--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is well to give when asked, but it is…" description: "\"It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding; and to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6eb/khalil-gibran-286_giving_it-is-well-to-give-when-asked-but-it-is_330149.jpg" --- # It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give… ![“It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding; and to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.” quote by Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6eb/khalil-gibran-286_giving_it-is-well-to-give-when-asked-but-it-is_330149.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6eb/khalil-gibran-286_giving_it-is-well-to-give-when-asked-but-it-is_330149.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6eb/khalil-gibran-286_giving_it-is-well-to-give-when-asked-but-it-is_330149.jpg) > “It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding; and to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.” [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Giving without being asked, out of deep understanding, brings greater joy than obliged generosity. **In simple terms:** Giving freely feels more rewarding. Key Takeaway Practice empathetic generosity. Themes ethics spirituality humanity Mood reflective uplifting Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - community service - random acts of kindness - mentor relationships - charitable work Key Concepts unconditional giving inner fulfillment compassion Questions to Reflect On - When have you given without being asked? - How does understanding motivate your generosity? A Different Perspective Unsolicited aid may be misinterpreted or unwanted. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked through understanding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/it-is-well-to-give-when-asked-but-it-is-better-to-give-unasked-2/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“And to the open-handed the search for one who shall receive is joy greater than giving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/and-to-the-open-handed-the-search-for-one-who-shall-receive-is-joy/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [For what mission can be greater than that of giving to the world hours of exaltation in which it may forget the misery of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lotte-lehmann/for-what-mission-can-be-greater-than-that-of-giving-to-the-world/) [Lotte Lehmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lotte-lehmann/) > [The greater the giving, the greater the living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/the-greater-the-giving-the-greater-the-living/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Are you … are you feeling this, too?” Ty asked against his better instincts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-roux/are-you-are-you-feeling-this-too-ty-asked-against-his-better-instincts/) [Abigail Roux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-roux/) > [“Her pleasure was his pleasure and watching her above him receive so much joy from what his body could do to her felt like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/her-pleasure-was-his-pleasure-and-watching-her-above-him-receive-so/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I could not have asked for a better friends or a better life, but there’s a nasty trick about living. It happens at its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melodie-ramone/i-could-not-have-asked-for-a-better-friends-or-a-better-life-but/) [Melodie Ramone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melodie-ramone/) > [Give an honest answer, and receive trust in return. Give a smile, and receive joy in return...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milana-may/give-an-honest-answer-and-receive-trust-in-return-give-a-smile-and/) [Milana May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milana-may/) > [After 'UNCLE,' I never accepted the first offer: if I wanted more money, I asked for it. A better dressing room? Four first-class tickets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-vaughn/after-uncle-i-never-accepted-the-first-offer-if-i-wanted-more-money-i/) [Robert Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-vaughn/) > [If you really want to receive joy and happiness, then serve others with all your heart. 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But if you’re giving to give, all you’ll receive is joy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-sorenson/if-you-re-giving-to-get-all-you-ll-receive-is-disappointment-but-if/) [Toni Sorenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-sorenson/) > [“I asked nothing better of life. I still ask nothing better of life. Strange to say—for surely it is strange not to have increased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-von-arnim/i-asked-nothing-better-of-life-i-still-ask-nothing-better-of-life/) [Elizabeth von Arnim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-von-arnim/) > [“I respect myself and receive joy form all directions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/i-respect-myself-and-receive-joy-form-all-directions/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) ## More by Khalil Gibran > [Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding. Even as the stone of the fruit must break, that its heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/your-pain-is-the-breaking-of-the-shell-that-encloses-your/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Hate is a dead thing. Who of you would be a tomb?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/hate-is-a-dead-thing-who-of-you-would-be-a-tomb/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Seek ye counsel of the aged for their eyes have looked on the faces of the years and their ears have hardened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/seek-ye-counsel-of-the-aged-for-their-eyes-have-looked-on-the-faces/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Only once have I been made mute. It was when a man asked me, 'Who are you?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/only-once-have-i-been-made-mute-it-was-when-a-man-asked-me-who-are-you/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [The truly just is he who feels half guilty of your misdeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-truly-just-is-he-who-feels-half-guilty-of-your-misdeeds/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“follow the steps trust them and yourself”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/follow-the-steps-trust-them-and-yourself/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Beauty is not a need but an ecstasy. It is not a mouth thirsting nor an empty hand stretched forth, But rather a heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/beauty-is-not-a-need-but-an-ecstasy-it-is-not-a-mouth-thirsting-nor/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [I have never agreed with my other self wholly. The truth of the matter seems to lie between us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/i-have-never-agreed-with-my-other-self-wholly-the-truth-of-the-matter/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“That which sings and contemplates in you is still dwelling within the bounds of that first moment which scattered the stars into space”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/that-which-sings-and-contemplates-in-you-is-still-dwelling-within-the/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might also pray in the fullness of your joy and in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/you-pray-in-your-distress-and-in-your-need-would-that-you-might-also/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [“The veil that clouds your eyes shall be lifted by the hands that wove it, And the clay that fills your ears shall be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/the-veil-that-clouds-your-eyes-shall-be-lifted-by-the-hands-that-wove/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Work is love made visible. And if you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/work-is-love-made-visible-and-if-you-cannot-work-with-love-but-only/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [joy and sorrow are inseparable. . . together they come and when one sits alone with you . . remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/joy-and-sorrow-are-inseparable-together-they-come-and-when-one-sits/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) > [Like the ocean is your god-self; It remains for ever undefiled. And like the ether it lifts but the winged. Even like the sun…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/like-the-ocean-is-your-god-self-it-remains-for-ever-undefiled-and/) [Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) [Explore all 688 Khalil Gibran quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. 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