-turn-our-backs-upon/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [Such sins, even if they do not kill all grace in us, do harm, nevertheless; and though they are only venial in themselves, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/such-sins-even-if-they-do-not-kill-all-grace-in-us-do-harm/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [Everything depends on this: a fathomless sinking into a fathomless nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/everything-depends-on-this-a-fathomless-sinking-into-a-fathomless/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [He who desires to become a spiritual man must not be ever taking note of others, and above all of their sins, lest he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/he-who-desires-to-become-a-spiritual-man-must-not-be-ever-taking-note/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [Judge yourself; if you sincerely and humbly do that, you will not be judged by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/judge-yourself-if-you-sincerely-and-humbly-do-that-you-will-not-be/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [God touches and moves, warns and desires all equally, and He wants one quite as much as another. The inequality lies in the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/god-touches-and-moves-warns-and-desires-all-equally-and-he-wants-one/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [Let God and all his creation teach you what your sins are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/let-god-and-all-his-creation-teach-you-what-your-sins-are/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [For where there is true love, a man is neither out of measure lifted up by prosperity, nor cast down by mishap; whether you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/for-where-there-is-true-love-a-man-is-neither-out-of-measure-lifted/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [I never mingled with men, but I came home less of a man than I went out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/i-never-mingled-with-men-but-i-came-home-less-of-a-man-than-i-went-out/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [Man must do his part and detach himself from created things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/man-must-do-his-part-and-detach-himself-from-created-things/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [Often when He comes, He finds the soul occupied. Other guests are there, and He has to turn away. He cannot gain entry, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/often-when-he-comes-he-finds-the-soul-occupied-other-guests-are-there/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [God does not lead all His servants by one road, nor in one way, nor at one time; for God is in all things;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/god-does-not-lead-all-his-servants-by-one-road-nor-in-one-way-nor-at/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [To discern what weaknesses and faults separate you from God, you must enter into your own inward ground and then confront yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/to-discern-what-weaknesses-and-faults-separate-you-from-god-you-must/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [In prayerful silence you must look into your own heart. No one can tell you better than yourself what comes between you and God.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/in-prayerful-silence-you-must-look-into-your-own-heart-no-one-can/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) > [Commemoration of Katherine of Alexandria, Martyr, 4th century If ye keep watch over your hearts, and listen for the Voice of God and learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johannes-tauler/commemoration-of-katherine-of-alexandria-martyr-4th-century-if-ye/) [Johannes Tauler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) [Explore all 39 Johannes Tauler quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johannes-tauler/) ## More Freedom quotes > [One is a painter because one wants so-called freedom; one doesn't want to go to the office every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-duchamp/one-is-a-painter-because-one-wants-so-called-freedom-one-doesn-t-want/) [Marcel Duchamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-duchamp/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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