--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Give what thou wilt, and take away what…" description: "\"“Give what thou wilt, and take away what thou wilt, saith he that is well taught and truly modest, to Him that gives, and takes away. And it is not out..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/marcus-aurelius-139_love_give-what-thou-wilt-and-take-away-what-t_1697220.jpg" --- # Give what thou wilt, and take away what thou wilt, saith… ![“Give what thou wilt, and take away what thou wilt, saith he that is well taught and truly modest, to Him that gives, and takes away. And it is not out of a stout and peremptory resolution, that he saith it, but in mere love, and humble submission.” quote by Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/marcus-aurelius-139_love_give-what-thou-wilt-and-take-away-what-t_1697220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/marcus-aurelius-139_love_give-what-thou-wilt-and-take-away-what-t_1697220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1c7/marcus-aurelius-139_love_give-what-thou-wilt-and-take-away-what-t_1697220.jpg) > ““Give what thou wilt, and take away what thou wilt, saith he that is well taught and truly modest, to Him that gives, and takes away. And it is not out of a stout and peremptory resolution, that he saith it, but in mere love, and humble submission.”” [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True humility and love involve giving and taking without force, acting from gentle submission rather than authoritarian will. **In simple terms:** Humility is loving, gentle give-and-take. Key Takeaway Practice gentle generosity over coercion. Themes humility love power dynamics volition modesty Mood thoughtful philosophical calm Type reflective inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - leadership - personal relationships - self‑discipline Key Concepts Stoic ethics voluntary surrender moral philosophy Questions to Reflect On - When is it appropriate to assert your will? - How do you balance humility with self‑advocacy? A Different Perspective The idea may ignore necessary boundaries or assertive action when required. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [“that there is but a certain limit of time appointed unto thee, which if thou shalt not make use of to calm and allay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/that-there-is-but-a-certain-limit-of-time-appointed-unto-thee-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [Take them, O Death! and bear away Whatever thou canst call thine own! 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Thou'rt poison to my blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/away-thou-rt-poison-to-my-blood/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Give, O Lord, what Thou commandest, and then command what Thou wilt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augustine-of-hippo/give-o-lord-what-thou-commandest-and-then-command-what-thou-wilt/) [Augustine of Hippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augustine-of-hippo/) > ["What Thou wilt, when Thou wilt, how Thou wilt." 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But what can exist without it? What's closer to nature's heart? Can you take a hot bath and leave the firewood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/frightened-of-change-but-what-can-exist-without-it-what-s-closer-to/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [We are too much accustomed to attribute to a single cause that which is the product of several, and the majority of our controversies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/we-are-too-much-accustomed-to-attribute-to-a-single-cause-that-which/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself, "I have to go to work - as a human being. 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I didn't even see a bathtub, running water, hot water, commode - we didn't have any of that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-robertson/we-were-so-poor-as-kids-i-didn-t-even-see-a-bathtub-running-water-hot/) [Phil Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-robertson/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [The more holy, the more humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/the-more-holy-the-more-humble/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [Me, my niggas and some Madonna hoes that look just like virgins but trust they down to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drake/me-my-niggas-and-some-madonna-hoes-that-look-just-like-virgins-but/) [Drake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drake/) > [I need to look like an idiot at least twice a day to keep myself humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/i-need-to-look-like-an-idiot-at-least-twice-a-day-to-keep-myself/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [The best route is to stay humble and stay true to yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-the-kid/the-best-route-is-to-stay-humble-and-stay-true-to-yourself/) [Rich the Kid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-the-kid/) > [“Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you high. 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