Be Inspired by Kindness Quotes

I took a ton of time to compile these kindness quotes for you because:

• it is my act of kindness to you and;
• it was very soothing to read through all of it.

I hope it does for you, what it did for me.

1. It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice. ~Author unknown
2. Always be a little kinder than necessary. ~James M. Barrie
3. A kind word is like a Spring day. ~Russian Proverb
4. Do good by stealth, and blush to find it fame. ~Alexander Pope, Epilogue to the Satires, 1738
5. I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do. ~ Helen Keller
6. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.~ Margaret Mead
7. Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together. ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
8. Kindness is the only service that will stand the storm of life and not wash out. It will wear well and will be remembered long after the prism of politeness or the complexion of courtesy has faded away. Abraham Lincoln
9. Do you really want to be happy? Just pay attention and be kind, unconditionally kind, on this breath alone. Forget about the future. Just this breath. No matter what the circumstances, just be kind. Friend, lover, family member, someone who seems to hate you, someone you’ve never met on the street, your own soft animal body. Just be kind, in whatever way is appropriate. Everything else will work itself out, and you will begin to sense your own pure heart everywhere. How amazing. Very simple. Just be kind. Only on this breath. ~ Scott Morrison
10. A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money. John Ruskin
11. “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” ~ Desmond Tutu
12. “Only a smile, only a word, only a kindness done. A brief exchange, a little light of love from one to one.” John McLeod
13. Genuine kindness is no ordinary act, but a gift of rare beauty. ~ Sylvia Rossetti
14. For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone. Audrey Hepburn
15. Kindness is the greatest wisdom. ~Author Unknown
16. Be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud. ~Maya Angelou
17. Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love. ~ Mother Teresa
18. Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again. ~ Og Mandino
19. To err on the side of kindness is seldom an error. ~Liz Armbruster
20. Sure the world breeds monsters, but kindness grows just as wild… ~Mary Karr, The Liars’ Club: A Memoir, 1995
21. “You can cultivate mercy when you extend acts of compassion and kindness to yourself and to other people.” Bree Miller, Gratitude & Happiness: A Guide to Feeling Grateful, Happy And Free
22. The level of our success is limited only by our imagination and no act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted. Aesop
23. “When you show people kindness and respect, despite petty differences, you are bringing positive vibes into your life and into the lives of others.” Jason Scotts, Mental Strength and Positive Attitude
24. There is no effect more disproportionate to its cause than the happiness bestowed by a small compliment. ~Robert Brault
25. As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being, ~ Carl Jung
26. If you haven’t any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. ~Bob Hope
27. “Perform little acts of kindness ‘just because’, and watch how much better you feel about yourself.” James Fullerton, Self-Esteem : Believe In Yourself
28. Kindness is loving people more than they deserve. Joseph Joubert
29. When you can be the sunshine in someone’s life, or the warm rain, why would you be the cold north wind? ~Robert Brault
30. The man who practises unselfishness, who is genuinely interested in the welfare of others, who feels it a privilege to have the power to do a fellow-creature a kindness – even though polished manners and a gracious presence may be absent – will be an elevating influence wherever he goes. Orison Swett Marden
31. “Being mindful allows you to think of others’ situations and problems. Walking by someone you don’t know his or her story, but you have the ability to be kind and mindful of him or her.” Kellie Sullivan, Mindfulness : 5O Easy Mindfulness Exercises For Beginners To Live In The Moment And The Art Of Letting Go
32. If, after I depart this vale, you ever remember me and have thought to please my ghost, forgive some sinner and wink your eye at some homely girl. ~H.L. Mencken
33. Kind people are the best kind of people. ~Author Unknown
34. “My wish for you is that you continue. Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender heart.” Maya Angelou
35. Kindness and a generous spirit go a long way. And a sense of humor. It’s like medicine – very healing. Max Irons
36. One can pay back the loan of gold, but one dies forever in debt to those who are kind. ~Malayan Proverb
37. “There are many different ways we can show kindness to others, and it doesn’t have to be in a big way. The simplest of things may make the difference.” Catherine Pulsifer
