--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is better to deserve without receiving…" description: "\"It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving\" — Robert Green Ingersoll" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/robert-green-ingersoll-361_deserve_it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receivin_332889.png" --- # It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive… ![“It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving” quote by Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/robert-green-ingersoll-361_deserve_it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receivin_332889.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/robert-green-ingersoll-361_deserve_it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receivin_332889.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/robert-green-ingersoll-361_deserve_it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receivin_332889.png) > “It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving” [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It is more honorable to earn something without receiving it than to receive something undeserved. **In simple terms:** Earn without receiving is more honorable than receiving without earning. Key Takeaway Value integrity over unearned reward. Themes integrity honor justice ethics Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - business negotiations - academic recognition - personal relationships Key Concepts philosophy morality social contract Questions to Reflect On - What does true merit mean to you? - How do you recognize unearned privilege? A Different Perspective Some may argue that modesty can hide genuine achievement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [Better to deserve praise without having it, than to have it without deserving it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-panin/better-to-deserve-praise-without-having-it-than-to-have-it-without/) [Ivan Panin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-panin/) > [When you realize how much better you deserve , getting over someone is nothing!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-realize-how-much-better-you-deserve-getting-over-someone-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I am more afraid of deserving criticism than of receiving it. I stand in awe of my own opinion. The secret demerits of which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/i-am-more-afraid-of-deserving-criticism-than-of-receiving-it-i-stand/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [I am more afraid of deserving criticism than of receiving it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/i-am-more-afraid-of-deserving-criticism-than-of-receiving-it/) [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-wadsworth-longfellow/) > [Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/democracy-is-a-device-that-ensures-we-shall-be-governed-no-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Thank you for showing me that I deserve someone a million times better than you. I deserve to be treated right and by God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thank-you-for-showing-me-that-i-deserve-someone-a-million-times/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“But it’s a fact of life that dreadful people usually end up getting far better than they deserve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kleypas/but-it-s-a-fact-of-life-that-dreadful-people-usually-end-up-getting/) [Lisa Kleypas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kleypas/) > [Relationship Works Best When Both Persons Believe They Got Better Than They Deserve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nisha-kapoor/relationship-works-best-when-both-persons-believe-they-got-better/) [Nisha Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nisha-kapoor/) > [A relationship works best when both people believe they have better than they deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sushan-sharma/a-relationship-works-best-when-both-people-believe-they-have-better/) [Sushan Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sushan-sharma/) > [I know it hard to let go but if u really like that person and they don't treat u the way u should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raheem-nicholas/i-know-it-hard-to-let-go-but-if-u-really-like-that-person-and-they/) [Raheem Nicholas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raheem-nicholas/) > [“I can’t ask for a better you. You, however, deserve a better me." Adhitya Mulya dalam Sabtu Bersama Bapak”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adhitya-mulya/i-can-t-ask-for-a-better-you-you-however-deserve-a-better-me-adhitya/) Adhitya Mulya > [“Believe me when I say I won’t have sex with you like this. I would never disrespect you so much as to not make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-ashley/believe-me-when-i-say-i-won-t-have-sex-with-you-like-this-i-would/) [Katie Ashley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-ashley/) > ["How are you doing?" - - - better than I deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/how-are-you-doing-better-than-i-deserve/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Don’t stay stuck on the people who’ve hurt you. Move on and let your future give you the better that you deserve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-shelton/don-t-stay-stuck-on-the-people-who-ve-hurt-you-move-on-and-let-your/) [Trent Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-shelton/) > [To tell only the happy stories: that isn't life. It isn't true, and you deserve better. You deserve to know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-stewart/to-tell-only-the-happy-stories-that-isn-t-life-it-isn-t-true-and-you/) [Sean Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-stewart/) ## More by Robert Green Ingersoll > [Our hope of immortality does not come from any religions, but nearly all religions come from that hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/our-hope-of-immortality-does-not-come-from-any-religions-but-nearly/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [If, with all the time at my disposal, with all the wealth of the resources of this vast universe, to do with as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/if-with-all-the-time-at-my-disposal-with-all-the-wealth-of-the/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Honest investigation is utterly impossible within the pale of any church, for the reason, that if you think the church is right you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/honest-investigation-is-utterly-impossible-within-the-pale-of-any/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [I read the other day an account of a meeting between John Knox and John Calvin. 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Neither do I believe in revenge. No man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/i-do-not-believe-in-loving-enemies-i-have-pretty-hard-work-to-love-my/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [What is it that distinguishes you and me from the lower animals - from the beasts? More, I say, than anything else, human sympathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/what-is-it-that-distinguishes-you-and-me-from-the-lower-animals-from/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [The literature of many lands is rich with the tributes that gratitude, admiration and love have paid to the great and honored dead. These…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-literature-of-many-lands-is-rich-with-the-tributes-that-gratitude/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) [Explore all 640 Robert Green Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) ## More Deserve quotes > [If you are well-mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-are-well-mannered-towards-those-whose-views-are-similar-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ Vote for Donald Trump. You're going to see something and you'll be so happy, you'll be so thrilled. This \[presidential\] election is about every… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/vote-for-donald-trump-you-re-going-to-see-something-and-you-ll-be-so/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [I am a millionaire today and my wife deserves all of the credit. 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I feel now He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-phillpotts/i-used-to-hurt-so-badly-that-i-d-ask-god-why-what-have-i-done-to/) [Eden Phillpotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-phillpotts/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [My prayer to the Lord every day, is this-I have been a great sinner. I do not deserve Heaven. Let me stay here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-segovia/my-prayer-to-the-lord-every-day-is-this-i-have-been-a-great-sinner-i/) [Andres Segovia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-segovia/) > [Every girl deserves a guy who'll prove to her that not all guys are the same, a guy who'll love her just the way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-wayne/every-girl-deserves-a-guy-who-ll-prove-to-her-that-not-all-guys-are/) [Lil Wayne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-wayne/) > [If you are a white male, you don't deserve to live. You are a cancer, you're a disease, white males have never contributed anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-ignatiev/if-you-are-a-white-male-you-don-t-deserve-to-live-you-are-a-cancer/) [Noel Ignatiev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-ignatiev/) > [Singaporeans like Mr. Alfian Sa'at do not deserve to be admonished in Parliament on the basis of a selective reading of their works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pritam-singh/singaporeans-like-mr-alfian-sa-at-do-not-deserve-to-be-admonished-in/) [Pritam Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pritam-singh/) > [Use every man according to his desert and who should 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honor and dignity, the less they deserve…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/use-every-man-according-to-his-desert-and-who-should-scape-whipping/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“We should not elevate anyone higher than our own heart. 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Sometimes they don't deserve it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rylan-clark-neal/i-am-constantly-nice-to-people-sometimes-they-don-t-deserve-it/) [Rylan Clark-Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rylan-clark-neal/) Browse all 4,764 Deserve quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Green Ingersoll" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receiving-than-to-receive-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Deserve" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receiving-than-to-receive-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/robert-green-ingersoll-361_deserve_it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receivin_332889.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/robert-green-ingersoll-361_deserve_it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receivin_332889.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/robert-green-ingersoll-361_deserve_it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receivin_332889.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is better to deserve without receiving than to receive without deserving” — Robert Green Ingersoll", "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": "Robert Green Ingersoll", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is better to deserve without...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receiving-than-to-receive-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/it-is-better-to-deserve-without-receiving-than-to-receive-without/#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 } } ] } ```