Kindness arises by standing apart from oneself and recognizing all beings as companions on the arduous travel towards highest perfection.
—Hans Taeger
It is another’s fault if he be ungrateful; but it is mine if I do not give. To find one thankful man, I will oblige a great many that are not so.—I had rather never receive a kindness than never bestow one.—Not to return a benefit is a great sin; but not to confer one is a greater.
—Seneca the Younger (Lucius Annaeus Seneca) (c.4 BCE–65 CE) Roman Stoic Philosopher, Statesman, Tragedian
Real unselfishness consists in sharing the interests of others.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
The race of mankind would perish, did they cease to aid each other. From the time that the mother binds the child’s head till the moment that some kind assistant wipes the death-damp from the brow of the dying, we cannot exist without mutual help. All, therefore, that need aid have a right to ask it from their fellow-mortals; no one who holds the power of granting can refuse it without guilt.
—Walter Scott (1771–1832) Scottish Novelist, Poet, Playwright, Lawyer
So many gods, so many creeds,
So many paths that wind and wind,
While just the art of being kind
Is all the sad world needs.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
The finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling. Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
If a man be gracious to strangers, it shows that he is a citizen of the world, and his heart is no island, cut off from other islands, but a continent that joins them.
—Francis Bacon (1561–1626) English Philosopher
No one has yet realized the wealth of sympathy, the kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure.
—Emma Goldman (1869–1940) Lithuanian-American Anarchist, Feminist
What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Power is the ability to do good things for others.
—Brooke Astor (1902–2007) American Philanthropist, Writer
Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something.
—H. Jackson Brown, Jr. (b.1940) American Self-Help Author
When you dig another out of their troubles, you find a place to bury your own.
—Unknown
By doing simple acts of kindness for others, we can’t help but lift ourselves up, too.
—Unknown
I have learned about opening the heart, being more understanding, more loving, kinder.
—Barbra Streisand (b.1942) American Musician, Actor, Songwriter
Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.
—Theodore Isaac Rubin (1923–2019) American Psychiatrist, Author
It seems sometimes as if one were powerless to do any more from within to overcome troubles, and that help must come from without.
—A. C. Benson (1862–1925) English Essayist, Poet, Author
The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.
—Hada Bejar
I was hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: I was naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me. I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
—Unknown
Build up virtue, and you master all.
—Laozi (fl.6th Century BCE) Chinese Philosopher, Sage
You may find people ready enough to do the Samaritan without the oil and two-pence.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.
—Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826) American Head of State, Lawyer
Look up and not down, look forward and not back, look out and not in, and lend a hand!
—Edward Everett Hale (1822–1909) American Unitarian Clergyman, Writer
When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way, you will command the attention of the world.
—George Washington Carver (1864–1943) American Scientist, Botanist, Educator, Inventor
All altruism springs from putting yourself in the other person’s place.
—Harry Emerson Fosdick (1878–1969) American Baptist Minister
Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.
—Chinese Proverb
So, in the infinitely nobler battle in which you are engaged against error and wrong, if ever repulsed or stricken down, may you always be solaced and cheered by the exulting cry of triumph over some abuse in Church or State, some vice or folly in society, some false opinion or cruelty or guilt which you have overcome! And I beseech you to treasure up in your hearts these my parting words: Be ashamed to die until you have won some victory for humanity.
—Horace Mann (1796–1859) American Educator, Politician, Educationalist
Did universal charity prevail, earth would be a heaven, and hell a fable.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Out of compassion I destroy the darkness of their ignorance. From within them I light the lamp of wisdom and dispel all darkness from their lives.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
Kindness out of season destroys authority.
—Anonymous
Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
It is God’s kindness to terrify you in order to lead you to safety.
—Jalal ad-Din Muhammad Rumi (1207–73) Persian Muslim Mystic
It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.
—Jackie Joyner-Kersee (b.1962) American Athlete
He that has no charity deserves no mercy.
—English Proverb
It’s nice to be important, but it’s more important to be nice.
—Unknown
A spark of kindness starts a fire of love.
—Unknown
A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you, and were helped by you, will remember you when forget-me-nots are withered. Carve your name on hearts, and not on marble.
—Charles Spurgeon (1834–92) English Baptist Preacher
Don’t be yourself – be someone a little nicer.
—Mignon McLaughlin (1913–83) American Journalist, Author
Always be a little kinder than necessary.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
To adorn our characters by the charm of an amiable nature shows at once a lover of beauty and a lover of man.
—Epictetus (55–135) Ancient Greek Philosopher
We not only need to be willing to give, but also to be open to receiving from others.
—Anonymous
He hath a tear for pity, and a hand open as day for melting charity.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
We ought to do good to others as simply and naturally as a horse runs, or a bee makes honey, or a vine bears grapes season after season without thinking of the grapes it has borne.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world.
—Lawrence G. Lovasik
The kindness planned for tomorrow doesn’t count for today.
—Unknown
When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world.
—Harold Kushner (b.1935) American Jewish Religious Leader, Priest
If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
Judge not and you will not be judged.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Effects one directly, effects all indirectly.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Business will continue to go where invited and remain where appreciated.
—Unknown