--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to serve than be served." description: "\"“It is better to serve than be served.”\" — Lailah Gifty Akita" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/lailah-gifty-akita-11_authority_it-is-better-to-serve-than-be-served-256_2569518.jpg" --- # It is better to serve than be served. ![“It is better to serve than be served.” quote by Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/lailah-gifty-akita-11_authority_it-is-better-to-serve-than-be-served-256_2569518.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/lailah-gifty-akita-11_authority_it-is-better-to-serve-than-be-served-256_2569518.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/lailah-gifty-akita-11_authority_it-is-better-to-serve-than-be-served-256_2569518.jpg) > ““It is better to serve than be served.”” [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Serving others brings deeper fulfillment than seeking to be served. **In simple terms:** Serving others feels better. Key Takeaway Prioritize helping others. Themes service humility fulfillment Mood warm inspirational Type philosophical encouraging When to use this quote - volunteering - community projects - daily kindness Key Concepts altruism reciprocity Questions to Reflect On - When have you helped without expectation? - How does service shape your identity? A Different Perspective Self‑service can be necessary for self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Authority](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/authority/) [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Leaders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/leaders/) [Service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/service/) [Volunteerism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/volunteerism/) ## Related quotes > [A kinsman, a friend, or whom you intreate, take not to serve you, if you will be served neately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-herbert/a-kinsman-a-friend-or-whom-you-intreate-take-not-to-serve-you-if-you/) [George Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-herbert/) > [“Service to humanity is service to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/service-to-humanity-is-service-to-god/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“A king with no place to lay his head. A king who came to serve, not to be served.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reza-aslan/a-king-with-no-place-to-lay-his-head-a-king-who-came-to-serve-not-to/) [Reza Aslan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reza-aslan/) > [God bless all who serve or have served our country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-norris/god-bless-all-who-serve-or-have-served-our-country/) [Chuck Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-norris/) > [Life wants you to serve something more than yourself. When you serve something more than yourself, you are served. It's the most ironic thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/life-wants-you-to-serve-something-more-than-yourself-when-you-serve/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [If you don't think that your country should come before yourself, you can better serve your country by livin' someplace else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stompin-tom-connors/if-you-don-t-think-that-your-country-should-come-before-yourself-you/) [Stompin' Tom Connors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stompin-tom-connors/) > [Machines need to talk easily to one another in order to better serve people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-negroponte/machines-need-to-talk-easily-to-one-another-in-order-to-better-serve/) [Nicholas Negroponte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-negroponte/) > [Look after everybody So that they are happy to see you. It is better to serve the devotee of god than to serve god…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-w-l-poonja/look-after-everybody-so-that-they-are-happy-to-see-you-it-is-better/) [H. W. L. Poonja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-w-l-poonja/) > [You think about how we could do better to serve humans and to live happier and more constructive lives - to live less destructively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-mckenna/you-think-about-how-we-could-do-better-to-serve-humans-and-to-live/) [Declan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-mckenna/) > [Move towards betterment not only for yourself but to better serve others with your increased knowledge and talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/move-towards-betterment-not-only-for-yourself-but-to-better-serve/) Senoraroy > [The more you think about yourself, the better you understand yourself. The more you understand yourself, the better you serve your future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-more-you-think-about-yourself-the-better-you-understand-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is better for me to serve a charity as an actor or a voice, rather than at a luncheon being just a celebrity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-kingsley/it-is-better-for-me-to-serve-a-charity-as-an-actor-or-a-voice-rather/) [Ben Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-kingsley/) > [The more choices we give patients affected by depression, the better we will serve them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/the-more-choices-we-give-patients-affected-by-depression-the-better/) [Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/) > [Everybody can be great...because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-jr/everybody-can-be-great-because-anybody-can-serve-you-don-t-have-to/) [Martin Luther King, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-jr/) > [“Joyfully we undertake our daily work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/joyfully-we-undertake-our-daily-work/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by Lailah Gifty Akita > [“What can we do in any hardship? We can hope with prayerful praise.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/what-can-we-do-in-any-hardship-we-can-hope-with-prayerful-praise/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Every child is born as angel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-child-is-born-as-angel/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“You are destiny for greatness. Your future is in the hands of the Lord.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-are-destiny-for-greatness-your-future-is-in-the-hands-of-the-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Is there any holy beings like human beings?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/is-there-any-holy-beings-like-human-beings/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Great things can be accomplish with passionate enthusiasm.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/great-things-can-be-accomplish-with-passionate-enthusiasm/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Whoever sees the Saviour, the light of life, shall be satisfied in spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whoever-sees-the-saviour-the-light-of-life-shall-be-satisfied-in/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Sanctification comes from the Holy Spirit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/sanctification-comes-from-the-holy-spirit/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The final destination is death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-final-destination-is-death/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“You must enjoy and treasure every moment of your journey on earth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/you-must-enjoy-and-treasure-every-moment-of-your-journey-on-earth/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“God is the Wonderful Counselor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/god-is-the-wonderful-counselor/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) [Explore all 4,135 Lailah Gifty Akita quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More Authority quotes > [I don't believe in competitions between artists. 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This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I started with the belief that every person who came to the laboratory was free to accept or to reject the dictates of authority.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanley-milgram/i-started-with-the-belief-that-every-person-who-came-to-the/) [Stanley Milgram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanley-milgram/) > [The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-millett/the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imposition-of-male-authority/) [Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-millett/) > [“We are at the mercy of whoever wields authority over the things we either desire or detest. 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