I'll occasionally go and do an honor like the Mexican-American

When Linda Ronstadt said, “I’ll occasionally go and do an honor like the Mexican-American Legal Defense Fund because it raises money for a very worthy organization,” she spoke not only as an artist, but as a daughter of heritage — one who understood that fame is not merely a crown to be worn, but a tool to be used. Beneath her humility lies a profound truth: that honor without purpose is vanity, but honor in the service of others becomes virtue. Her words, though simple and modest, carry the weight of a soul that has learned that greatness is not measured by applause, but by one’s willingness to uplift those who cannot stand alone.

The origin of this quote rests in Ronstadt’s lifelong connection to her cultural roots and her awareness of the struggles faced by Mexican-Americans in the United States. Born in Tucson, Arizona, she was raised at the border where languages, traditions, and histories blended like the notes of her songs. Though she achieved stardom as one of America’s most celebrated voices, she never forgot the quiet dignity of her ancestors nor the barriers that still stood before many who shared her heritage. The Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) was created to fight those very injustices — to ensure that the children of immigrants, the laborers, and the poor were not silenced by the weight of systemic inequality. In lending her presence to their cause, Ronstadt was not performing for fame, but paying homage to her people.

Her words remind us that true generosity does not seek recognition. When she says she will “occasionally go and do an honor,” she speaks with the modesty of someone who knows that charity is not a performance. The ancient philosophers — from Aristotle to Marcus Aurelius — taught that virtue lies in doing good for its own sake, not for the reward it brings. Ronstadt’s choice to use her influence to raise money for a cause reflects this timeless teaching. In an age where celebrity can easily become self-worship, she turns her gaze outward — toward community, toward justice, toward healing. This act of giving transforms her talent from personal success into public service.

To understand the depth of her sentiment, one may recall the story of another artist who used fame as a force for change: Paul Robeson, the great singer and actor who, like Ronstadt, carried his people’s history in his voice. Robeson sang for workers, for soldiers, for those oppressed by racial prejudice. He too faced criticism and isolation, yet he never ceased to believe that an artist’s duty was to stand with the people, not above them. In this lineage of artists who serve, Ronstadt’s words find their place. She reminds us that the gift of a voice — whether in song or in influence — is sacred only when it speaks for those who have been silenced.

Ronstadt’s phrase “a very worthy organization” carries moral resonance beyond its simplicity. It is a recognition that some institutions are not built on profit or power, but on principle. Organizations like MALDEF are the modern equivalents of the ancient councils that once guarded the weak against the tyranny of the strong. They exist because injustice, like a shadow, never disappears; it only retreats when light is cast upon it. By supporting them, she aligns herself with an eternal struggle — the battle between equity and oppression, between silence and song. And in doing so, she teaches that to honor one’s heritage is not to speak of it proudly, but to defend its dignity in action.

There is also a lesson here about humility and timing. Ronstadt says she does this “occasionally” — not constantly, not for show. The ancients called this temperance, the virtue of balance. It is the wisdom to give without exhausting oneself, to honor without turning the act into spectacle. In every age, there are those who give loudly and those who give quietly; hers is the quieter path, but no less powerful. It reminds us that even small gestures, when done with sincerity, ripple outward into eternity. The world changes not only through grand revolutions, but through the consistent kindness of the mindful heart.

Let this, then, be the lesson drawn from her words: that the measure of success is not in what one earns, but in what one gives; not in what one is honored for, but in whom one chooses to honor. Each person, no matter their station, carries within them a form of influence — a song to be sung, a resource to be shared, a truth to be defended. Whether one is an artist, a teacher, or a laborer, the call is the same: use your gifts to strengthen the bonds of humanity.

And so, through the voice of Linda Ronstadt, we are reminded that every act of service — no matter how small or occasional — is an offering to the world’s conscience. To honor a cause greater than oneself is to keep alive the sacred duty that binds us to our ancestors and our descendants alike. For in lifting others, we lift ourselves — and in giving to the worthy, we preserve the worthiness of our own souls.