--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: They should give until it hurts, maybe a…" description: "\"They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one packet, maybe I share ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/mother-teresa-196_cigarette_they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a_59977.jpg" --- # They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing… ![“They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one packet, maybe I share that packet with somebody who has not got even one cigarette, and that's the beginning of love, to give until it hurts.” quote by Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/mother-teresa-196_cigarette_they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a_59977.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/mother-teresa-196_cigarette_they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a_59977.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/mother-teresa-196_cigarette_they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a_59977.jpg) > “They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one packet, maybe I share that packet with somebody who has not got even one cigarette, and that's the beginning of love, to give until it hurts.” [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. True generosity involves self‑sacrifice, giving even when it causes personal discomfort, to foster connection and love. **In simple terms:** Self‑sacrifice creates love. Key Takeaway Giving beyond comfort builds bonds. Themes Altruism Empathy Self‑sacrifice Connection Mood Compassionate Reflective Type Philosophical Inspirational When to use this quote - Sharing scarce resources - Helping a newcomer - Offering support in hardship Key Concepts Generosity Compassion Practical Applications - Community building - Mentorship Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean to give without expecting return? - How can small sacrifices transform relationships? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cigarette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Small things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-things/) [Smoking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smoking/) ## Related quotes > [I was very surprised when last I bought a packet of cigarettes and had to request a refund as I read a warning that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-clark/i-was-very-surprised-when-last-i-bought-a-packet-of-cigarettes-and/) [Robert Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-clark/) > [What can you say about Guy's cooking that hasn't been printed on a packet of cigarettes?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-geist/what-can-you-say-about-guy-s-cooking-that-hasn-t-been-printed-on-a/) [Willie Geist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-geist/) > [There are some circles in America where it seems to be more socially acceptable to carry a hand-gun than a packet of cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-whitehorn/there-are-some-circles-in-america-where-it-seems-to-be-more-socially/) [Katharine Whitehorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-whitehorn/) > [“At the beginning we had been issued with a packet of cigarettes a day, then it got down to eight cigarettes a day, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/at-the-beginning-we-had-been-issued-with-a-packet-of-cigarettes-a-day/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Not every day hurts. Not every breath hurts. Maybe that's all we can really ask for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-harrington/not-every-day-hurts-not-every-breath-hurts-maybe-that-s-all-we-can/) [Hannah Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-harrington/) > [“I still go to bed sad, and wake up sad, and it still hurts like hell, but there are moments during the day when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-harrington/i-still-go-to-bed-sad-and-wake-up-sad-and-it-still-hurts-like-hell/) [Hannah Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-harrington/) > [Truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with the seat missing, but it hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-nielsen/truth-hurts-maybe-not-as-much-as-jumping-on-a-bicycle-with-the-seat/) [Leslie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-nielsen/) > [When you record an album and it goes platinum... yeah, you're in the studio and you work hard for months, but it's not like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donny-osmond/when-you-record-an-album-and-it-goes-platinum-yeah-you-re-in-the/) [Donny Osmond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donny-osmond/) > [“Well, it hurts but that maybe the only way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ria-destriana/well-it-hurts-but-that-maybe-the-only-way/) Ria Destriana > [Maybe I don't cry, but it hurts. Maybe I won't say, but I feel. Maybe I don't show, but I care. I miss you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/maybe-i-don-t-cry-but-it-hurts-maybe-i-won-t-say-but-i-feel-maybe-i-3/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Maybe I don't cry, but it hurts. Maybe I won't say, but I feel. Maybe I don't show, but I care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-i-don-t-cry-but-it-hurts-maybe-i-won-t-say-but-i-feel-maybe-i-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with a seat missing, but it hurts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-nielsen/truth-hurts-maybe-not-as-much-as-jumping-on-a-bicycle-with-a-seat/) [Leslie Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-nielsen/) > [Maybe I don't cry, But it Hurts!!! Maybe I won't say, But I feel!!! Maybe I don't show, But I care for YOU!