38. Spread love everywhere you go: First of all in your own house…kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness. ~ Mother Teresa
39. “Kindness is an electrical spark of life that runs through all kingdoms and has a reciprocal action when shown to others.” Joe Hayes
40. Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate. ~ Albert Schweitzer
41. “Be kind to everyone. Not just the popular people.” Norah Deay
42. “Kindness extended, received, or observed beneficially impacts the physical health and feelings of everyone involved.” Wayne Dyer, The Invisible Force
43. Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up. ~Jesse Jackson
44. This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.~ Dalai Lama
45. “Let us practice random kindness and acts of senseless beauty to all we meet.” Paul Keller, Peace
46. “How might your relationships with others change if you responded with kindness?” Corey Gladwell, The Human Experience
47. If every man’s internal care, were written on his brow. How many would our pity share, who raise our envy now? ~Peitro Metastasio
48. Every act of kindness is like a pebble thrown in a pond sending out ripples far beyond where the pebble entered the water. When we’re caring and kind to our neighbors, our actions send rings of kindness that spread from neighbor to neighbor to neighbor.~ Angela Artemis
49. I soothe my conscience now with the thought that it is better for hard words to be on paper than that Mummy should carry them in her heart. ~Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl
50. “Our kindness towards another propagates across a network of individuals, just as a hostile relation can span generations.” John Shea, Strategic Empathy
51. “Kindness and helpfulness are great traits – but when pleasing others becomes an addiction, you sacrifice your own well-being and that of those close to you for the fleeting feel-good fix.” Rayne Hall, People Pleasing: Saying No and Setting Boundaries
52. Don’t wait for people to be friendly, show them how. ~Author Unknown
53. The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. ~Nelson Henderson
54. Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. ~ Lao Tzu
55. Real charity doesn’t care if it’s tax-deductible or not. ~Dan Bennett
56. A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives roses. ~Chinese Proverb
57. Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns. ~Author Unknown
58. Never miss an opportunity to make others happy, even if you have to leave them alone in order to do it. ~Author Unknown
59. The kindest word in all the world is the unkind word, unsaid. ~Author Unknown
60. What this world needs is a new kind of army – the army of the kind. ~ Cleveland Amory
61. “Without cruelty, we would not know kindness.” Rosemary Peck, The Little Book of Tough Self Love
62. Don’t let those who take advantage of your generosity stop you from being generous. ~Author Unknown
63. “Notice acts of kindness offered to you from your surroundings. Someone, no matter who, is doing something thoughtful for you.” Noelia Aanulds, Happiness: Learn How To Be Happy And Boost Your Life
64. How wise must one be to be always kind! ~Marie Dubsky, Freifrau von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916), translated by Mrs Annis Lee Wister, 1882
65. The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own. ~Benjamin Disraeli
66. Since we desire the true happiness that is brought about by a calm mind, and such peace of mind arises only from having a compassionate attitude, we need to make a concerted effort to develop compassion. ~ Dalai Lama
67. The best way to knock the chip off your neighbor’s shoulder is to pat him on the back. ~Author Unknown
68. If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ~ Dalai Lama
69. Goodness is about character – integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people. Dennis Prager
70. It is the characteristic of the magnanimous man to ask no favor but to be ready to do kindness to others. ~ Aristotle
71. Kindness gives birth to kindness. ~ Sophocles
72. When autumn darkness falls, what we will remember are the small acts of kindness: a cake, a hug, an invitation to talk, and every single rose. These are all expressions of a nation coming together and caring about its people. Jens Stoltenberg
73. Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows. Robert Green Ingersoll
74. That life is to my liking which is made up of little deeds, little sacrifices, little kindnesses. ~Birthday letter quoted in J.R. Macduff, Birthdays, 1893
75. Small kindnesses make you a bigger person. ~Terri Guillemets
76. As the bus slowed down at a crowded bus stop, the Pakistani bus conductor leaned from the platform and called out, “Six only!” The bus stopped. He counted on six passengers, rang the bell, and then, as the bus moved off, called to those left behind: “So sorry, plenty of room in my heart — but the bus is full.” He left behind a row of smiling faces. It’s not what you do, it’s the way that you do it… ~The Friendship Book of Francis Gay, 1977
