These days, kindness is key. Check out these 9 motivational kindness quotes that remind us why kindness matters.
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Amid a worldwide pandemic and political upheaval, kindness is more important than ever.
Although we can’t always control what’s going on around us, we can control our reactions and behaviors. And we CAN do our best to promote good.
During these turbulent times, kindness quotes raise my spirits. So, I’ve put together a list of my favorite 9 uplifting quotes that remind me that kindness matters.
Here’s to leaving a positive impact on our world!
9 Motivational Quotes That Remind Us Kindness Matters
1. “You can always give something. Even if it is only kindness.” Anne Frank
Anne Frank, the inspirational Jewish teenager who recorded her experience in a diary while hiding from the Nazis, never gave up hope on humanity.
Her perseverance during dire circumstances continues to leave a positive mark.
This particular quote relays a powerful lesson: We never truly have “nothing.” We always have kindness to give.
2. “When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world.” Harold Kushner
It sounds a little far-fetched, but our words send out waves. (The Butterfly Effect wasn’t a blockbuster for nothing, right?)
When you spread kindness to someone, you may change their future. Perhaps because of your actions, someone is kind to others, and so forth.
Just like hate, kindness is contagious. Let’s hope kindness wins.
3. “In the end, only kindness matters.” Jewel
As an adolescent in the 90’s, I grew up blasting Jewel’s CD in my beat-up Toyota Camry. An inspirational song that stuck, “Hands” (from which I pulled the above quote).
Jewel reminds us that we’re all on this earth for a short time, and we better do our best to leave a positive imprint behind.
4. “Act with kindness, but do not expect gratitude.” Confucius
Gotta love this ancient philosopher’s bluntness while he relays deep truths.
In short, being kind isn’t always glorious. Don’t expect all your good deeds to get noticed because part of genuine kindness is expecting nothing in return.
5. “You cannot do kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
We all have choices to make. One of our biggest — live and be miserable or do our best to spread kindness to others and find joy.
Transcendentalist author, Emerson, reminds us to be kind to others sooner rather than later because we all possess limited time on earth.
6. “A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new roots.” Amelia Earhart
Pilot Amelia Earhart’s imagery of roots manifesting in all directions illustrates how kindness spreads like wildfire.
She describes how one positive action sends kindness in motion. The effects — without limit.
7. “Kindness can transform someone’s dark moment with a blaze of light. You’ll never know how much your caring matters.” Amy Leigh Mercree
Author of The Compassion Revolution, Amy Leigh Mercree, poetically equates kindness to a BLAZE of light that changes lives.
Mercree also acknowledges that you will never fully recognize your good deeds’ impact, but others will feel the effects.
8. “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” — Desmond Tutu.
Desmond Tutu, a South African theologian who witnessed genocide, still managed to cast out kindness to others.
Tutu, who witnessed numerous atrocities, expresses that it doesn’t matter where you are in the world; you can always do good. You can always find ways to be kind.
He encourages us to collaborate and take positive actions to overwhelm the world with good.
9. “We feel happier when we act in service to others.” Melissa Broderick
Harvard Health contributor Melissa Brodrick, MEd, writes about the science of how kindness positively affects others AND ourselves.
Broderick even points to this psychology study that found that people who performed good deeds, whether for themselves or others, reported a boost in happiness.
Think about it: How do you feel when you do something nice for yourself or someone else? I’m willing to bet your answer is positive.
Kindness matters
Still wondering if you should send that card? Call that friend? Compliment that stranger? Do it. Our small acts of kindness impact others more than we know.
Hopefully, these quotes inspire you and fill your kindness bucket. Now use these quotes to go and spread your kindness to others. Our small actions can change the world. And right now, there is so much change to be done.