--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We should serve others without any…" description: "\"We should serve others without any expectations whatsoever. When others throw thorns at us, we should be able to throw flowers back at them.\" — Mata Am..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/mata-amritanandamayi-1026_able_we-should-serve-others-without-any-expec_332868.jpg" --- # We should serve others without any expectations… ![“We should serve others without any expectations whatsoever. When others throw thorns at us, we should be able to throw flowers back at them.” quote by Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/mata-amritanandamayi-1026_able_we-should-serve-others-without-any-expec_332868.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/mata-amritanandamayi-1026_able_we-should-serve-others-without-any-expec_332868.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/868/mata-amritanandamayi-1026_able_we-should-serve-others-without-any-expec_332868.jpg) > “We should serve others without any expectations whatsoever. When others throw thorns at us, we should be able to throw flowers back at them.” [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acting with pure generosity, responding to hostility with kindness, transforms both giver and receiver. **In simple terms:** Give selflessly and respond kindly to harm. Key Takeaway Practice unconditional service. Themes compassion kindness service Mood peaceful empathetic Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - conflict resolution - personal growth - community work Key Concepts selfless giving non‑attachment Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain self‑care while serving others? - What limits do you set for healthy generosity? A Different Perspective Even without expectations, burnout can occur if boundaries are ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Serve Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/serve-expectations-3112060/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thorns/) [Thorns Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thorns-able-3112061/) [Throw Flowers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throw-flowers-248363/) [Throw Thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throw-thorns-3112059/) ## Related quotes > [You throw thorns, falling in my silence they become flowers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-throw-thorns-falling-in-my-silence-they-become-flowers/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I do whatever entertains me. If it entertains me to throw flowers halfway across the room, then that's what I'll do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-owens/i-do-whatever-entertains-me-if-it-entertains-me-to-throw-flowers/) [Kevin Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-owens/) > [“Return with flowers to all the stones that are thrown at you. There will be a time when your enemies' stones will run out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-branco/return-with-flowers-to-all-the-stones-that-are-thrown-at-you-there/) [Augusto Branco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-branco/) > [Love one another without any expectations. 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You know deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-kreger/sometimes-sometimes-it-is-really-difficult-to-turn-and-walk-away-from/) [David Kreger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-kreger/) > [I will no longer wound myself with the thoughts and questions that have surrounded me like thorns: that is a penance You do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/i-will-no-longer-wound-myself-with-the-thoughts-and-questions-that/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [“I fall upon the thorns of life! I bleed !”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/percy-bysshe-shelley/i-fall-upon-the-thorns-of-life-i-bleed/) [Percy Bysshe Shelley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/percy-bysshe-shelley/) > [If you don't sow your field what harvest other than thorns and weeds can you anticipate?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/if-you-don-t-sow-your-field-what-harvest-other-than-thorns-and-weeds/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The bird with the thorn in its breast, it follows an immutable law; it is driven by it knows not what to impale itself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-mccullough/the-bird-with-the-thorn-in-its-breast-it-follows-an-immutable-law-it/) [Colleen McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-mccullough/) > [He that sows thorns should never go barefoot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-sows-thorns-should-never-go-barefoot/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [As the Arabs say, "The nature of rain is the same, but it makes thorns grow in the marshes and flowers in the gardens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-de-mello/as-the-arabs-say-the-nature-of-rain-is-the-same-but-it-makes-thorns/) [Anthony de Mello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-de-mello/) > [You know what’s a great metaphor for love? Sleeping beauty. Because you have to plow through this incredible thicket of thorns in order to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-know-what-s-a-great-metaphor-for-love-sleeping-beauty-because-you/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [What good does it do me, after all, if an ever-watchful authority keeps an eye out to ensure that my pleasures will be tranquil…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/what-good-does-it-do-me-after-all-if-an-ever-watchful-authority-keeps/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) ## More by Mata Amritanandamayi > [If japa is maintained, no useless talk during work will be possible. The mind will always remain peaceful. Modern day diseases are mostly psychosomatic.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/if-japa-is-maintained-no-useless-talk-during-work-will-be-possible/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [It is a good practice to write at least on page of mantra daily. Many people get better concentration by writing than by chanting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/it-is-a-good-practice-to-write-at-least-on-page-of-mantra-daily-many/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Money is not a problem, but unintelligent attachment to it is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/money-is-not-a-problem-but-unintelligent-attachment-to-it-is/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Many people meditate in order that a third eye may open. For that they feel they should close their two physical eyes. They thereby…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/many-people-meditate-in-order-that-a-third-eye-may-open-for-that-they/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Today, society is sacrificing love, values and dharma in its pursuit of materialistic gains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/today-society-is-sacrificing-love-values-and-dharma-in-its-pursuit-of/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Being aware of the bondage is enough to free you from its clutches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/being-aware-of-the-bondage-is-enough-to-free-you-from-its-clutches/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Learn to be thankful to everyone, to the entire creation, even to your enemy and also to those who insult, because they all help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/learn-to-be-thankful-to-everyone-to-the-entire-creation-even-to-your/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [In this universe it is Love that binds everything together. Love is the very foundation, beauty and fulfillment of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/in-this-universe-it-is-love-that-binds-everything-together-love-is/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [May your thoughts, words and actions arise from love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/may-your-thoughts-words-and-actions-arise-from-love/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Love one another without any expectations. Then, there is no need to go anywhere in search of heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/love-one-another-without-any-expectations-then-there-is-no-need-to-go/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [We are not isolated islands, we are connected links in a chain. Each kind word, each smiling face, each good action, benefits our neighbor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/we-are-not-isolated-islands-we-are-connected-links-in-a-chain-each/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Isn't it human beings who impart vitality to the image in the temple? If no one sculpts the stone, it doesn't become an image.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/isn-t-it-human-beings-who-impart-vitality-to-the-image-in-the-temple/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Each and every living being in nature is part of God's body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/each-and-every-living-being-in-nature-is-part-of-god-s-body/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [Do no talk while eating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/do-no-talk-while-eating/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) > [We give physical exercise to the body, but neglect the heart. The exercise for the heart is uplifting the destitute and the suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mata-amritanandamayi/we-give-physical-exercise-to-the-body-but-neglect-the-heart-the/) [Mata Amritanandamayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) [Explore all 306 Mata Amritanandamayi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mata-amritanandamayi/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) [Greg Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/) > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) [Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We should serve others without any expectations whatsoever. 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