60 Kindness Quotes That Will Inspire You To Be Kind

I think we can all agree that nowadays the world could use a little more kindness. Luckily, we can start by spreading it ourselves, and expressing kindness is as simple as passing along a few kindness quotes or smiling at the people you pass by (smiling through your mask counts, right?).

Want to take it one step further? Pay for the person behind you in the drive-thru or send your BFF a sweet text telling them why you value their friendship. These acts of kindness may seem small, but they could mean the world to someone going through a hard time. We never know what others are battling, it doesn’t hurt to treat people with genuine kindness.

I understand that this can be easier said than done on days you’re in a rush or having a horrible day. But look at it this way, on days like that wouldn’t you want people to be a little extra kind to you?

Even if someone isn’t treating you with the respect you deserve, kill them with kindness! It’s a lot harder for someone to engage in bullying you or undermining you if you’re not offering any snarky feedback. I’m a firm believer in karma and receiving the same energy that you put out. When you’re kind to others, it inspires them to do the same.

Get started by reading these 60 kindness quotes that will inspire you to be kind (if I haven’t already).

If we were all a little kinder, we might be able to create real positive change in the world. 

Kindness Quotes from Celebrities

1. “How do we change the world? One random act of kindness at a time.” — Morgan Freeman

2. “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” — Mark Twain

3. “You cannot do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be.” — Nelson Mandela

4. “When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they’ll remember and be kind to someone else. And it’ll become like a wildfire.” — Whoopi Goldberg

5. “Here are the values that I stand for: honesty, equality, kindness, compassion, treating people the way you want to be treated, and helping those in need. To me, those are traditional values.” — Ellen DeGeneres

6. “For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others. For beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness. And for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.” — Audrey Hepburn

7. “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

8. “There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” — Vincent Van Gogh

9. “Be kind to unkind people, they need it the most.” — Robin Williams

10. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve had more of a tendency to look for people who live by kindness, tolerance, compassion, a gentler way of looking at things.” — Martin Scorsese

11. “Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping them up.” — Jesse Jackson

12. “You can be rich in spirit, kindness, love, and all those things that you can’t put a dollar sign on.” — Dolly Parton

13. “If you live your life with kindness and giving other people great energy, that beauty and great energy will come back to you.” — Beyonce

14. “Kindness is showing love to someone else. I believe that kindness is the cure to violence and hatred around the world.” — Lady Gaga

15. “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.” — Robin Williams

16. “Not only do I think being nice and kind is easy, but being kind, in my opinion, is important.” — Dwayne Johnson

17. “No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.” — Taylor Swift

18. “Being kind isn’t a sign of weakness — you gotta be strong to be kind.” — Mike Tyson

19. “Kindness should never be taken for granted because even the nicest people have their limits.” — Keanu Reeves

20. “We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute to that.” — Ellen DeGeneres

Kindness Quotes for Kids

21. “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” — Aesop

22. “We rise by lifting others” — Robert Ingersoll

23. “Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” — Maya Angelou

24. “Always be a little kinder than necessary.” — J.M. Barrie

25. “Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” — James Matthew

26. “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.” — Albert Einstein

27. “If we all do one random act of kindness daily, we just might set the world in the right direction.” — Martin Kornfeld

28. “Kindness is a silent smile, a friendly word, a nod of encouragement. Kindness is the single most powerful thing we can teach children.” — Raktivist

29. “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.” — Dalai Lama

30. “Be silly, be honest, be kind.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

31. “How beautiful a day can be when kindness touches it.” — George Elliston

32. “Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns.” — Unknown

33. “When you are kind to others, it not only changes you, it changes the world.” — Harold Kushner

34. “A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.” — William Arthur Ward

35. “Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness.” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca

36. “Kindness makes you the most beautiful person in the world, no matter what you look like.” — Unknown

37. “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

38. “Throw kindness around like confetti.” — Unknown

39. “Be a Rockstar at kindness.” — Unknown

40. “A person is a person no matter how small.” — Dr. Seuss

Power of Kindness Quotes

41. “Ah Kindness, what a simple way to tell another struggling soul that there is love to be found in the world.” — A.A. Malee

42. “We can’t heal the world today, but we can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love, and an act of kindness.” — Mary Davis

43. “Self-compassion is simply giving the same kindness to ourselves that we would give to others.” — Christopher Germer

44. “Kindness and a generous spirit go a long way. And a sense of humor. It’s like medicine, very healing.” — Mai Irons

45. “Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody.” — Courtney Shields

46. “If your compassion does not include yourself, it’s incomplete.” — Buddha

47. “Kindness and empathy. Two things that make a person a hero.” — Juansen Dizon

48. “No beauty shines brighter than that of a good heart.” — Unknown

49. “Be kind but with spine.” — Karen Salmansohn

50. “An egoist lives in poverty. A kind person lives in abundance.” — Maxime Lagace

51. “The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the greatest intention.” — Kahlil Gibran

52. “There’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” — Scott Adams

53. “The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey.” — Sarah Fielding

54. “I hope you will be wise, and that you will always be kind.” — Neil Gaiman

55. “The wonderful thing is that it’s so incredibly easy to be kind.” — Ingrid Newkirk

56. “We often wait for kindness but being kind to yourself can start now.” — Unknown

57. “When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.” — William Arthur Ward

58. “In helping others, we shall help ourselves, for whatever good we give out completes the circle and comes back to us.” — Flora Edwards

59. “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi

60. “Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.” — Samuel Johnson

Lindsey Matthews is a writer who focuses on relationship, entertainment and pop-culture topics.