77. Treat everyone with politeness, even those who are rude to you — not because they are nice, but because you are. ~Author Unknown
78. We always prefer war on our own terms to peace on someone else’s. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, 1966
79. It’s not our job to play judge and jury, to determine who is worthy of our kindness and who is not. We just need to be kind, unconditionally and without ulterior motive, even – or rather, especially – when we’d prefer not to be. Josh Radnor
80. “You will never have a completely bad day if you show kindness at least once.” Greg Henry Quinn
81. Open your heart — open it wide; someone is standing outside. ~Quoted in Believe: A Christmas Treasury by Mary Engelbreit
82. The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey. Sarah Fielding
83. Be thoughtful of others and you will not be shy, for they are incompatible addictions. ~Robert Brault
84. A kind and compassionate act is often its own reward. ~ William John Bennett
85. As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of kindness and decency. Caroline Kennedy
86. In order to be remembered, leave nothing behind but goodness. ~Yogi® Tea
87. Deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments. ~The Talmud
88. Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day. ~ Sally Koch
89. A fellow who does things that count, doesn’t usually stop to count them. ~Variation of a saying by Albert Einstein
90. “Today you can embrace kindness, practice compassion, stand up for justice, talk to strangers, ask for help, offer hope and listen with your whole heart.” Author Unknown
91. Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can. ~ John Wesley
92. What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?~ Jean Jacques Rousseau
93. Make it a practice to judge persons and things in the most favorable light at all times and under all circumstances. ~Saint Vincent de Paul
94. Nothing in life means anything unless someone cares, and the whole trick is to keep being that someone. ~Robert Brault
95. “Sometimes the practice of kindness brings ready, joyful results. Other times it takes an awful lot from us and is exceptionally hard -but it still feels like the right thing to do. Sharon Salzberg, The Kindness Handbook: A Practical Companion
96. When your suffering is a little greater than my suffering I feel that I am a little cruel. ~Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943, translated from Spanish by W.S. Merwin
97. If you want to be a rebel, be kind. ~ Pancho Ramos Stierle
98. Always be kind, for everyone is fighting a hard battle. ~ Plato
99. Your acts of kindness are iridescent wings of divine love, which linger and continue to uplift others long after your sharing. ~ Rumi
100. The more sympathy you give, the less you need. ~Malcolm S. Forbes
101. Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. ~James Matthew Barrie
102. There are few things that are more beautifully infectious than true kindness. It spreads like a magnificent wildfire. ~Keith Wynn
103. “How would your week have been different if you did everything with love and kindness?” Tina Nies, 40 Day LoveFest for You
104. “Kindness: what a strange word to find on anybody’s lips these days. It is like a style in clothes which is no longer worn, or like a musty language no longer spoken . . . Nevertheless, it has a way of returning every now and then to earth . . . and there is kindness again, nestling stubbornly in people’s hearts, lifting a small peaceful voice, ready for the millennium.” Robert Nathan
105. “Recognize the inherent value of every team member, and treat them with kindness and consideration.” Philip West, Self-Help Box Set: Top 100 Qualities That Make A Great Leader
106. What I call the depth of generosity is when people are very fond of giving away what they need most themselves. ~ Oscar Wilde
107. No one is born hating another person…People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite. ~ Nelson Mandela
108. Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. ~ Mark Twain
109. Treat everyone with respect and kindness. Period. No exceptions. Kiana Tom
110. “This river of kindness flows through each and every one of us, connecting us. Because kindness is more than just medicine. The act of giving and receiving is where the real magic of human connection occurs.” Leon Logothesis, The Kindness Diaries: One Man’s Quest to Ignite Goodwill and Transform Lives Around the World
111. Sometimes someone says something really small, and it just fits right into this empty place in your heart. ~From the television show My So-Called Life
112. When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world. ~ Harold Kushner
113. “Yet, at the same time, we see extreme acts of kindness, selfless acts of courage and people doing all manner of good in the world.” Elizabeth Edwards, My God In Whom I Trust!
114. Don’t be yourself — be someone a little nicer. ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Second Neurotic’s Notebook, 1966
115. “Teaching kids good manners is teaching them about kindness, consideration and respect.” Claire Stranberg, Raising Kids With Good Manners
116. The qualities I most admire in women are confidence and kindness. Oscar de la Renta
117. In a world full of people who couldn’t care less, be someone who couldn’t care more. ~Author unknown
118. Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not. ~ Samuel Johnson
119. The very nature of kindness is to spread. If you are kind to others, today they will be kind to you, and tomorrow to somebody else. ~ Sri Chinmoy
120. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~Leo Buscaglia
121. Getting money is not all a man’s business: to cultivate kindness is a valuable part of the business of life. ~Samuel Johnson
122. We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark. ~ Whoopi Goldberg
123. Being considerate of others will take your children further in life than any college degree. ~Marian Wright Edelman
124. Kindness is tenderness. Kindness is love, but perhaps greater than love…Kindness is good will. Kindness says, ‘I want you to be happy’. ~ Randolph Ray
125. The ideals which have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth. ~ Albert Einstein
126. To give and then not feel that one has given is the very best of all ways of giving. ~Max Beerbohm
127. Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world. Annie Lennox
128. “Strong healthy relationships allow people to be vulnerable and gives them permission to look at themselves with honesty and kindness.” Robin Roberts, What do I do now
129. “I have always felt that kindness is love made visible.” Bronnie Ware
130. “Perform a random act of kindness for someone: a smile, compliment, or a favor just for fun. These will multiply and spread very rapidly.” Steve Brunkhorst
131. Because that’s what kindness is. It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can. ~Andrew Iskander
132. If there is any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not deter or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. ~ William Penn
133. There is no greater loan than a sympathetic ear. ~Frank Tyger
134. If I see you as different and I view you with suspicion, or at the best with cold neutrality, it is unlikely that I will feel kindly disposed toward you. If instead I look at you knowing we both belong to the human race, both have a similar nature, different experiences but the same roots and a common destiny, then it is probable I will feel openness, solidarity, empathy toward you. In another word, Kindness. ~ Pierro Ferucci
135. Kindness is always fashionable, and always welcome. Amelia Barr
136. The best portion of a good man’s life is his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. ~ William Wordsworth Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work. ~ William Arthur Ward
137. “Certainly not all examples of the reciprocity norm are as extreme, but the concept relies on the idea that kindness begets kindness, and it works!” Keith Boyer; Matt Riley, Psychology and The Art of Persuasion Box Set
138. Kind deeds often come back to the givers in fairer shapes than they go. ~Louisa M. Alcott, “How It All Happened,” in Harper’s Young People, 1880 December 21st
139. Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go. ~ Mother Teresa
140. Something that has always puzzled me all my life is why, when I am in special need of help, the good deed is usually done by somebody on whom I have no claim. ~William Feather
141. I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again. ~William Penn
142. Life is short but there is always time for courtesy. Ralph Waldo Emerson
143. Whatever possession we gain by our sword cannot be sure or lasting, but the love gained by kindness and moderation is certain and durable. Alexander the Great
144. The best practical advice I can give to the present generation is to practice the virtue which the Christians call love. ~Bertrand Russell
145. The only people with whom you should try to get even are those who have helped you. ~ John E. Southard
146. “If someone shows you kindness and generosity, you are likely to reciprocate. If you are happy at work and feel that you are being treated well, you will probably go the extra mile to ensure your work is done thoroughly.” Reen Rose, The Secrets to Being Happy at Work: Learn to Love the Job You’re With
147. “Focus on being a kind person every day for a month, make sure that nothing comes out of your mouth that is not kind, focus on having kind thoughts and watch how much your life changes.” Steve Williams, Grit, Discipline, Perseverance: The Emotional Habits That Drive Success
148. It’s also selfish because it makes you feel good when you help others. I’ve been helped by acts of kindness from strangers. That’s why we’re here, after all, to help others. Carol Burnett
149. A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles. ~ Washington Irving
150. Kind hearts are the gardens. Kind thoughts are the roots. Kind words are the blossoms. Kind deeds are the fruits. ~ Kirpal Singh
151. The first and highest law must be the love of man to man. Homo homini Deus est
152. If we cannot be clever, we can always be kind. ~Alfred Fripp
