quotations about kindness
Kindness is not like a barter, so much for so much; or so much by contract, and my duty done. But kindness is like a righteousness or like a worship, not done unless it be done all I can. For the heart must run forth without measure like a child, and kindness be wound around like a child's arms about the neck, not by measure, but as tightly and as long as they can be.
JAMES VILA BLAKE
More than Kin
Kindness is the velvet of social intercourse.
JAMES L. GORDON
The Homiletic Review, Jun. 1917
Kindness is but another name for love, and when we put love into the world we have brought heaven near by, for wherever there is kindness there is heaven.
MARTHA A. BORTLE
Onward, Aug. 18, 1906
Kindness begets kindness evermore.
SOPHOCLES
Ajax
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 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
Kindness: A language which the dumb can speak, and the deaf can understand.
CHRISTIAN NESTELL BOVEE
Intuitions and Summaries of Thought
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 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 the very essence of the Eternal, the root of all existence, the primal font of all blessedness in all worlds.
DAVID THOMAS
The Homilist, 1867
Kindness is the green grass near the hard pebbles of the road.
JAMES L. GORDON
The Homiletic Review, Jun. 1917
Kindness is about energy we give and take from all creatures. The bottom line is the integrative interaction and the total interconnectedness between human beings, all creatures, and God. Kindness is a spirituality of solid truth, not shifting emotion; of justice, not occasional philanthropy; of genuine love, not sentimentality or masochism; of evolved adults, not fixated infants.
JEAN MAALOUF
The Healing Power of Kindness
Kindness is God's redemptive Spirit at work.
SHELDON B. STEPHENSON
Meditations on the Holy Spirit of God
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
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
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 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
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
To walk in kindness is to walk in the way of Christ.
JOHN RODMAN WILLIAMS
Renewal Theology
Kindness is a graceful deed done without the other person's having to request it.
SHELDON B. STEPHENSON
Meditations on the Holy Spirit of God