--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have a primary responsibility to…" description: "\"I have a primary responsibility to myself; to make myself into the best person I can possibly be. Then and only then, will I have something worthwhile ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/mother-teresa-196_best-person_i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-mysel_2535715.jpg" --- # I have a primary responsibility to myself; to make myself… ![“I have a primary responsibility to myself; to make myself into the best person I can possibly be. Then and only then, will I have something worthwhile to share.- I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.” quote by Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/mother-teresa-196_best-person_i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-mysel_2535715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/mother-teresa-196_best-person_i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-mysel_2535715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/mother-teresa-196_best-person_i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-mysel_2535715.jpg) > “I have a primary responsibility to myself; to make myself into the best person I can possibly be. Then and only then, will I have something worthwhile to share.- I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.” [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal growth precedes the ability to give value; love that hurts transforms into deeper love. **In simple terms:** Improve yourself first, then share love. Key Takeaway Focus on self-improvement to enhance contributions. Themes self-improvement love paradox Mood hopeful compassionate Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - career development - volunteering - relationships - mental health Key Concepts humanism psychology of love Questions to Reflect On - What does “love until it hurts” mean to you? - How can personal growth benefit others? A Different Perspective Self-improvement can be selfish if not shared. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Worthwhile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthwhile/) ## Related quotes > [I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-have-found-the-paradox-that-if-i-love-until-it-hurts-then-there-is/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daphne-rae/i-have-found-the-paradox-that-if-you-love-until-it-hurts-there-can-be-2/) Daphne Rae > [I Have Found The Paradox If You Love Till It Hurts There Can Be No More Hurt Only More Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-rosales/i-have-found-the-paradox-if-you-love-till-it-hurts-there-can-be-no/) [Ashley Rosales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-rosales/) > [Life is so damned hard, so damned hard... It just hurts people and hurts people, until finally it hurts them so that they can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/life-is-so-damned-hard-so-damned-hard-it-just-hurts-people-and-hurts/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [When you love till it hurts, there will be no hurt left, just love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/when-you-love-till-it-hurts-there-will-be-no-hurt-left-just-love/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The paradox is that I have no love for myself as a human being, but I have immense pride in the music I make,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-paradox-is-that-i-have-no-love-for-myself-as-a-human-being-but-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-have-found-god-and-still-to-pursue-him-is-the-soul-s-paradox-of-3/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I've seen how love makes people feel and I want to feel it's like fire burning or cold returning it's like a stranger talking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-m-romarney/i-ve-seen-how-love-makes-people-feel-and-i-want-to-feel-it-s-like/) [R.M. Romarney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-m-romarney/) > [I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no morehurt, only more love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-have-found-the-paradox-that-if-you-love-until-it-hurts-there-can-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The paradox of love is that to have it is to want to preserve it because it's perfect in the moment but that preservation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-eaves/the-paradox-of-love-is-that-to-have-it-is-to-want-to-preserve-it/) [Elisabeth Eaves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-eaves/) > [“The paradox is that by being ‘in love’ we are in fact falling in love with ourselves, and we have an opportunity to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-bartlett/the-paradox-is-that-by-being-in-love-we-are-in-fact-falling-in-love/) Sarah Bartlett > ['The Larry Sanders Show,' it's actually about love, which would sound like a paradox at first. But if that love didn't exist, the darker…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-shandling/the-larry-sanders-show-it-s-actually-about-love-which-would-sound/) [Garry Shandling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-shandling/) > [The paradox is that no love can prove so intense as the love of two narcissists for each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/the-paradox-is-that-no-love-can-prove-so-intense-as-the-love-of-two/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [“A leader’s primary responsibility is to think of others first. “The great duty in life is the promotion of the happiness and the welfare…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-a-brock/a-leader-s-primary-responsibility-is-to-think-of-others-first-the/) [John A. Brock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-a-brock/) > [I do look upon the secretary of education's primary responsibility as the quality of education that - and improving the education that every child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-shields/i-do-look-upon-the-secretary-of-education-s-primary-responsibility-as/) [Mark Shields](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-shields/) ## More by Mother Teresa > [Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within the reach of every hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/love-is-a-fruit-in-season-at-all-times-and-within-the-reach-of-every/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [All works of love are works of peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/all-works-of-love-are-works-of-peace/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Keep the corners of your mouth turned up. Speak in a low, persuasive tone. Listen; be teachable. Laugh at good stories and learn to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/keep-the-corners-of-your-mouth-turned-up-speak-in-a-low-persuasive/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Holy living consists in doing God's work with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/holy-living-consists-in-doing-god-s-work-with-a-smile/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [I don't look at anything. Every person whether he is Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist, he is my brother, my sister. I think we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-don-t-look-at-anything-every-person-whether-he-is-hindu-muslim-or/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We may not be able to give much but we can always give the joy that springs in a heart that is in LOVE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-may-not-be-able-to-give-much-but-we-can-always-give-the-joy-that/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Maybe if I didn't pick up that one person, I wouldn't have picked up forty-two thousand...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/maybe-if-i-didn-t-pick-up-that-one-person-i-wouldn-t-have-picked-up/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [We too are called to withdraw at certain intervals into deeper silence and aloneness with God, together as a community as well as personally;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/we-too-are-called-to-withdraw-at-certain-intervals-into-deeper/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [People are unrealistic, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/people-are-unrealistic-illogical-and-self-centered-love-them-anyway/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Recovering in a Calcutta, India hospital. I think I'm more difficult than critical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/recovering-in-a-calcutta-india-hospital-i-think-i-m-more-difficult/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [So many signatures for such a small heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/so-many-signatures-for-such-a-small-heart/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/it-is-by-forgiving-that-one-is-forgiven/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [The more we empty ourselves, the more room we give God to fill us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/the-more-we-empty-ourselves-the-more-room-we-give-god-to-fill-us/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Joy is prayer; joy is strength: joy is love; joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/joy-is-prayer-joy-is-strength-joy-is-love-joy-is-a-net-of-love-by/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) [Explore all 951 Mother Teresa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## More Best person quotes > [My best personality trait that I think I'm very approachable. And my worst is that I can be moody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-iglesias/my-best-personality-trait-that-i-think-i-m-very-approachable-and-my/) [Enrique Iglesias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-iglesias/) > [You are the best person I've met in years, and if I'd met you in a year's time, or maybe even a few months,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-green/you-are-the-best-person-i-ve-met-in-years-and-if-i-d-met-you-in-a/) [Jane Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-green/) > [Whether it's countries or companies, it's about putting the best person in the job who can unite people and create value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-ahrendts/whether-it-s-countries-or-companies-it-s-about-putting-the-best/) [Angela Ahrendts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-ahrendts/) > [A truly intelligent person is the dumbest person on the team he is leading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/a-truly-intelligent-person-is-the-dumbest-person-on-the-team-he-is/) [Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/) > [“I just wanted to thank you," he says, his voice low. "A group of scientists told you that my genes were damaged, that there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-just-wanted-to-thank-you-he-says-his-voice-low-a-group-of/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [As long as you keep in mind that what you're looking for is the best person, regardless of anything else, you're going to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-rhodes/as-long-as-you-keep-in-mind-that-what-you-re-looking-for-is-the-best/) [Brandi Rhodes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-rhodes/) > [I was blessed with certain gifts and talents and God gave them to me to be the best person I can be and to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-clay/i-was-blessed-with-certain-gifts-and-talents-and-god-gave-them-to-me/) [Bryan Clay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-clay/) > [If you want to be the best salesperson, first you must be the best person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-gitomer/if-you-want-to-be-the-best-salesperson-first-you-must-be-the-best/) [Jeffrey Gitomer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-gitomer/) > [“She pressed her hands against my chest and tried to push me away. "I can't think straight when you 're this close." I backed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgarry/she-pressed-her-hands-against-my-chest-and-tried-to-push-me-away-i/) [Katie McGarry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgarry/) > [I had many hobbies but now I only work on myself. I have to become the best dancer and actor and have the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nidhhi-agerwal/i-had-many-hobbies-but-now-i-only-work-on-myself-i-have-to-become-the/) [Nidhhi Agerwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nidhhi-agerwal/) > [Finding the best person or the best organization to invest your money is one of the most important financial decisions you'll ever make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gross/finding-the-best-person-or-the-best-organization-to-invest-your-money/) [Bill Gross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gross/) > [There are no words to describe the eternal bond that I share with my daughter. Everything in my life is more special because she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-bailey/there-are-no-words-to-describe-the-eternal-bond-that-i-share-with-my/) [Cynthia Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-bailey/) > [She often had to remind herself that she couldn't do everything alone. She wasn't always the best person for the job. Sometimes she got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/she-often-had-to-remind-herself-that-she-couldn-t-do-everything-alone/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [“Money is a kind of uneffable thing,who ever does not values it is the best person in these world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newton-sutradhar/money-is-a-kind-of-uneffable-thing-who-ever-does-not-values-it-is-the/) Newton Sutradhar > [I remember I had to go and ask my mom for groceries sometimes because I wasn't the best person with budgeting. I had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-cassidy/i-remember-i-had-to-go-and-ask-my-mom-for-groceries-sometimes-because/) [Katie Cassidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-cassidy/) Browse all 309 Best person quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have a primary responsibility to myself; to make myself into the best person I can possibly be. Then and only then, will I have something worthwhile to share.- I have found the paradox that if I love until it hurts, then there is no hurt, but only more love.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mother Teresa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-myself-to-make-myself-into-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Best person" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-myself-to-make-myself-into-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/mother-teresa-196_best-person_i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-mysel_2535715.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/mother-teresa-196_best-person_i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-mysel_2535715.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a4/mother-teresa-196_best-person_i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-mysel_2535715.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I have a primary responsibility to myself; to make myself into the best person I can possibly be. Then and…” — Mother Teresa", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mother Teresa", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I have a primary responsibility to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-myself-to-make-myself-into-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/i-have-a-primary-responsibility-to-myself-to-make-myself-into-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```