Paul P. Harris, the father of the Rotary Movement was born on April 19, 1868. When he passed away on January 27, 1947, he left behind for mankind, a rich legacy of fellowship and brotherhood for international understanding and service to humanity. Today the seed he sowed in 1905 has blossomed into a large tree covering 170 geographical regions with around 32,000 clubs with a membership of about 1.2 million.

Given here are a few excerpts from his speeches and writings which are as much valid as today’s world as they were during his lifetime.

This is a changing world, we must be prepared to change with it. The story of Rotary will have to be written again and again.

• On Fellowship : “Fellowship is wonderful, it illuminates life’s pathway, spreads good cheer and is worth a high price.”
• On Friendship : “Friendship was the foundation rock, on which Rotary was built and tolerance is the element which holds it together.”
• On Business : “In the Rotary plan, business is an important part of life but it is not the all of life. He whose vision extends no further than his field of business is to be pitied.”
• On Peace : “I have no hesitation in saying that world peace could be achieved and made permanent if reared on Rotary’s firm foundation of friendliness, tolerance and usefulness.”
• On Rotary Democracy : “The democratic spirit is the very life spark of Rotary. Rotary must never be permitted to become merely a rich man’s club. With the democracy of our organization kept pure, we may have hope to attend hitherto undreamed of heights in the elevation of business standards.”
• On Moral Values : “Sacrifice, devoation, honour, truth, sincerity, love – these are homely vitures characteristic of good old fashioned homes.”
• On working Together : “It has been the way of Rotary, to focus thought upon matter in which they are in agreement, than upon matters in which they are in disagreement. Rotary has satisfactorily demonstrated the fact that friendship can easily handle national and religous boundary lines.”