Dorothy Day
Dorothy Day (1897–1980) was an American journalist, social activist, and Catholic convert who co‑founded the Catholic Worker Movement to serve the poor and promote social justice. She emphasized lived witness and hospitality, encapsulated by her remark, "The best sermons are lived, not preached."
Quotes by Dorothy Day
Quotes: 2
Living One's Values: The Sermon of Action Over Words
Transitioning from her personal conviction, the sentiment finds echoes in classical philosophy and major religious teachings. For instance, Confucius maintained that virtue was cultivated through habitual right action, not idle speech. Similarly, in Christianity, the Gospel of Matthew (5:16) urges, 'let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds.' Such injunctions illustrate a universal respect for integrity embodied in action. [...]
Created on: 7/10/2025
True Spirit: Acting Without Expectation of Reward
Transitioning to the philosophical context, Day’s idea echoes Immanuel Kant’s concept of duty-driven morality. Kant posited in his ‘Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals’ (1785) that moral worth arises when actions are taken for duty’s sake, not for personal gain. This tradition affirms the spiritual virtue of giving or serving in ways that transcend expectations or calculations. [...]
Created on: 6/17/2025