You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.

The saying contrasts two kinds of “making”: earning (what one gets) versus meaning (what one gives). It suggests that income and acquisition may sustain existence, but a fulfilled life is built through generosity—service, charity, mentorship, or contributions to others. The aphorism’s balanced parallelism (“make a living / make a life”) gives it the feel of a moral maxim, framing giving not as optional virtue but as the central measure of a life well lived. Even when used in secular contexts, it echoes older ethical traditions that define human worth through beneficence rather than possession.