For it’s the will
And not the gift that makes the giver.

[Denn der Wille
und nicht die Gabe macht den Geber.]

Gotthold Lessing (1729-1781) German playwright, philosopher, dramaturg, writer

Nathan the Wise [Nathan der Weise], Act 1, sc. 5 [Lay Brother/Friar] (1779) [tr. Morgan (1955)]
    (Source)

(Source (German)). Alternate translations:

The will, and not the deed, makes up the giver.
[tr. Taylor (1790)]

'Tis
The will, and not the boon, that makes the giver.
[tr. Reich (1860)]

For the will it is
That makes the giver -- not the gift.
[tr. Jacks (1867)]

For the will and not the gift makes the giver.
[Source (1873)]

The will and not the deed perfects the giver.
[tr. Boylan (1878)]

For 'tis the will, and not the gift,
That makes the giver.
[tr. Corbett (1883)]

The will and not the gift
Doth constitute the giver.
[tr. Maxwell (1917)]

Because the intention and not the gift make the giver.
[tr. Reinhardt (1950)]

It's not the gift that makes the giver, no, but rather his good will.
[tr. Ade (1972)]