30 quotes about kindness to uplift and spread positivity

You have probably heard the age-old saying , "treat others the way you want to be treated" (or something similar) at least once in your life. The adage is so universal that it has become known as "the Golden Rule."

A gentle touch can go a long way, whether it's directed toward yourself or others. You never know what your words of kindness could mean for someone else. Life isn't always easy, but when you receive encouragement and hope from others, it might make the road less bumpy.

Here is a compiled list of quotes about kindness to help spread positivity:

30 kindness quotes

• "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." – Plato
• "Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice." – Roy T. Bennett , "The Light in the Heart"
• "Remember, there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." – Scott Adams
• "Being kind means responding to the needs of others – and people can be kind, no matter how old or young we are." – Mr. Rogers
• "There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it." – Edith Wharton
• "Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolution." – Kahlil Gibran
• "But compassion isn't about solutions. It's about giving all the love that you've got." – Cheryl Strayed , "Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar"
• "You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
• "Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle." – Charles F. Glassman
• "Courage. Kindness. Friendship. Character. These are the qualities that define us as human beings, and propel us, on occasion, to greatness." – R.J. Palacio , "Wonder"
• "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." – Aesop
• "If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete." – Jack Kornfield
• "Kindness and politeness are not overrated at all. They’re underused." – Tommy Lee Jones
• "One of the most important things you can do on this earth is to let people know they are not alone." – Shannon L. Adler
• "The true greatness of a person, in my view, is evident in the way he or she treats those with whom courtesy and kindness are not required." – Joseph B. Wirthlin
• "Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind." – Eric Hoffer
• "Hate ricochets, but kindness does too." – Robin Roe , "A List of Cages"
• "The shortest distance between two people is a smile." – Victor Borge
• "There is no small act of kindness. Every compassionate act makes large the world." – Mary Anne Radmacher
• "Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud." – Maya Angelou , "Letter to My Daughter"
• "Be true to yourself, be kind to yourself, read and learn about everything that interests you, and keep away from people who bring you down." – Steve Maraboli
• "How beautiful a day can be, when kindness touches it." – George Elliston
• "When we know ourselves to be connected to all others, acting compassionately is simply the natural thing to do." – Rachel Naomi Remen
• "A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve." – Joseph Joubert
• "The ideals that have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully, have been kindness, beauty and truth." – Albert Einstein , "The World As I See It"
• "Kindness can transform someone's dark moment with a blaze of light." – Amy Leigh Mercree
• "Always try to be a little kinder than is necessary." – J.M. Barrie
• "There is nothing so rewarding as to make people realize that they are worthwhile in this world." – Bob Anderson
• "We rise by lifting others." – Robert Ingersoll
• "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." – Maya Angelou

Looking for more positive vibes? 50 motivational quotes for peak inspiration.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 30 quotes about kindness to uplift and spread positivity