153. “All the kindness a person puts out into the world works on the hearts and thoughts of mankind.” Thomas E. Pierce, The Last Rose
154. You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
155. Do a deed of simple kindness; though its end you may not see, it may reach, like widening ripples, down a long eternity.~ Joseph Norris
156. The key to genuine happiness is in our hands. To think this way is to discover the essential values of kindness, brotherly love and altruism. The more clearly we see the benefits of these values, the more we will seek to reject anything that opposes them; in this way we will be able to bring about inner transformation. ~ Dalai Lama
157. The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines. ~Charles Kuralt, On the Road With Charles Kuralt
158. When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people. ~ Abraham Joshua Heschel
159. Gratitude is the inward feeling of kindness received. Thankfulness is the natural impulse to express that feeling. Thanksgiving is the following of that impulse. Henry Van Dyke
160. Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. ~ Mother Teresa
161. You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you. ~John Wooden
162. If those who owe us nothing gave us nothing, how poor we would be. ~Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943, translated from Spanish by W.S. Merwin
163. He who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love. ~ St. Basil
164. Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough. Franklin D. Roosevelt
165. “While kindness is a virtue and everyone should help, you should only do so to the extent that it is humanly possible and it will not eat up all of your time.” Matthew Lewis Browne, How to Say No
166. I always prefer to believe the best of everybody, it saves so much trouble. ~Rudyard Kipling
167. When the heart is heavy cheerful words can carry it. ~Matshona Dhliwayo
168. The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose. ~ Hada Bejar
169. “Honesty, love, kindness the desire to bring out the good in others, and the readiness to forgive should be in these relationships.” Mia Conrad, Self-Compassion
170. Kind words produce their own image in men’s souls; and a beautiful image it is. They soothe and quiet and comfort the hearer. They shame him out of his sour, morose, unkind feelings. We have not yet begun to use kind words in such abundance as they ought to be used. ~ Blaise Pascal
171. Don’t cast a shadow on anyone unless you’re providing shade. ~Terri Guillemets
172. Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution. ~ Kahlil Gibran
173. “Being unselfish is not just putting others before ourselves. It’s being generous, kind, and considerate. It’s treating others the way you yourself want to be treated.” Paul Williams, Gratitude and Trust: Six Affirmations That Will Change Your Life
174. Today, give a stranger one of your smiles. It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
175. One of the most difficult things to give away is kindness; it usually comes back to you. ~ Anonymous
176. “In order to lead people, you must lead them with kindness and attempt to show encouragement and enthusiasm no matter what you are trying to accomplish.” Mel Kennedy, Leadership: The Power of Leadership in Business Management
177. Compassionate thought is the most precious thing there is. It is something that only we human beings can develop. And if we have a good heart, a warm heart, warm feelings, we will be happy and satisfied ourselves, and our friends will experience a friendly and peaceful atmosphere as well. This can be experienced community to community, country to country, continent to continent. ~ Dalai Lama
178. We are constituted so that simple acts of kindness, such as giving to charity or expressing gratitude, have a positive effect on our long-term moods. The key to the happy life, it seems, is the good life: a life with sustained relationships, challenging work, and connections to community. Paul Bloom
179. We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects. ~ Herman Melville
180. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. ~Amelia Earhart
181. Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness. ~Seneca
182. “The definition of kindness is ‘the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.’ Other words that describe what kindness are: ‘affection, gentleness, courtesy, goodwill, goodness, humanity, patience, sweetness, tolerance, understanding, unselfishness.” I believe this quality is within all of us. When we consciously think about being kind we have no problem doing it. But sometimes in our busy, hectic lives it is the last thing we think about. Put it in the front of your mind, remind yourself daily that kindness can make the world a better place.” Catherine Pulsifer
183. “There is absolutely no reason to be kind – except for the fact that sincere kindness gets rewarded with the warm sensation of contentment in witnessing the happiness you’ve given others.” Antony Richard Pearson, How To Achieve Goals
184. I have no desire to move mountains, construct monuments, or leave behind in my wake material evidence of my existence. But in the final recollection, if the essence of my being has caused a smile to have appeared upon your face or a touch of joy within your heart…then in living–I have made my mark. ~ Thomas L. Odem, Jr.
185. Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver. Barbara De Angelis
186. We don’t have to engage in grand, heroic actions to participate in the process of change. Small acts, when multiplied by millions of people, can transform the world. ~ Howard Zinn
187. How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a naughty world. ~William Shakespeare
188. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment but it is transient. It is a little parenthesis in eternity. If we share caring, lightheartedness, and love, we will create abundance and joy for each other. And then this moment will be worthwhile. ~ Deepak Chopra
189. “In the moment of being kind, something takes over. We act kindly because something inside us knows it’s the right thing to do.” David R. Hamilton PhD, The Five Side-effects of Kindness
190. One man cannot hold another man down in the ditch without remaining down in the ditch with him. ~Booker T. Washington
191. Sweet, cheerful words, coming from a kind heart, are worth more than gold and gems… ~Rosella Rice, “Deacon John Flint,” in Arthur’s Home Magazine, April 1870
193. Every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. ~Maya Angelou
194. Courtesies of a small and trivial character are the ones which strike deepest in the grateful and appreciating heart. ~ Henry Clay
195. There is one word which may serve as a rule of practice for all one’s life — reciprocity. ~Confucius
196. Even when you do not feel big-hearted, you can give yourself permission to act that way. ~Lama Willa Miller
197. Those who have suffered a tragedy need to know that they are loved and cared about. They need to feel that they have not been forgotten and left to their own devices. Doing little things for such people does not entail much effort or time and generally little money, but it will mean all the difference to those to whom you show such kindness. Eliezer Alperstein
198. We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak. ~Epictetus
199. How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world. ~ Anne Frank
200. In the contemporary world, though, altruism is more than ever a necessity, even an urgent one. It is also a natural manifestation of human kindness, for which we all have potential, despite multiple, often selfish, motivations that run through and sometimes dominate our minds. Matthieu Ricard, Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World
201. Love someone who doesn’t deserve it. ~Author Unknown
202. A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person. ~Dave Barry, “Things That It Took Me 50 Years to Learn”
203. Kindness does wonderful things to a face. ~ Dixie Doyle
204. “Give yourself some kindness today until you’re filled and pass it on.” Lori Hil, 5 Gifts to Give Yourself
205. To share often and much…to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
206. There’s a lot of not caring that goes under the name of minding your own business. ~Robert Brault
207. Be kind, for every man is fighting a hard battle. ~ Plato
208. “The love, kindnesses, and value we have given authentically to others will be our remaining treasures at the end of life.” Steve Brunkhorst
209. By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach. ~Winston Churchill
210. Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you. Princess Diana
211. Wit is an intermittent fountain; kindness is a perennial spring. ~Marie Dubsky, Freifrau von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830–1916), translated by Mrs Annis Lee Wister, 1882
212. Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end. ~ Scott Adams
213. Kindness is gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. ~ Henri-Frederic Amiel
214. There’s nothing so kingly as kindness, and nothing so royal as truth. Alice Cary
215. “A good head and good heart are always a formidable combination. But when you add to that a literate tongue or pen, then you have something very special.” ― Nelson Mandela
216. Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind. ~Henry James Keep feeling the need for being first. But I want you to be first in love. I want you to be first in moral excellence. I want you to be first in generosity. ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
