---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Supposing I write out a cheque for a…"
description: "\"Supposing I write out a cheque for a billion dollars to the foundation, does it mean anything? There must be evidence of philanthropy. Otherwise, I'm s..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/shiv-nadar-7217_business_supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-bil_2384994.jpg"
---

#  Supposing I write out a cheque for a billion dollars to…

![“Supposing I write out a cheque for a billion dollars to the foundation, does it mean anything? There must be evidence of philanthropy. Otherwise, I'm sitting with that money, earning interest exactly the way in my holding company.” quote by Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/shiv-nadar-7217_business_supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-bil_2384994.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/shiv-nadar-7217_business_supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-bil_2384994.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/shiv-nadar-7217_business_supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-bil_2384994.jpg)

> “Supposing I write out a cheque for a billion dollars to the foundation, does it mean anything? There must be evidence of philanthropy. Otherwise, I'm sitting with that money, earning interest exactly the way in my holding company.”

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Donating large sums without genuine intent lacks meaning; philanthropy requires authentic purpose and impact.

**In simple terms:** True giving needs purpose, not just money.

Key Takeaway

Align donations with clear impact.

Themes

philanthropy authenticity purpose

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- charitable foundations
- corporate giving
- personal wealth

Key Concepts

Ethics social responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence shows genuine philanthropy?
- How can you ensure your giving matters?

A Different Perspective

Money alone doesn’t guarantee goodwill.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Cheque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheque/) [Cheque Billion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheque-billion-5919923/) [Evidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evidence/) [Foundation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation/) [Foundation Does](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/foundation-does-5919924/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Philanthropy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanthropy/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) [Write Cheque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/write-cheque-1184855/)

## Related quotes

> [The moment I write out a cheque, it's an asset I have written off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/the-moment-i-write-out-a-cheque-it-s-an-asset-i-have-written-off/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [As for the largest-hearted of us, what is the word we write most often in our cheque-books? "Self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-phillpotts/as-for-the-largest-hearted-of-us-what-is-the-word-we-write-most-often/)

[Eden Phillpotts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-phillpotts/)

> [I wish I could Buy Time - just write a cheque, and a few days later a brown cardboard box would arrive at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-wish-i-could-buy-time-just-write-a-cheque-and-a-few-days-later-a/)

[Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/)

> [You have to feel more involved than just writing out a cheque. Charity is almost the wrong word - I think people are beginning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lumley/you-have-to-feel-more-involved-than-just-writing-out-a-cheque-charity/)

[Joanna Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lumley/)

> [My daughter is very happy doing philanthropy, especially in the schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/my-daughter-is-very-happy-doing-philanthropy-especially-in-the-schools/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [In philanthropy, you have to take the attitude of a mother... You have to be patient, and we have been very patient for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/in-philanthropy-you-have-to-take-the-attitude-of-a-mother-you-have-to/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [I firmly believe that philanthropy is most effective and outcome-oriented when you ensure that your pledge actually gets spent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/i-firmly-believe-that-philanthropy-is-most-effective-and-outcome/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [The Bharat Ram family was into philanthropy a way earlier. They build institutes such as Shri Ram College of Commerce, Lady Shri Ram College,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/the-bharat-ram-family-was-into-philanthropy-a-way-earlier-they-build/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [If you get to think of sharing wealth with people who need it and the purposes that need it, it gives a very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/if-you-get-to-think-of-sharing-wealth-with-people-who-need-it-and-the/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [Government, in its ultimate form, is the biggest philanthropher based in the world. And Bill Gates also said that he could do a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/government-in-its-ultimate-form-is-the-biggest-philanthropher-based/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [Though easy to define, it is important to understand the significance of philanthropy. I believe it is really a state of mind: where one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/though-easy-to-define-it-is-important-to-understand-the-significance/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [Egypt was tough without our parents. My brothers and sisters had to work day by day, and every time they collected a pay cheque,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/egypt-was-tough-without-our-parents-my-brothers-and-sisters-had-to/)

[Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/)

> [“Any general statement is like a cheque drawn on a bank. Its value depends on what is there to meet it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/any-general-statement-is-like-a-cheque-drawn-on-a-bank-its-value/)

[Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/)

> [I've tried open-ended jobs and found myself incredibly unhappy. I don't like the monomania of showing up every day and doing the same thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-klausner/i-ve-tried-open-ended-jobs-and-found-myself-incredibly-unhappy-i-don/)

[Julie Klausner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-klausner/)

> [The promise of Western capitalism of ever rising rates of pay has turned out to be the cheque that bounced](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-paxman/the-promise-of-western-capitalism-of-ever-rising-rates-of-pay-has/)

[Jeremy Paxman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-paxman/)

## More by Shiv Nadar

> [Though easy to define, it is important to understand the significance of philanthropy. I believe it is really a state of mind: where one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/though-easy-to-define-it-is-important-to-understand-the-significance/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [Government, in its ultimate form, is the biggest philanthropher based in the world. And Bill Gates also said that he could do a small…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/government-in-its-ultimate-form-is-the-biggest-philanthropher-based/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [In the future, there are going to be various components of doing business that have to be looked at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/in-the-future-there-are-going-to-be-various-components-of-doing/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [I admire companies that give back to communities. It is an absolute essential for organizations to watch, mitigate, and improve their impact on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/i-admire-companies-that-give-back-to-communities-it-is-an-absolute/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [I would like to share something that is being done extremely well by Bill Gates through the Bill &amp; Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/i-would-like-to-share-something-that-is-being-done-extremely-well-by/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [Education is a very large area, and we have our hands full. For example, SSN has to become a university; we have to keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/education-is-a-very-large-area-and-we-have-our-hands-full-for-example/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [Any institutions' alumni are key to its growth. We are focused on giving a global experience to our students.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/any-institutions-alumni-are-key-to-its-growth-we-are-focused-on/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [My daughter has no interest in succeeding me in the business. She is going towards social entrepreneurship, an area she is interested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/my-daughter-has-no-interest-in-succeeding-me-in-the-business-she-is/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [My role in the business is to use my judgment. All these years of experience have given me a clear head, and I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/my-role-in-the-business-is-to-use-my-judgment-all-these-years-of/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [In South, getting admission in SSN is not possible just because someone is my relative. One of the ministers said SSN is the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/in-south-getting-admission-in-ssn-is-not-possible-just-because/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [If you get to think of sharing wealth with people who need it and the purposes that need it, it gives a very different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/if-you-get-to-think-of-sharing-wealth-with-people-who-need-it-and-the/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [Education is taken for granted. Teaching shops are different from building character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/education-is-taken-for-granted-teaching-shops-are-different-from/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [We didn't create an institution to increase land value or asset value.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/we-didn-t-create-an-institution-to-increase-land-value-or-asset-value/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [I believe good corporate governance is critical in enhancing competitiveness and creating industry - leading profitable growth and superior returns for every stakeholder of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/i-believe-good-corporate-governance-is-critical-in-enhancing/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

> [The 1980s were fantastic. This was a time when we were at the peak of our creative work. The question of whether we would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/the-1980s-were-fantastic-this-was-a-time-when-we-were-at-the-peak-of/)

[Shiv Nadar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

[Explore all 93 Shiv Nadar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Supposing I write out a cheque for a billion dollars to the foundation, does it mean anything? There must be evidence of philanthropy. Otherwise, I'm sitting with that money, earning interest exactly the way in my holding company.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Shiv Nadar"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-billion-dollars-to-the/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-billion-dollars-to-the/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/shiv-nadar-7217_business_supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-bil_2384994.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/shiv-nadar-7217_business_supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-bil_2384994.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/shiv-nadar-7217_business_supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-bil_2384994.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Supposing I write out a cheque for a billion dollars to the foundation, does it mean anything? There must be…” — Shiv Nadar",
                "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": "Shiv Nadar",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shiv-nadar/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Supposing I write out a cheque...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-billion-dollars-to-the/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shiv-nadar/supposing-i-write-out-a-cheque-for-a-billion-dollars-to-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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
