Quotes Worth Quoting

On Civility, Kindness, Generosity, Service

One is not born into the world to do everything, but to do something.

Henry David Thoreau

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

It’s rather embarrassing to have spent one’s entire lifetime pondering the human condition and to come toward its close and find that I really don’t have anything more profound to pass on by way of advice than, ‘Try to be a little kinder.’

Aldous Huxley

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious – if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise – think about these things.

Philippians 4:8 RSV

The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Galatians 5: 22-23 RSV

Democracy cannot be saved by supermen, but only by the unswerving devotion and goodness of millions of little men. 

Adlai Stevenson

We cannot do great things on this earth. We can only do small things with great love.

Mother Teresa

The Golden Rule is of no use whatsoever unless you realize that it is your move.

Frank Crane

The real issue in life is not how many blessings we have, but what we do with our blessings. Some people have many blessings and hoard them. Some have few and give everything away.

Fred Rogers

God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you”?

William Arthur Ward

Train up a child in the way he should go – and walk there yourself once in a while.

Josh Billings

A happy life is made up of little things in which smiles and small favors are given habitually. A gift sent, a letter written, a call made, a recommendation given, transportation provided, a cake made, a book lent, a check sent – things which are done without hesitation.

Carl Holmes

Let me be a little kinder.

Let me be a little blinder

To the faults of those around me,

Let me praise a little more.

Edgar Albert Guest

My goal in every encounter is to leave the other enhanced.

Max Thurman

We prove our faith not by vehement declarations, not by argument. We live our faith so that it is revealed in our works of goodness and by our attitudes toward life and toward others. Faith in God and concern for others go hand in hand.

Glenn A. Dromgoole Sr.

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.

Mother Teresa

There is no power on earth that can neutralize the influence of a high, pure, simple, and useful life.

Booker T. Washington

Civilization is a stream with banks. The stream is sometimes filled with blood from people killing, stealing, shouting and doing the things historians usually record, while on the banks, unnoticed, people build homes, make love, raise children, sing songs, write poetry and even whittle statues. The story of civilization is the story of what happened on the banks.

Will Durant

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.

Margaret Mead

What this world needs is a better me.

William Arthur Ward