In short: the Buddha said that if people only knew the fruit of giving and sharing, "they would not eat without first giving" (Iti 26). Here are five genuine quotes on generosity, each with its source.
1. Iti 26
"Mendicants, if sentient beings only knew, as I do, the fruit of giving and sharing, they would not eat without first giving, and the stain of stinginess would not occupy their minds."
Iti 26 · More
2. Dhammapada 224
"Speak the truth, do not be angry, and give when asked, if only a little. By these three means, you may enter the presence of the gods."
Dhammapada 224
3. Dhammapada 177
"The miserly don't ascend to heaven, it takes a fool to not praise giving. The attentive celebrate giving, and so find happiness in the hereafter."
Dhammapada 177
4. Dhammapada 223
"Defeat anger with kindness, villainy with virtue, stinginess with giving, and lies with truth."
Dhammapada 223
5. Dhammapada 242
"Misconduct is a woman's stain. A giver's stain is stinginess. Bad qualities are a stain in this world and the next."
Dhammapada 242
All quotes are from the early Buddhist texts in Bhikkhu Sujato's translation on SuttaCentral, copied exactly. Last checked: 18 October 2026.
Try it
Get a verse chosen for how you feel today: make your teaching card. Seen a quote you're not sure about? Check it in Did the Buddha really say that? More themes: real Buddha quotes.
Questions people ask
What did the Buddha say about giving?
'If sentient beings only knew, as I do, the fruit of giving and sharing, they would not eat without first giving' (Iti 26).