“No one has ever become poor by giving”
Anne Frank (1929-1945) wrote in the essay “Give” on March 26, 1944:
“Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving! If you do this, then in a few generations no one will need to pity the beggar children any more, because they will not exist!”
“No one has ever become poor by giving” is a slight variation that has been printed on many posters. The essence of the saying dates back to at least the Bible, Proverbs 28:27:
“He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”
“Did ever any one become poor by giving alms?” was published in an 1843 book of Tamil proverbs.
Bible Hub
Proverbs 28:27
King James Bible
He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Google Books
Tiruṭṭānta caṅkirakam, or, A collection of proverbs in Tamil
By P. Percival
Jaffna: American Mission Press
1843
Pg. 202:
Did ever any one become poor by giving alms?
Google Books
The Pulpit Orator
Vol. IV
By Johann Evangelist Zollner
Translated by Augustine Wirth
Elizabeth, NJ: Published by the translator
1883
Pg. 90:
Be not afraid that you will become poor by giving alms or charitable contributions. What you give to the poor, you lend to the Lord, and the Lord is a rich rewarder.
Google Books
Cassell’s Book of Quotations, Proverbs and Household Words
By Sir William Gurney Benham
New York, NY: Cassell and Company, Ltd.
1914
Pg. 783:
Did anyone over become poor by giving alms ? — (Hindoo.)
Google Books
The Social Message of the Early Church Fathers
By Igino Giordani
Paterson, NJ: St. Anthony Guild Press
1944
Pg. 308:
But the bishop answered this objection with the assurance that it is not possible to become poor by giving to the poor; and he quotes the Bible: “He that giveth to the poor, shall not want” (Prov. 28:27)
Google Books
The Works of Anne Frank
By Anne Frank
Westport, CT: Greenwood Press
1974, ©1959
Pg. 10:
“No one ever becomes poor from giving,” Mrs. Frank used to say, and Anne herself repeats this in her little essay called “Give.”
Davids Computer Life
Wednesday, February 13th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
No one has ever become poor by giving – Anne Frank
St. Petersburg (FL) Times
Start slowly changing the world!
By DR. JOYCE APSEL
December 13, 1999
(...)
Anne Frank aspired to be a writer, and not just in her diary. Here is an essay she wrote on March 26, 1944.
Give
(...)
How lovely to think that no one need wait a moment; we can start now, start slowly changing the world! How lovely that everyone, great and small, can make their contribution toward introducing justice straight away! Just as with so many things, most people seek justice in quite another quarter; they grumble because they receive so little of it themselves. Open your eyes. First make sure that you are always fair yourself! Give of yourself, give as much as you can! And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness! If everyone were to do this and would not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world. Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible. Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving! No one has ever become poor from giving! If you do this, then in a few generations no one will need to pity the beggar children any more, because they will not exist!
Google Books
Chicken Soup for the Soul: It’s Christmas!:
101 Joyful Stories about the Love, Fun, and Wonder of the Holidays
By Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen and Amy Newmark
New York, NY: Simon & Schuster
2013
Pg. 5:
No one has ever become poor by giving. ~Anne Frank
Coeur d’Alene (ID) Press
Homeless event warms hearts, feet
Posted: Friday, November 29, 2013 12:00 am
(...)
“I have never seen anyone become poor by giving.” - Anne Frank