"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of others." Charles Dickens

"The real index of civilization is when people are kinder than they need to be." Louis de Berniere, novelist (b. 1954)

"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves."
Amelia Earhart

"A single act of kindness throws out roots in all directions, and the roots spring up and make new trees. The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves." Amelia Earhart

"To speak kindly does not hurt the tongue." proverb

"He who sees a need and waits to be asked for help is as unkind as if he had refused it." Dante Alighieri, poet (1265-1321)

"There is no such thing as a 'self-made' man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts, as well as our success."
George M. Adams

"When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world." Harold Kushner

"One of the most difficult things to give away is kindness, it usually comes back to you." Anonymous

“Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.” Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher (1788-1860)

"Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not." Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784)

"Kindness is loving people more than they deserve." Joseph Joubert, essayist (1754-1824)

“Some of the shells that wash up on the beach were once very beautiful. We don't know what kind of journey they had to take to get them in their fragile condition. The same is true for people. Be kind." Linda Gifford

“Either a soul is cheerful by nature, or is made cheerful by work, love, art and knowledge.” Friedrich Nietzsche

“To give pleasure to a single heart by a single kind act is better than a thousand head-bowings in prayer.” Saadi, poet (c. 1200 AD)

“So many gods, so many creeds, so many paths that wind and wind, while just the art of being kind is all the sad world needs.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox

“There is no need for temples, no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness.” Dalai Lama

“Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.” Samuel Johnson, lexicographer (1709-1784)

“Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” Albert Schweitzer

“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

“Of all the things I have learned in my lifetime, the one with the greatest value is that unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change. Competition will improve quality and lower costs. Confidence will enable us to climb a mountain instead of a molehill. But kindness that catches us by surprise brings out the best in our natures.” Bob Kerrey