Kindness doesn’t cost you anything but can mean everything to someone else. Small acts of kindness can have a big impact on a person’s life. We’ve rounded up the best short kindness quotes and sayings because sometimes all you need to help you through the day, let alone life, is kindness.
Our Favorite Short Kindness Quotes
“Forget injuries, never forget kindnesses.” ― Confucius
“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” ― Dalai Lama
“A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” ― William Arthur Ward
“You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force.” ― Publilius Syrus
“What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?” ― Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“You can always give something, even if it is just kindness.” ― Anne Frank
“Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness.” ― William Shakespeare
“There is no duty more obligatory than the repayment of kindness.” ― Cicero
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” ― Mark Twain
“Gentleness and kindness will make our homes a paradise upon earth.” ― C. A. Bartol
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.” ― Kahlil Gibran
“The first thing a kindness deserves is acceptance, the second, transmission.” ― George MacDonald
“Kindness makes a fellow feel good whether it’s being done to him or by him.” ― Frank A. Clark
“Let us learn to live with kindness, to love everyone, even when they do not love us.” ― Pope Francis
“Act with kindness, but do not expect gratitude.” ― Confucius
“The end result of kindness is that it draws people to you.” ― Anita Roddick
“There’s no use doing a kindness if you do it a day too late.” ― Charles Kingsley
“There’s no such things as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” ― Scott Adams
“Kindness is the light that dissolves all walls between souls, families, and nations.” ― Paramahansa Yogananda
“It is futile to judge a kind deed by its motives. Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” ― Eric Hoffer
“A kind word is like a spring day.” — Russian proverb
“Men are cruel, but Man is kind.” ― Rabindranath Tagore
“Never lose a chance of saying a kind word.” ― William Makepeace Thackeray
“We can disagree and still be kind to each other.” ― Gary Vaynerchuk
“One can’t be kind to one person and cruel to another.” ― Morarji Desai
“Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.” ― Blaise Pascal
“An egoist lives in poverty. A kind person lives in abundance.” ― Maxime Lagacé
“When words are both true and kind, they can change the world.” — Buddha
“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.” — Steve Maraboli
“When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world.” ― Harold S. Kushner
“Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless.” ― Mother Teresa
“Sometimes, in order to be kind, we first have to learn to look after ourselves.” ― Piero Ferrucci
“Never be so kind, you forget to be clever. Never be so clever, you forget to be kind.” ― Taylor Swift
“Perhaps you will forget the kind words you say today, but the recipient may cherish them over a lifetime.” ― Dale Carnegie
“When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people.” ― Abraham Joshua Heschel
“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
“Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone about you, and you will be surprised what a happy life you will lead.” ― Charles M. Schwab
“Always be a little kinder than necessary.” ― James Barry
“Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.” — Eric Hoffer
“If you want peace, be calm. If you want love, be loving. If you want kindness, be kind.” ― Mary Davis
“Kindness is wisdom.” ― Philip James Bailey
“Kindness is ever the begetter of kindness.” ― Sophocles
“Kindness and a generous spirit go a long way.” ― Max Irons
“Kindness costs nothing, yet it is a most precious gift.” ― Katrina Mayer
“How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it!” ― George Elliston
“Kindness anticipates others’ needs and wishes.” ― Lawrence G. Lovasik
“Giving kindness does us as much good as receiving it.” ― Piero Ferrucci
“Kindness is loving yourself enough to love those around you.” ― Raktivist
“Every act of kindness is a piece of love we leave behind.” ― Paul Williams
“To touch someone with kindness is to change someone forever.” ― Mike Dooley
“Kindness is spreading sunshine into people’s lives regardless of the weather.” ― Raktivist
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.” ― Oscar Wilde
“You can never know the ripple effect you create with one tiny gesture of kindness.” ― Elle Sommer
“Happiness is the new rich. Inner peace is the new success. Health is the new wealth. Kindness is the new cool.” ― Syed Balkhi
“If we all do one random act of kindness daily, we might just set the world in the right direction.” ― Martin Kornfeld
“Treat everyone with politeness and kindness, not because they’re nice, but because you are.” ― Roy T. Bennett
“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” ― Bob Kerrey
“We can’t heal the world today, but we can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love, an act of kindness.” ― Mary Davis
“Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love.” ― Lao Tzu
“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
If you like these, you might also want to check out our other lists of Change Captions, Positive Change Quotes, Powerful Quotes, Happy Quotes, Inspirational Quotes and Short Funny Quotes.
