“I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn’t touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.”
- August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997
- Albanian
- Catholic nun and saint
- Founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India, and won the Nobel Peace Prize for her work in supporting the poor, sick, and orphans
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Quote
“I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn’t touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God.”
Explanation
Mother Teresa’s quote underscores the distinction between material wealth and the spiritual value of selfless service. She recognizes that money can provide physical needs, but it cannot buy the deeper human connection or love that is essential for true healing and care. Her words suggest that the love of God and a spirit of compassion are far more powerful than anything that can be exchanged for money. She demonstrates that the act of caring for others, especially those most marginalized—like lepers—requires not just a willingness to serve, but a profound commitment to love without expectation of reward or material gain.
Mother Teresa’s work with the poor and the sick, especially those with leprosy or untreatable illnesses, was driven by an understanding that their human dignity mattered more than their physical condition. While society often avoided or stigmatized these individuals, she saw them as deserving of love and respect, as children of God. For her, serving them was not a task to be done for compensation but an expression of her faith and a way to live out the love of Christ.
In today’s world, this quote challenges us to consider the difference between offering material help and offering genuine love and care. While money and resources are important in addressing physical needs, they cannot replace the human touch or the emotional and spiritual support that many people desperately need. Whether it’s offering care to a person in crisis, helping those in poverty without expecting anything in return, or showing compassion to those suffering from illness or isolation, we are reminded that the greatest form of service is one given freely, with love, without the expectation of any material reward.
