Selected kindness quotes

1. Peace begins with a smile.

2. Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.

3. 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.

4. Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless....

5. Tender-handed stroke a nettle, And it stings you for your pains; Grasp it like a man of mettle, And it soft as silk remains. 'Tis the same with common natures: Use 'em kindly, they rebel; But be rough as nutmeg-graters, And the rogues obey you well.

6. Very little of the great cruelty shown by men can really be attributed to cruel instinct. Most of it comes from thoughtlessness or inherited habit. The roots of cruelty, therefore, are not so much strong as widespread. But the time must come when inhumanity protected by custom and thoughtlessness will succumb before humanity championed by thought. Let us work that this time may come.

7. Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.

8. Do something wonderful, people may imitate it.

9. I have always held firmly to the thought that each one of us can do a little to bring some portion of misery to an end.

10. It's nice to be important, but it's important to always be nice.

11. If I could make only one wish for a child, I'd wish him the quality of lovingness.

12. The loving person makes other people feel good, and he is usually a happy person himself. He is able to form strong, long-lasting friendships.

13. Everybody has a heart. Except some people.

14. It's not what you give, it's the way you give it.

15. The best that we can do is to be kindly and helpful toward our friends and fellow passengers who are clinging to the same speck of dirt while we are drifting side by side to our common doom.

16. The man who has received a benefit ought always to remember it, but he who has granted it ought to forget the fact at once.

17. The love we give away is the only love we keep.

18. Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.

19. We cherish our friends not for their ability to amuse us, but for ours to amuse them.

20. Certainly, it is heaven upon earth, to have a man's mind move in charity, rest in providence, and turn upon the poles of truth.

21. I think everyone should treat one another in a Christian manner. I will not, however, be responsible for the consequences.

22. In this dim world of clouding cares, We rarely know, till wildered eyes See white wings lessening up the skies, The angels with us unawares.

23. Every man is working out his destiny in his own way and nobody can be of any help except by being kind, generous, and patient.

24. Be of the disciples of Aaron, loving peace and pursuing peace, loving your fellow creatures and drawing them near to the Law.

25. Kindness, I've discovered, is everything in life.

26. All is well, practice kindness, heaven is nigh.

27. The poor folk gladly came to me, for I did them no unkindness, but helped them as much as I could.

28. Have you ever seen a pedant with a warm heart?

29. In charity to all mankind, bearing no malice or ill will to any human being, and even compassionating those who hold in bondage their fellow men, not knowing what they do.

30. An unimaginative person can neither be reverent nor kind.

31. The techniques of opening conversation are universal. I knew long ago and rediscovered that the best way to attract attention, help, and conversation is to be lost. A man who seeing his mother starving to death on a path kicks her in the stomach to clear the way, will cheerfully devote several hours of his time giving wrong directions to a total stranger who claims to be lost.

32. A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.

33. To be an agreeable guest one need only enjoy oneself.

34. I honor my importance and the importance of others. None of us is dispensable, none of us is replacable. In the chorus of life each of us brings a True Note, a perfect pitch that adds to the harmony of the whole. I act creatively and consciously to actively endorse and encourage the expansion of those whose lives I touch. Believing in the goodness of each, I add to the goodness of all. We bless each other even in passing.

35. Kindness goes a long ways lots of times when it ought to stay at home.

36. Life is no way to treat an animal.

37. I'd like to be remembered for being a good, kind, loving, gentle man who attempted to live wisely, and who cared a lot.

38. Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.

39. Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means.

40. The fact that I can plant a seed and it becomes a flower, share a bit of knowledge and it becomes another's, smile at someone and receive a smile in return, are to me continual spiritual exercises.

41. In view of the fading animals the proliferation of sewers and fears the sea clogging, the air nearing extinction we should be kind, we should take warning, we should forgive each other Instead we are opposite, we touch as though attacking, the gifts we bring even in good faith maybe warp in our hands to implements, to manoeuvres

42. Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up

43. Good people do not let others suffer needlessly

44. Life is mostly froth and bubble; Two things stand like stone:- Kindness in another's trouble, Courage in our own.

45. Do something for somebody every day for which you do not get paid.

46. Oh Lord! If you but knew what a brimstone of a creature I am behind all this beautiful amiability!

47. Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you've got about a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies - 'God damn it, you've got to be kind.'

48. The happiness of life is made up of minute fractions - the little soon forgotten charities of a kiss or smile, a kind look, a heartfelt compliment, and the countless infinitesimals of pleasurable and genial feeling.

49. Large was his bounty, and his soul sincere, Heav'n did a recompense as largely send: He gave to Mis'ry all he had, a tear, He gained from Heav'n ('twas all he wished) a friend.

50. In courtesy I'd have her chiefly learned; Hearts are not had as a gift but hearts are earned By those that are not entirely beautiful; Yet many, that have played the fool For beauty's very self, has charm made wise. And many a poor man that has roved, Loved and thought himself beloved, From a glad kindness cannot take his eyes.

51. I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow human being let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

52. The unchanging principles of life predate modern times. I worship Jesus Christ, whom we Christians consider to be the Prince of Peace. As a Jew, he taught us to cross religious boundaries, in service and in love. He repeatedly reached out and embraced Roman conquerors, other Gentiles, and even the more despised Samaritans. Despite theological differences, all great religions share common commitments that define our ideal secular relationships. I am convinced that Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, and others can embrace each other in a common effort to alleviate human suffering and to espouse peace. But the present era is a challenging and disturbing time for those whose lives are shaped by religious faith based on kindness toward each other. We have been reminded that cruel and inhuman acts can be derived from distorted theological beliefs, as suicide bombers take the lives of innocent human beings, draped falsely in the cloak of God's will. With horrible brutality, neighbors have massacred neighbors in Europe, Asia, and Africa. In order for us human beings to commit ourselves personally to the inhumanity of war, we find it necessary first to dehumanize our opponents, which is in itself a violation of the beliefs of all religions. Once we characterize our adversaries as beyond the scope of God's mercy and grace, their lives lose all value. We deny personal responsibility when we plant landmines and, days or years later, a stranger to us - often a child - is crippled or killed. From a great distance, we launch bombs or missiles with almost total impunity, and never want to know the number or identity of the victims.

53. Guy don't need no sense to be a nice fella. Seems to me sometimes it jus' works the other way around. Take a real smart guy and he ain't hardly ever a nice fella. Ch.3, p.41

54. ...there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. there is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other.

55. I love little pussy, her coat is so warm; And if I don't hurt her she'll do me no harm.

56. My true religion is Kindness.

57. I feel that the essence of spiritual practice is your attitude toward others. When you have a pure, sincere motivation, then you have right attitude toward others based on kindness, compassion, love and respect. Practice brings the clear realisation of the oneness of all human beings and the importance of others benefiting by your actions.

58. You should respect other religions... the essence of all religions is basically the same: to achieve a true sense of brotherhood, a good heart, respect for others. If we can develop these qualities from within our heart, then I think we can actually achieve true peace.

59. Do your neighbour good by all means in your power, moral as well as physical - by kindness, by patience, by unflinching resistance against every outward evil - by the silent preaching of your own contrary life. But if the only good you can do him is by talking at him, or about him - nay, even to him, if it be in a self-satisfied, super-virtuous style - such as I earnestly hope the present writer is not doing - you had much better leave him alone. ~ Ch. 8

60. Be kind to each other in your homes. Be kind to those who surround you. I prefer that you make mistakes in kindness rather than that you work miracles in unkindness. Often just for one word, one look, one quick action, and darkness fills the heart of the one we love.

61. 'And if it's proud to have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts,' Miss Jenny struck in, flushed, 'she is proud. And if it's not, she is NOT.'

62. 'And if it's proud to have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts,' Miss Jenny struck in, flushed, 'she is proud.'

63. 'No one is useless in this world,' retorted the Secretary, 'who lightens the burden of it for any one else.'

64. There's always hope:.even when there isn't faith. And sometimes, without hope or faith, there must be charity

65. I love little pussy, her coat is so warm; And if I don't hurt her she'll do me no harm.

66. Be kind to unkind people; they probably need it the most.

67. Generosity: 'Take without forgetting, and give without remembering.'

68. Manners: 'Courteousness is consideration for others; politeness is the method used to deliver such considerations.'

69. People: 'People are really amazing when you sit back and think about it. They are funny, curious, and never seem to stop amazing me with the clever things they come up with. I have met a lot of people in the world. I can say from my experience that most people are good.'

70. Rudeness: 'A mistake made by many people with great convictions is that they will let nothing stand in the way of their views, not even kindness.'

71. Manners: 'Courtesy is a silver lining around the dark clouds of civilization; it is the best part of refinement and in many ways, an art of heroic beauty in the vast gallery of man's cruelty and baseness.'

72. Take care, while you are young, that you can think in those days, 'I never whitened a hair of her dear head, I never marked a sorrowful line in her face!' For of all the many things that you can think when you are a man, you had better have that by you, Woolwich!

73. In strong families, positive strokes out-number negative broadsides by a wide margin. Members regularly express appreciation: 'Thanks for fixing the drainpipe.' 'You look so nice in that dress.' 'The dinner was great.' Criticism is offered gently. After all, strong families figure, if we can be kind to strangers, why not to one another?

74. And I believe that when I part with a man I must do it in such a way that when he sees me again he will be glad - and so will I.

75. Therefore to this dog will I, Tenderly not scornfully, Render praise and favor: With my hand upon his head, Is my benediction said Therefore and for ever.

76. They're all deserting me. I've been too kind. Spare the rod and spoil the fun. Oh, for the glands of a Bismarck.

77. Young women especially have something invested in being nice people, and it's only when you have children that you realise you're not a nice person at all, but generally a selfish bully.

78. By far the gentlest man I have ever known.

79. This Don Juan was kind to women and courteous to men as your daughter here was kind to her pet cats and dogs; but such kindness is a denial of the exclusively human character of the soul.

80. The assumption, which served Gandhi so well in dealing with individuals, that all human beings are more or less approachable and will respond to a generous gesture, needs to be seriously questioned. It is not necessarily true, for example, when you are dealing with lunatics.

81. How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and the strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.

82. Being nice to people at work is like being nice to people on the roads; everyone likes you but you don't get anywhere.

83. They put the cold dirt over him and left me on my own And when at last I looked up I saw I was not alone So I said- If you're a relative, he had a peaceful end. She said- My name is Corey- you can say I'm just a friend.

84. To be generous is to say yes before the man even opens his mouth.

85. Allah's Messenger kissed Al-Hasan ibn `Ali while Al-Aqra` ibn Habis At-Tamim was sitting with him . Al-Aqra` said, 'I have ten children and have never kissed one of them.' The Prophet cast a look at him and said, 'Whoever is not merciful to others will not be treated mercifully.'

86. (Each one) of you should save himself from the fire by giving even half of a date (in charity). And if you do not find a half date, then (by saying) a pleasant word (to your brethren).

87. It is a fine thing when a believer praises and thanks God if good comes to him, and praises God and shows endurance if smitten by affliction. The believer is rewarded for (every good action), even for the morsel he raises to his wife's mouth.

88. The best among you are those who are best to their wives.

89. There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.

90. While a man was walking along a road, he became very thirsty and found a well. He lowered himself into the well, drank, and came out. Then [he saw] a dog protruding its tongue out with thirst. The man said: 'This dog has become exhausted from thirst in the same way as I.' He lowered himself into the well again and filled his shoe with water. He gave the dog some water to drink. He thanked God, and [his sins were] forgiven. The Prophet was then asked: 'Is there a reward for us in our animals?' He said: 'There is a reward in every living thing.'

91. 'The most beloved of deeds in the eyes of Allah are: offering prayers at the stipulated times; (then) goodness and kindness towards parents; (and then) Jihad in the way of Allah.'

92. O People, it is true that you have certain rights with regard to your women, but they also have right over you. If they abide by your right then to them belongs the right to be fed and clothed in kindness. Do treat your women well and be kind to them for they are your partners and committed helpers.

93. Kindness is a mark of faith, and whoever has no kindness has no faith.

94. La bonte n'est pas sans ecueils: on l'attribue au caractere, on veut rarement y reconnaitre les efforts secrets d'une belle ame, tandis qu'on recompense les gens mechants du mal qu'ils ne font pas.

95. Niggle thought that he had never heard anything so generous as that Voice. It made Gentle Treatment sound like a load of rich gifts, and the summons to a King's feast. Then suddenly Niggle felt ashamed. To hear that he was considered a case for Gentle Treatment overwhelmed him, and made him blush in the dark. It was like being publicly praised, when you and all the audience knew that the praise was not deserved. Niggle hid his blushes in the rough blanket. There was a silence. Then the First Voice spoke to Niggle, quite close. 'You have been listening,' it said.

96. We want a man whose life and opinions embody all the achievements of which I have spoken. We want a man who, standing on a mountain height, traces the victorious footsteps of our party in the past, and, carrying in his heart the memory of its glorious deeds, looks forward prepared to meet the dangers to come. We want one who will act in no spirit of unkindness toward those we lately met in battle.

97. We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.

98. Acceptance is right. Kindness is right. Love is right. I pray, right now, that we're moving into a kinder time when prejudice is overcome by understanding; when narrow-mindedness, and narrow-minded bigotry is overwhelmed by open-hearted empathy; when the pain of judgmentalism is replaced by the purity of love.

99. 'Solve World hunger, TELL NOBODY!' (How the Grinch Stole Christmas)

100. 'Even if you can't hear them or see them at all, a person's a person, no matter how small. That's my code. My motto.' (Horton Hears A Who!)