Inspirational Short Quotes on Kindness
“Kindness gives birth to kindness.” ― Sophocles
“Kill them with kindness, slay them with a smile.” ― Caesar
“Choosing kindness is just as easy as smiling.” ― Jacob Tremblay
“I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.” — Tennessee Williams
“Kindness is like snow- It beautifies everything it covers.” ― Kahlil Gibran
“It is kindness to immediately refuse what you intend to deny.” ― Publilius Syrus
“Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” ― Charles Glassman
“Genuine kindness is no ordinary act, but a gift of rare beauty.” ― Sylvia Rossetti
“Kindness, I’ve discovered, is everything in life.” ― Isaac Bashevis Singer
“Small acts of kindness add up, and in the end may save the world.” ― Lex Fridman
“Treat everyone with respect and kindness. Period. No exceptions.” ― Kiana Tom
“I think true success is intrinsic… It’s love. It’s kindness. It’s community.” ― Tom Shadyac
“Kindness goes a long ways lots of times when it ought to stay at home.” ― Kin Hubbard
“Deliberately seek opportunities for kindness, sympathy, and patience.” ― Evelyn Underhill
“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.” ― Lucius Annaeus Seneca
“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.” ― Jackie Chan
“Not always actions show the man; we find who does a kindness is not therefore kind.” ― Alexander Pope
“Always be kind, but kindness doesn’t mean that you have to not say what you think.” ― Grace VanderWaal
“That best portion of a man’s life, his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.” ― William Wordsworth
“The only way to tell the truth is to speak with kindness. Only the words of a loving man can be heard.” ― Henry David Thoreau
Short Act of Kindness Quotes
“We are to do acts of kindness to those that least deserve it.” ― William Law
“I love you sounds best spoken in quiet acts of kindness.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich
“Acts of kindness are the stepping-stones to making the world a better place.” ― Jodi Picoult
“Selfless acts of kindness often result in some amazing things.” ― Evan Tarver
“Oh so simple, and yet oh so mighty are acts of human kindness.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich
“Tiny acts of kindness can have BIG results.” ― Elizabeth Bourgeret
“Acts of kindness doesn’t always require money.” ― Charmaine J. Forde
“Astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness.” ― Maya Angelou
“Let us practice random kindness and acts of senseless beauty to all we meet.” ― Paul Keller
“Random acts of kindness can bring joy to both the giver and the receiver.” ― Vee Freir
“Each random act of kindness, no matter how small or big, is never wasted.” ― Dein Albert
“No one is too poor to give a smile – a gift, often, of greater consequence than any sum of money.” ― Vironika Tugaleva
“The smallest act of kindness makes you more beautiful than any expensive dress or make up.” ― Debasish Mridha
“Rainbows are made of small raindrops. Happy lives are made from acts of kindness.” ― Amit Ray
“Always find opportunities to make someone smile, and to offer random acts of kindness.” ― Roy T. Bennett
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ― Aesop
“Together we can change the world, just one random act of kindness at a time.” ― Ron Hall
“But remember, boy, that a kind act can sometimes be as powerful as a sword.” ― Rick Riordan
“A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions and the roots spring up and make new trees.” ― Amelia Earhart
“Acts of Kindness: A random act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a tremendous impact on someone else’s life.” ― Roy T. Bennett
Short Kindness Quotes for Kids
“Be the kind of grown up that you needed as a child (or was fortunate to have had as one).” ― Jill Telford
“Kids want to appear tough and independent. Adults want to appear kind and perfect. The wise are just kind.” ― Maxime Lagacé
“Children learn from our example. If we want to teach next generation how to be kind we have to be kinder to them first. Simple!” ― Purvi Raniga
“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference.” ― Barbara DeAngelis
“Be a little kinder than you have to.” ― E. Lockhart
“The simple act of caring is heroic.” ― Edward Albert
“You will never change what you tolerate.” ― Joel Osteen
“Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.” ― Samuel Johnson
“If you see someone without a smile give them one of yours.” ― Dolly Parton
“All I’m saying is, kindness doesn’t have any boundaries.” ― Kathryn Stockett
“Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people.” ― Karen Salmansohn
“Be kinder to yourself. And then let your kindness flood the world.” ― Pema Chodron
“What this world needs is a new kind of army – the army of the kind.” ― Cleveland Amory
“What I want is so simple I almost can’t say it: elementary kindness.” ― Barbara Kingsolver
“Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” ― Margaret Mead
“When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.” ― Abraham Joshua Heschel
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” ― Desmond Tutu
“Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.” ― Henry James
“Life is mostly froth and bubble. Two things stand like stone. Kindness in another’s trouble, Courage in your own.” ― Adam Lindsay Gordon
“Be kind. Tell the truth. Have integrity. Tell people how you feel.” ― Warsan Shire
“The wonderful thing is that it’s so incredibly easy to be kind.” ― Ingrid Newkirk
“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” ― Dalai Lama
“Be honest, be kind, and share the love.” ― Suzi Quatro
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is facing a harder battle.” ― Plato
“Be kind, don’t judge, and have respect for others.” ― Jasmine Guinness
“Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.” ― Conan O’Brien
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” ― Philo
“That’s the biggest thing: be kind and be original.” ― Lil Rel Howery
“Take time to be kind and to say ‘thank you’.” ― Zig Ziglar
“It doesn’t do any good to argue. Be kind.” ― Richard G. Scott
“If you can be anything in this world, be kind.” ― Caroline Flack
“Go for great. Own your game. Be kind. Get big things done.” ― Robin S. Sharma
“Be kind. Be nice to yourself. You miss a shot, it’s OK.” ― Sue Bird
“It takes strength to be kind; it’s not a weakness.” ― Daniel Lubetzky
“It’s wise to be kind. It’s wiser to be kind and truthful.” ― Maxime Lagacé
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” ― Jennifer Dukes Lee
“If you stop to be kind, you must swerve often from your path.” ― Mary Webb
“I want to help others smile and be kind as often as possible.” ― Ainsley Harriott
“When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they’ll remember and be kind to someone else.” ― Whoopi Goldberg
“Kindness is always fashionable, and always welcome.” ― Amelia Barr
“Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows.” ― Robert Green Ingersoll
“Sometimes the hardest kindness to do is for yourself.” ― Orly Wahba
“We are all suffering from a shortage of kindness.” ― Angela C. Santomero
“Education teaches us compassion and kindness, connection to others.” ― Jill Biden
“The man who receives kindness get inspired to be kind to others.” ― Amit Kalantri
“Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. They’re underused.” ― Tommy Lee Jones
“A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.” ― John Ruskin
“We should respect all religions and just believe in peace, kindness and harmony.” ― Ananya Panday
“I am my number one obstacle to overcome when it comes to practicing Kindness.” ― Houston Kraft
“Kindness and faithfulness keep a king safe, through kindness his throne is made secure.” ― King Solomon
“If you have an impulse to kindness, act on it.” ― Douglas Coupland
“I’ve been searching for ways to heal myself, and I’ve found that kindness is the best way.” ― Lady Gaga
“You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love and all those things that you can’t put a dollar sign on.” ― Dolly Parton
“Just imagine how different the world could be if we all spoke to everyone with respect and kindness.” ― Holly Branson
“Ask yourself: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world.” ― Annie Lennox
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. And the third is to be kind.” ― Henry James
“But what we can do is start being kind to ourselves when confronting our limitations, and we can suffer less because of them.” ― Kristin Neff
“When you are kind, you put others in the place of yourself. Self-love becomes unselfishness.” ― Lawrence G. Lovasik
“Being nice isn’t necessarily the same as being kind.” ― Anthony T. Hincks
“Perhaps being human is repulsive to those who are incapable of being kind.” ― Joshua Nero
“Being kind is empowering. Speak kindly to your mind, body and soul. When we are kind to ourselves, we behave kindly and positively towards everyone.” ― Purvi Raniga
“To show love to the dead, we must be kind to the living.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita
“To do anything kind costs nothing, but to do nothing is anything but kind.” ― Adele Threadgold
“You don’t have to be perfect, just try to be kind. Perfection is inferior to kindness.” ― Debasish Mridha
“You can get much further with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.” ― Al Capone
“Always be friendly, always be kind, like the most beautiful flower that you can find.” ― Debasish Mridha
“Sometimes you simply needed someone kind to sit with you while you dealt with things.” ― Gail Honeymoon
“You will never heal a soul that chooses to hold on yesterday, no matter how brave and kind you are.” ― Thandazo Khumalo
“Our people are good people; our people are kind people. Pray God some day kind people won’t all be poor.” ― John Steinbeck
“If humor and rumor are needed more than faith and truth, then it tells me something about the kind of world we live today.” ― Toba Beta
“Don’t tell me how educated you are, show me how kind you are; education has no meaning if you’re not kind enough.” ― Debasish Mridha
“Kind thoughts, kind action.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita
“Love nature and be kind to animals.” ― Debasish Mridha
“Kind people always seem to suffer the most.” ― Stewart Stafford
“Be positive. Be true. Be kind.” ― Roy Bennett
“You mustn’t be cruel, if you want others to be kind to you.” ― Gift Gugu Mona
“I’d rather hang out with nerds that were kind than with jocks that hated me.” ― Fracaswell Hyman
So that’s our list! Hopefully we’ve helped you find the perfect short quote you were looking for.
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About the Author
Laynni Locke
I am Laynni Locke, a Canadian writer, reader and traveller with a passion for sharing life’s moments on social media. Keeping friends and family in the loop of our lives though photos and videos has become an essential activity for most.
And it doesn’t matter if you are travelling, celebrating a special occasion or just appreciating day-to-day life, when you take that perfect photo you are going to need the perfect caption or quote before you share it. Which is why we started Routinely Shares, providing comprehensive lists of quotes and captions to cover every occasion, adventure or loved one.
With extensive experience as a travel writer, social media specialist and grant writer, I have made it my mission to curate the best and easiest to use lists for your next post.