The best thing about giving of ourselves is that what we get is always better than what we give. The reaction is greater than the action.

Marden frames generosity and self-giving as a kind of moral “law of return”: the inner and social consequences of giving—gratitude, strengthened relationships, self-respect, widened sympathies, and a sense of purpose—often outweigh the original sacrifice. By casting it in quasi-scientific terms (“reaction” greater than “action”), he suggests that altruism is not merely dutiful but dynamically productive, setting off ripples that come back amplified. The line also reflects Marden’s broader success-and-character philosophy: personal advancement is tied to service, and the richest rewards are frequently intangible—growth of character, influence, and meaning—rather than material repayment.