Quotes About Kindness

Catherine Ryan Hyde

lot of roads. Some not so happy. And it makes them what they are. So if you run around putting a pillow under people to cushion their fall . . . well, I'm just not sure it's quite the favor we think it is.

After a moment August felt Henry's arms wrap around his chest, and the little guy's face pressed up hard on his shoulder. "Don't be sad, August," the little mouse voice said.

Catherine Ryan Hyde

an easy smile, which he gives away for free.

I can't help wondering what the world would be like if our empathy muscle were a bit more developed.

winter. Chloe throws them bits of trail mix to avoid

Catherine Ryan Hyde

You can be just a regular, real person and still be the magic somebody else needs in her life. We do it for each other all the time. It's that everyday sort of magic. We're all capable of it, I do believe, but still you don't always see people living up to that potential.

Dear, dear Ruthie," he said, and grasped one of my hands in both of his. And although it was an oversimplification of the man, it struck me that this was his single greatest quality: he made everybody feel dear. And the sad truth of this world is that not many people feel that way, and not much of the time.

I think very often in life we do something important for someone else for no better reason than that they need us to. And really, when you think about it . . . what more reason is needed?

I didn't sleep well that night. I lost most of the night thinking about it. What does it mean when someone loses the use of most of his brain, and it makes him more kind?

The people with the least to give always give the most.

Paying It Forward is about spontaneously offering favors, not needing to say yes when someone asks too much of you. And also, it's about kindness rather than niceness. There's a difference. Kindness is spontaneous and real. Niceness just mostly wants to be liked.

We came to ask you a favor!" Grace made favors sound fun, like ice cream cakes, or being the one who gets to whack the piñata with the stick.

We can be angels to each other. We are angels to each other, all the time. And we should be. No divine intervention required. Just a sense of staying together and looking out for each other. You know. Safety in numbers.

Lots of people use helping somebody to make their life feel like more.

My father taught me not to look down on nobody, not to think bad about nobody. Except assholes. He said it's OK to be prejudiced against assholes, because nobody has to be an asshole. It's voluntary.

Catherine Ryan Hyde

if you meet someone you don't like, or who doesn't treat you right, try to reserve judgment, because you don't know what that person's going through, and it's probably not so much about you at all.

I was wondering if Chester was going to have any kind of memorial. I figured probably not. Clearly his sons wanted nothing to do with him. Ellie was a new grandmother, and not wanting to travel. And who else was there? Obviously no one, or I wouldn't have been roped into taking over his care. It felt like the best possible advertisement for kindness. Treat people well, otherwise you might die and no one will notice or find it especially relevant to their life.

We can be angels to each other. We are angels to each other, all the time.

Catherine Ryan Hyde

wanted to say, "Be kind to each other, and don't let anybody come between you. And if someone else does come in and break up the marriage, and there's no way around that, at least find a way to equitably share the raising of the children.