Caring about others, running the risk of feeling, and leaving an impact on people brings happiness.
—Harold Kushner (b.1935) American Jewish Religious Leader, Priest
Remember that the most difficult tasks are consummated, not by a single explosive burst of energy or effort, but by the constant daily application of the best you have within you.
—Og Mandino (1923–96) American Self-Help Author
There’s good in everybody. Boost. Don’t knock.
—Warren G. Harding (1865–1923) American Head of State, Businessperson
Make a rule, and pray to God to help you to keep it, never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say: “I have made one human being at least a little wiser, or a little happier, or at least a little better this day.”
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
Do good and care not to whom.
—Italian Proverb
When you give of your possessions, you give but little; it is when you give of yourself that you truly give.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
tell them that, to ease them of their griefs,
Their fears of hostile strokes, their aches, losses,
Their pangs of love, with other incident throes
That nature’s fragile vessel doth sustain
In life’s uncertain voyage, I will some kindness do them:
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
One must lose one’s life in order to find it.
—Anne Morrow Lindbergh (1906–2001) American Aviator, Author
Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations.
—Paramahansa Yogananda (1893–1952) Indian Hindu Mystic, Religious Leader, Philosopher, Teacher
By doing simple acts of kindness for others, we can’t help but lift ourselves up, too.
—Unknown
Wealth does not bring about excellence (aka Kindness, Virtue, Goodness), but excellence (aka Kindness, Virtue, Goodness) brings about wealth and all other public and private blessings for men.
—Socrates (469BCE–399BCE) Ancient Greek Philosopher
Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get –
only what you are expecting to give – which is everything.
What you will receive in return varies, but it really has
no connection with what you give. You give because you love
and cannot help giving. If you are very lucky, you may be
loved back. That is delicious but it does not necessarily happen.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
The beginning and end of Torah is performing acts of loving kindness.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true.
—Robert Brault
If you think nobody cares if you’re alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
—Earl Wilson (1907–87) American Broadway Gossip Columnist
Handle yourself, use head; Handle others, use heart.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
It was only a sunny smile, but it scattered the night. And little it cost in the giving; like morning light, and made the day worth living.
—Unknown
The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.
—Mark Twain (1835–1910) American Humorist
One kind word can warm three winter months.
—Japanese Proverb
Don’t wait for people to be friendly, show them how.
—Indian Proverb
To refuse graciously is to confer a favor.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Benefits should be conferred gradually; and in that way they will taste better.
—Niccolo Machiavelli (1469–1527) Florentine Political Philosopher
Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
If all our happiness is bound up entirely in our personal circumstances, it is difficult not to demand of life more than it has to give.
—Bertrand A. Russell (1872–1970) British Philosopher, Mathematician, Social Critic
No act of kindness, however small, is ever wasted.
—Aesop (620–564 BCE) Greek Fabulist
God loveth a cheerful giver.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Give until it hurts.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
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
Make yourself necessary to somebody.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Be kind to unkind people—they need it the most.
—Unknown
When one begins to purposefully perform acts of kindness, the spirit changes and soon doing good deeds becomes a focal point for our life; doing good begins to be the same as feeling good. The periods of emptiness when we search for the “meaning of it all” begin to fill with acts of kindness.
—Gary Ryan Blair
Fair and softly goes far.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
By swallowing evil words unsaid, no one has ever harmed his stomach.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.
—Jackie Joyner-Kersee (b.1962) American Athlete
A bit of fragrance always clings to the hand that gives you roses.
—Chinese Proverb
He hath a tear for pity, and a hand open as day for melting charity.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
My feeling is that there is nothing in life but refraining from hurting others, and comforting those that are sad.
—Olive Schreiner (1855–1920) South African Writer, Feminist
It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.
—Baha’u’llah (1817–92) Founder of the Islamic Baha’i Movement
Be prudent, diligent, temperate and discreet. Remember that every human being has a claim upon your kind offices.
—Albert Pike (1809–91) American Masonic Scholar, Orator, Jurist
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 (1703–91) British Methodist Religious Leader, Preacher, Theologian
I hate the giving of the hand unless the whole man accompanies it.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Love is like an hour-glass, with the heart filling up as the brain empties.
—Jules Renard (1864–1910) French Writer, Diarist
Whoever digs a pit will fall in.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
Love someone who doesn’t deserve it.
—Unknown
The everyday kindness of the back roads more than makes up for the acts of greed in the headlines.
—Charles Kuralt (1934–97) American Journalist, TV Personality
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 (1889–1981) American Publisher, Author
He who acknowledges a kindness has it still, and he who has a grateful sense of it has requited it.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer