quotations about kindness
Kindness begets kindness evermore.
SOPHOCLES
Ajax
No person is wholly bad who is kind to any living thing.
LEWIS F. KORNS
Thoughts
A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.
WASHINGTON IRVING
The School Journal, Jan. 1909
How much easier it is to act kindly and naturally to our fellow men, and even to the domestic, useful and faithful animals about us, than to effect a rude and boisterous demeanor, which is sure not only to make others despise us, but on reflection to cause us to despise ourselves.
NICIAS BALLARD COOKSEY
Helps to Happiness
Kindness is God's redemptive Spirit at work.
SHELDON B. STEPHENSON
Meditations on the Holy Spirit of God
Kindness is the visible expression of a feeling and merciful heart; it is the going forth of a tender and susceptible mind; it claims kindred with the human race; it is all ear to listen--all heart to feel--all eye to examine and to weep--all hand and foot to relieve; it invites the sufferer with kind words, and sends him not empty away.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES
The Friend, Nov. 27, 1830
Kindness is helpful to the happiness of both recipient and giver. Who does not feel happier on showing kindness to others, and who does not feel happier on receiving the manifestation of kindness? Deeds of kindness shown in the little things of life constitute man's chief happiness. Many are not able to do any great things for others, but all can find abundant opportunity of showing little deeds of kindness which will add much to the happiness of mankind.
NICIAS BALLARD COOKSEY
Helps to Happiness
Kindness requires maturity, imagination, determination, and certainly a big heart. It extends to the entire universe. It is a way of being at home in the universe, with the seen and the unseen, with life and death, in God's creation and in God's presence and energy, which is pure love.
JEAN MAALOUF
The Healing Power of Kindness
When you're a kid it's people's cruelty that makes you cry, then when you're an adult it's their kindness.
GLEN DUNCAN
The Last Werewolf
Kindness is the velvet of social intercourse.
JAMES L. GORDON
The Homiletic Review, Jun. 1917
They are always saying God loves us. If that's love I'd rather have a bit of kindness.
GRAHAM GREENE
The Captain and the Enemy
Kindness is not without its rocks ahead. People are apt to put it down to an easy temper and seldom recognize it as the secret striving of a generous nature; whilst, on the other hand, the ill-natured get credit for all the evil they refrain from.
HONORE DE BALZAC
Le Siècle
Kindness is the green grass near the hard pebbles of the road.
JAMES L. GORDON
The Homiletic Review, Jun. 1917
Kindness is the color in the cathedral window which woven into beautiful characters shuts out the hideous sights of a world which is all too practical.
JAMES L. GORDON
The Homiletic Review, Jun. 1917
True kindness is a pure divine affinity,
Not founded upon human consanguinity.
It is a spirit, not a blood relation,
Superior to family and station.
HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Of Friendship
Kindness has converted more sinners than either zeal, eloquence or learning.
FREDERICK WILLIAM FABER
attributed, Dictionary of Burning Words
Be a little kinder than you have to.
E. LOCKHART
We Were Liars
Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion, benevolence, and humanity.
JOSEPH ADDISON
The Spectator, Sep. 12, 1711
I expect to pass through this life but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.
STEPHEN GRELLET
attributed, Bennam's Book of Quotations
Kindness is universal in its objects. We have known individuals who could never do enough for some objects of their regard, but who are by no means persons of diffusive kindness; and, perhaps, if we examine, we shall find that their benevolence has a great mixture of selfishness in it, for it is exercised only towards those from whom they expect an ample return. It is the kindness of barter, not of charity: it is so much of their comfort put out at interest, not given away to the needy; they either have had, or expect to have, value received for all they do.
JOHN ANGELL JAMES
The Friend, Nov. 27, 1830