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saurabh-deka/maybe-i-don-t-cry-but-it-hurts-maybe-i-won-t-say-but-i-feel-maybe-i/) Saurabh Deka > [“Maybe you just have to live for the small things, like being called pretty or someone picking up the pen you dropped or laughing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tianna-kavanagh/maybe-you-just-have-to-live-for-the-small-things-like-being-called/) Tianna Kavanagh > [Maybe I don't cry, but it hurts. Maybe I don't say, but I feel. Maybe I don't show, but I care](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/maybe-i-don-t-cry-but-it-hurts-maybe-i-don-t-say-but-i-feel-maybe-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## 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/) > [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/) > [“Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; give the world the best you've got anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/give-the-world-the-best-you-have-and-it-may-never-be-enough-give-the/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) [Explore all 951 Mother Teresa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) ## More Cigarette quotes > [“Yeah,' I said and started smoking another cigarette. Unless I inform you otherwise, I'm always smoking another cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-amis/yeah-i-said-and-started-smoking-another-cigarette-unless-i-inform-you/) [Martin Amis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-amis/) > [Books were always important. I have to thank my father, he filled my life with books. He didn't write but he always read. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rawi-hage/books-were-always-important-i-have-to-thank-my-father-he-filled-my/) [Rawi Hage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rawi-hage/) > [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/) Richard Doll > [We have too many preacherettes preaching too many sermonettes to too many Christianettes smoking cigarettes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/we-have-too-many-preacherettes-preaching-too-many-sermonettes-to-too/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) > [Since I don't smoke, I decided to grow a mustache - it is better for the health. However, I always carried a jewel-studded cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/salvador-dali/since-i-don-t-smoke-i-decided-to-grow-a-mustache-it-is-better-for-the/) [Salvador Dali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/salvador-dali/) > [If the fact that people make poor decisions is reason enough for the government to second-guess their decisions about dangerous activities such as smoking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-sullum/if-the-fact-that-people-make-poor-decisions-is-reason-enough-for-the/) Jacob Sullum > [“When I was young” … “Before I was twenty, I mean, I used to think that life was a thing that kept gaining impetus,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bowles/when-i-was-young-before-i-was-twenty-i-mean-i-used-to-think-that-life/) [Paul Bowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bowles/) > [They represent tomorrow's cigarette business. . . As this 14-24 age group matures, they will account for a key share of the total cigarette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-j-reynolds/they-represent-tomorrow-s-cigarette-business-as-this-14-24-age-group/) [R. J. Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-j-reynolds/) > [If all boys could be made to know that with every breath of cigarette smoke they inhale imbecility and exhale manhood ... and that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hudson-maxim/if-all-boys-could-be-made-to-know-that-with-every-breath-of-cigarette/) Hudson Maxim > [The ratings thing is the real issue. It really hurts movies. For example, in Redbelt, I smoked. The whole plot of my character was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-mortimer/the-ratings-thing-is-the-real-issue-it-really-hurts-movies-for/) [Emily Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-mortimer/) > [I am a completely horizontal author. I can't think unless I'm lying down, either in bed or stretched on a couch and with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-brown/i-am-a-completely-horizontal-author-i-can-t-think-unless-i-m-lying/) [Dan Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-brown/) > [You can accept or reject the way you are treated by other people, but until you heal the wounds of your past, you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iyanla-vanzant/you-can-accept-or-reject-the-way-you-are-treated-by-other-people-but/) [Iyanla Vanzant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iyanla-vanzant/) > [Then he bummed a cigarette.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-rogers/then-he-bummed-a-cigarette/) [Kenny Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-rogers/) > [You're a religious man, ... You believe in God and life after death. I also believe. When we come to the other world and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-wiesenthal/you-re-a-religious-man-you-believe-in-god-and-life-after-death-i-also/) [Simon Wiesenthal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-wiesenthal/) > [Smoking one cigarette shortens your life by 14 minutes, but having sex lengthens it by 12 minutes. So smokers: screw for your lives!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/smoking-one-cigarette-shortens-your-life-by-14-minutes-but-having-sex/) [Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/) [Browse all 787 Cigarette quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cigarette/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of by smoking that one packet, maybe I share that packet with somebody who has not got even one cigarette, and that's the beginning of love, to give until it hurts.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mother Teresa" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Cigarette" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/mother-teresa-196_cigarette_they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a_59977.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/mother-teresa-196_cigarette_they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a_59977.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a3e/mother-teresa-196_cigarette_they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a_59977.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“They should give until it hurts, maybe a very small thing, maybe just a packet of cigarettes, but instead of…” — 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": "They should give until it hurts,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/they-should-give-until-it-hurts-maybe-a-very-small-thing-maybe-just-a/#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 } } ] } ```