217. No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.
218. How beautiful a day can be, when kindness touches it! ~ George Elliston
219. Just because an animal is large, it doesn’t mean he doesn’t want kindness; however big Tigger seems to be, remember that he wants as much kindness as Roo. ~ Pooh’s Little Instruction Book
220. A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. ~Charles H. Spurgeon
221. Treat each person as if their heart was breaking. More often than not, you will be right. ~David Weedmark
222. Always carry with you a little reasonable doubt, should you meet someone who needs to be found innocent. ~Robert Brault
223. “What struck me most during my research was how relatively easy it is to create positive emotions by making simple choices, such as being more kind to yourself.” M. P. Neary, Free Your Mind
224. Kindness is just love with its workboots on. ~Karen McCullah and Kirsten Smith
225. Hatred, jealousy and excessive attachment cause suffering and agitation. I feel compassion can help us overcome these disturbances and let us return to a calm state of mind. Compassion is not just being kind to your friend. That involves attachment because it is based on expectation. Compassion is when you do something good without any expectations – based on realizing that “the other person is also just like me”. ~ Dalai Lama
226. “Every time someone out there does something nice for you, make it a point to tell him or her just how grateful you are for the same.” Adam Richards, Habits: 41 Habits To An Extraordinary Life
227. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~ Leo Buscaglia
228. Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something. ~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
229. Kindness, I’ve discovered, is everything in life. Isaac Bashevis Singer
230. In about the same degree as you are helpful, you will be happy. ~Karl Reiland
231. Real generosity is doing something nice for someone who will never find out. ~Frank A. Clark
232. If today you can’t be anything else to anybody, you can be the passing stranger who nodded hello. ~Robert Brault
233. The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway. ~Henry Boye
234. What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. ~ Joseph Addison
235. Kindness, tolerance, integrity, modesty, generosity – these are attributes that events permit us. They are our holiday moods, and we are as proud of them as of the fine clothes we have hung away to wear on occasions. Ben Hecht
236. In life you can never be too kind or too fair; everyone you meet is carrying a heavy load. When you go through your day expressing kindness and courtesy to all you meet, you leave behind a feeling of warmth and good cheer, and you help alleviate the burdens everyone is struggling with. ~ Brian Tracy
237. ‘Xtend to everyone a kindly greeting. ~”Alphabetical Aphorisms,” in The Myrtle, 1884 January 26th
238. If someone were to pay you ten cents for every kind word you said about people and collect five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor? ~Author unknown, quoted by Jacob M. Braude
239. Guard well within yourself that treasure, kindness. Know how to give without hesitation, how to lose without regret, how to acquire without meanness. ~ George Sand
240. Kindness…the starting point, the fountain from which flow so many other positive qualities. ~ Piero Ferrucci
241. Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind. ~ Eric Hoffer
242. Have you had a kindness shown? Pass it on…’Twas not given for thee alone…Let it travel down the years, Let it wipe another’s tears, ‘Til in Heaven the deed appears. ~Henry Burton
243. It is better to be generous, and in the end more profitable, for it gains gratitude for us, and love. ~Mark Twain
244. Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless. ~ Mother Teresa
245. During my second year of nursing school our professor gave us a quiz. I breezed through the questions until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?” Surely this was a joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before the class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our grade. “Absolutely,” the professor said. “In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say hello.” I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. ~JoAnn C. Jones, Guideposts, January 1996

Why Kindness Quotes – A Personal Story

The other day I went to Costco to get my groceries. I picked up a bread – one of those that they bake in their bakery. As I was doing that, I noticed one of the bakers. I politely smiled and greeted him, and went on my way.

I didn’t get far when he came running after me with another bread – one that had just been packed. So he was offering me an even fresher bread, than the one I just got.

That’s what a smile, and kindness does.

It’s not a big story – I know. It would have sounded better if it was a glamorous story. However, while things like this do not happen to me daily, it does happen very often. This is why I strongly believe in kindness, a smile, and human decency – and why I took the time to compile this post about kindness quotes.

Kindness is what I teach my children, and in fact, I’ve written a book about it entitled I Am Small But I Know This – A Children’s Book About Love and Respect for All

Gioula Chelten