Mother Teresa quotes
1910 – 1997 · Albania–India, 20th century · Catholic nun, missionary and founder of a religious congregation
About Mother Teresa
Born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu in Skopje (1910), she joined the Sisters of Loreto, moved to Calcutta, and after a decisive ‘‘call’’ in 1946 founded the Missionaries of Charity (formally recognized in 1950). She established homes, clinics and services for the poorest; canonized in 2016.
Works: Founding of the Missionaries of Charity (1950); establishment of homes for the dying and care centres
Quotes
“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.”
Source: no specific work is documented · Check the source
Disputed attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The wording is widely attributed to Mother Teresa across many secondary sources, but researchers have not found a contemporaneous primary text that confirms the exact phrasing.
- What remains uncertain
- Attribution is disputed: no definitive first appearance or primary-source citation has been established, so the quote should be labeled attributed rather than verified.
The line stresses that moral worth depends on intention: love makes ordinary actions significant. It echoes the Missionaries of Charity’s focus on humble, hands‑on care for the poorest rather than public acclaim. The exact wording is widely ascribed to Mother Teresa but lacks a primary source.