A Trusted Friend in a Complicated World

60 Powerful Kindness Quotes That Will Stay with You

Spread the love with inspirational kindness quotes from some of the most influential figures throughout history.

Kindness Quotes
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Quotes about kindness

The world can always use more stories of kindness. If you need more compassion in your life or want to spread it to those around you, read through and share these kindness quotes. Desmond Tutu, Maya Angelou, Princess Diana, and many more said it best in these “be kind” quotes.

“You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson.
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“You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson

 “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” —The 14th Dalai Lama.
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“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” —The 14th Dalai Lama. 

 “A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.” —Joseph Joubert
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“A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.” —Joseph Joubert

 “Compassion isn’t about solutions. It’s about giving all the love that you’ve got.” —Cheryl Strayed.
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“Compassion isn’t about solutions. It’s about giving all the love that you’ve got.” —Cheryl Strayed. 

 “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
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“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

Quote On Kindness By Scott Adams
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“Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” —Scott Adams

Quote On Kindness By Roald Dahl
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“I think probably kindness is my number one attribute in a human being. I’ll put it before any of the things like courage or bravery or generosity or anything else.” —Roald Dahl. 

Quote On Kindness By Mother Teresa
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“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.” —Mother Teresa. 

 “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
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“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 

 “What we all have in common is an appreciation of kindness and compassion; all the religions have this. Love. We all lean towards love.” —Richard Gere
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“What we all have in common is an appreciation of kindness and compassion; all the religions have this. Love. We all lean towards love.” —Richard Gere

Quote On Kindness By Sam Levenson
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“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day. For poise, walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone.” —Sam Levenson

 “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt. 
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“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people.” —Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

Quote On Kindness By Sharon Salzberg
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“That is what compassion does. It challenges our assumptions, our sense of self-limitation, worthlessness, of not having a place in the world, our feelings of loneliness and estrangement. These are narrow, constrictive states of mind. As we develop compassion, our hearts open.” —Sharon Salzberg

“Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” —Eric Hoffer.
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“Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” —Eric Hoffer

 “As for…the fear that compassion will involve you in suffering, counter it with the realization that the sharing of sorrow expands your capacity to share joy as well. When you callously ignore the suffering of others, you lose the capacity to share their happiness, too.”—Albert Schweitzer
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“When you callously ignore the suffering of others, you lose the capacity to share their happiness, too.” —Albert Schweitzer. 

 “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” —Anne Herbert.
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“Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.” —Anne Herbert

 “A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” —Steve Maraboli
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“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” —Steve Maraboli

 “Go and love someone exactly as they are. And then watch how quickly they transform into the greatest, truest version of themselves. When one feels seen and appreciated in their own essence, one is instantly empowered.” —Wes Angelozzi.
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“Go and love someone exactly as they are. And then watch how quickly they transform into the greatest, truest version of themselves. When one feels seen and appreciated in their own essence, one is instantly empowered.” —Wes Angelozzi

 “What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” —Jean-Jacques Rousseau
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“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” —Jean-Jacques Rousseau

 "Always be a little kinder than necessary." —James M. Barrie.
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“Always be a little kinder than necessary.” —James M. Barrie

Quote On Kindness From A Russian Proverb
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“A kind word is like a spring day.” —Russian proverb

 "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.
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“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

 "Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together." —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
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“Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.” —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. That’s why everyone needs to read these “be kind” quotes.

 "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.
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“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.

 “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” —Desmond Tutu.
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“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” —Desmond Tutu

 "To err on the side of kindness is seldom an error." —Liz Armbruster.
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“To err on the side of kindness is seldom an error.” —Liz Armbruster

 “You can cultivate mercy when you extend acts of compassion and kindness to yourself and to other people.” —Bree Miller.
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“You can cultivate mercy when you extend acts of compassion and kindness to yourself and to other people.” —Bree Miller

 “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
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“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.

 “Kindness is an electrical spark of life that runs through all kingdoms and has a reciprocal action when shown to others.” —Joe Hayes.
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“Kindness is an electrical spark of life that runs through all kingdoms and has a reciprocal action when shown to others.” —Joe Hayes

"It is the characteristic of the magnanimous man to ask no favor but to be ready to do kindness to others." —Aristotle.
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“It is the characteristic of the magnanimous man to ask no favor but to be ready to do kindness to others.” —Aristotle

 "Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are." —Harold S. Kushner.
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“Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.” —Harold S. Kushner

“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” —Jackie Chan.
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“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” —Jackie Chan

“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” —Bob Kerrey
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“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” —Bob Kerrey

“Because that’s what kindness is. It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.” —Andrew Iskander.
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“Because that’s what kindness is. It’s not doing something for someone else because they can’t, but because you can.” —Andrew Iskander

Quote On Kindness By Henry Van Dyke
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“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

“Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” —Charles Glassman
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“Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” —Charles Glassman

“The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey.” —Sarah Fielding.
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“The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey.” —Sarah Fielding

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.” —Lucius Annaeus Seneca.
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“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.” —Lucius Annaeus Seneca

“To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.” —Confucius.
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“To practice five things under all circumstances constitutes perfect virtue; these five are gravity, generosity of soul, sincerity, earnestness, and kindness.” —Confucius

“Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. They’re underused.” —Tommy Lee Jones
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“Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. They’re underused.” —Tommy Lee Jones

“You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force.” —Publilius Syrus.
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“You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force.” —Publilius Syrus

Quote On Kindness By Bo Lozoff
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“Simple kindness may be the most vital key to the riddle of how human beings can live with each other in peace and care properly for this planet we all share.” —Bo Lozoff

“When words are both true and kind, they can change the world.” —Buddha.
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“When words are both true and kind, they can change the world.” —Buddha

“Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes.” —Joseph B. Wirthlin.
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“Kindness is a passport that opens doors and fashions friends. It softens hearts and molds relationships that can last lifetimes.” —Joseph B. Wirthlin

“Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations.” —Paramahansa Yogananda
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“Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations.” —Paramahansa Yogananda. Make sure to write down some of these kindness quotes to refer back to later.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” —Aesop.
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“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” —Aesop

“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.
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“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

“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” —Mark Twain.
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“Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” —Mark Twain

“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” —Amelia Earhart
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“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees.” —Amelia Earhart

Quote On Kindness By The Grinch
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“To kindness and love, the things we need most.” —The Grinch

Quote On Kindness By Morgan Freeman Ud
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“How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time.” —Morgan Freeman

Quote On Kindness By Abraham Joshua Heschel
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“When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.” —Abraham Joshua Heschel

Quote On Kindness By Jesse Jackson
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“Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.” —Jesse Jackson

Quote On Kindness By Thomas Carlyle
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“A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men.” —Thomas Carlyle

Quote On Kindness By Blaise Pascal
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“Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.” —Blaise Pascal

Quote On Kindness By Khalil Gibran
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“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.” —Kahlil Gibran

Quote On Kindness By John Ruskin
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“A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.” —John Ruskin

Quote On Kindness By Sophocles
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“Kindness gives birth to kindness.” —Sophocles

Quote On Kindness By Theodore Isaac Rubin
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“Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.” —Theodore Isaac Rubin

quote On Kindness By Amelia Barr
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“Kindness is always fashionable, and always welcome.” —Amelia Barr. 

Marissa Laliberte
Marissa Laliberte-Simonian is a London-based associate editor with the global promotions team at WebMD’s Medscape.com and was previously a staff writer for Reader's Digest. Her work has also appeared in Business Insider, Parents magazine, CreakyJoints, and the Baltimore Sun. You can find her on Instagram @marissasimonian.