Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be first.

Meaning of the quote

People want to help, but they don't want to be the first ones to do it. They're afraid to take the first step or take responsibility. Everyone hopes someone else will be the one to start, but in the end, no one takes action. It takes courage to be the first one to try and make a difference.

About Pearl Bailey

Pearl Bailey was a talented American actress, singer, and author who had a long and successful career in entertainment. She made her Broadway debut in 1946, won a Tony Award for her role in Hello, Dolly!, and received numerous other accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1988.

More about the author

More quotes from Pearl Bailey

There are two kinds of talent, man-made talent and God-given talent. With man-made talent you have to work very hard. With God-given talent, you just touch it up once in a while.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

Everybody wants to do something to help, but nobody wants to be first.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

There is a way to look at the past. Don’t hide from it. It will not catch you if you don’t repeat it.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

There’s a period of life when we swallow a knowledge of ourselves and it becomes either good or sour inside.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

When you’re young, the silliest notions seem the greatest achievements.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

Never, never rest contented with any circle of ideas, but always be certain that a wider one is still possible.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

A man without ambition is dead. A man with ambition but no love is dead. A man with ambition and love for his blessings here on earth is ever so alive.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

I never really look for anything. What God throws my way comes. I wake up in the morning and whichever way God turns my feet, I go.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

You never find yourself until you face the truth.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

The first and worst of all frauds is to cheat one’s self. All sin is easy after that.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

No one can figure out your worth but you.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

The sweetest joy, the wildest woe is love. What the world really needs is more love and less paperwork.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

What the world really needs is more love and less paper work.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

A crown, if it hurts us, is not worth wearing.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

Hungry people cannot be good at learning or producing anything, except perhaps violence.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

We look into mirrors but we only see the effects of our times on us – not our effects on others.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

You cannot belong to anyone else, until you belong to yourself.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

To talk to someone who does not listen is enough to tense the devil.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

People see God every day, they just don’t recognize him.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

You must change in order to survive.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)

Sometimes I would almost rather have people take away years of my life than take away a moment.

Pearl Bailey

American actress and singer (1918-1990)