No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. — Aesop · Smartyfair

No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.

Aesopstoryteller · