Mother Teresa of Calcutta was a Roman Catholic nun and missionary of Albanian ethnicity who dedicated her life to serving the poor and dying. She also served as a religious sister in India since 1948. Through her selfless works and profound dedication to serving the least of these, Mother Teresa gained international recognition. Her words of wisdom and life lessons have been revered and appreciated by many.
In this article, we’ve collected some of Mother Teresa’s most inspiring quotes and sayings. Use these wise words to be inspired, motivated and comforted.
On Love
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“Love cannot remain by itself – it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action and that action is service.”
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“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
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“We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”
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“Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”
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“It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.”
On Life
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“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
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“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is beauty, admire it. Life is a dream, realize it. Life is a challenge, meet it. Life is a duty, complete it. Life is a game, play it. Life is costly, care for it. Life is a wealth, keep it. Life is love, enjoy it.”
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“I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness.”
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“Life is an adventure, dare it.”
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“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
On Compassion
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“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
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“Be kind and merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better and happier.”
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“If we want a love message to be heard, it has got to be sent out. To keep a lamp burning, we have to keep putting oil in it.”
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“We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.”
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“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”
On Kindness
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“Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God – the rest will be given.”
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“Intense love does not measure, it just gives.”
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“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
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“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”
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“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
On Hope and Courage
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“Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.”
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“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
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“Never be so busy as not to think of others.”
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“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”
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“God doesn’t require us to succeed; he only requires that you try.”
On Faith
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“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”
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“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
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“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
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“No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible.”
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“Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go.”
On Hardship
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“Let us more and more insist on raising funds of love, of kindness, of understanding, of peace. Money will come if we seek first the Kingdom of God – the rest will be given.”
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“Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”
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“Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
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“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
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“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.”
These are just some of the wise and inspirational quotes Mother Teresa has offered throughout her life. All of her quotes provide lessons that can help shape and guide us through the toughest of times. Whether it’s about love, life, kindness, courage, faith or hardships, Mother Teresa’s words of wisdom have served as a light in the dark. Let these words remind you of how resilient and strong you are, no matter what life throws at you.