Humorous Quotes

Share your favorite quotes about volunteers and volunteering so that others can add a spark to their presentations!  Also look at the other categories of "Quotables":  poems, humor, songs, stories, and parables.

We post quotables by newest submissions first.

Men have always volunteered, they just called themselves coaches, trustees, and firemen!

-- Susan J. Ellis, president of Energize     Submitted by Susan

If you don't believe one person can make a difference, you have never been in bed with a mosquito.

-- Anita Roddick     Submitted by Pam Betz

Reach for the stars. You might not get them, but you won't wind up with a handful of mud either!

Submitted by Linda Gray-Mitchell

If your ship doesn't come in. Swim out to it.

-- Jonathan Winters     Submitted by Paul Goebel

The only one who likes change is a wet baby!

Submitted by Theresa Osborne, Executive Secretary for the Women's Institutes of Nova Scotia

Some people dream of worthy accomplishments while others stay awake and do them!

Submitted by Nancy Sutter, Volunteer Coordinator for Peel Children's Centre

Here's to all volunteers, those dedicated people who believe in all work and no pay.

-- Robert Orben     Submitted by Charlie Ripple, VISTA Volunteer, Community Housing Partnership, Minnesota/USA

If you want happiness for an hour -- take a nap. If you want happiness for a day -- go fishing. If you want happiness for a month -- get married. If you want happiness for a year -- inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime -- help someone else.

-- Chinese Proverb     Submitted by Jacki Lansman

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there.

-- Will Rogers     Submitted by Joan Perry, DVS, Bon Secours-St. Francis Hospital, Charleston, SC

If you ever need a helping hand, it is at the end of your arm. As you get older you must remember you have a second hand. The first one is to help yourself. The second hand is to help others.

-- Audrey Hepburn     Submitted by Ed Madara, Director, American & NJ Group Self-Help Group Clearinghouses

There are three kinds of people: Those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who say, 'what happened?'

-- Casey Stengel     Submitted by Sue Staggs, State Director, Tomorrows Leaders Today, Texas

You have to become involved to make an impact. No one is impressed with the won/loss record of the referee.

-- John Holcomb     Submitted by Sue Staggs, State Director, Tomorrows Leaders Today, Texas

You can't leave footprints in the sands of time while sitting down. 

-- Nelson Rockefeller     Submitted by Mary St. John, Grants Admin., Pets & People Humane Society, Inc., Oklahoma USA

Noble deeds and hot baths are the best cures for depression. 

-- Dodie Smith     Submitted by Mike Corbin, Membership Chair, Metropolitan Detroit Volunteer Administration Network

Every society honors its live conformists and its dead troublemakers. 

-- Mignon McLaughlin     Submitted by Mike Corbin, Membership Chair, Metropolitan Detroit Volunteer Administration Network

Most of us in volunteer programs now realize that those 1000 points of light of George Bush #1 are really 500 candles burning at both ends and the only thing to trickle down from Reganomics was budget cuts.

Submitted by Nita Moser, Volunteer Coordinator, Battered Women's Project

Unless someone like you cares a whole, awful lot. Things aren't going to get better, they're NOT!

-- Dr. Seuss, The Lorax     Submitted by Sue Nelson, Agency Relations Director, Volunteer Jacksonville, Inc.

Those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.

-- Chinese Proverb     Submitted by Alane Hill, Project Director, Friends Foster Grandparent Program

Don't ever question the value of volunteers. Noah's Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals. 

Submitted by Dave Gynn, Coleman Professional Services, Ohio, USA

Paul Revere earned his living as a silversmith.   But what do we remember him for?  His volunteer work.  All activism is volunteering in that it's done above and beyond earning a living and deals with what people really care passionately about.  Remember, no one gets paid to rebel.  All revolutions start with volunteers.

-- Susan J. Ellis     Submitted by Susan in response to a workshop participant who heard Susan say this and wanted it shared.

If you don't have any charity in your heart you have the worst kind of heart trouble.    

-- Bob Hope     Submitted by Judi Reed

I always wondered why somebody didn't do something about that. Then I realized I was somebody.

-- Lily Tomlin     Submitted by Joyce Flaugher

If you're watching to learn....Watch!
If you're watching for a break....Speak up!
If you're watching for me to stop....Leave!
If you're here to help....Grab a shovel!

-- Original Composition     Submitted by Suzanne Carroll

If you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.

Submitted by Catherine Aird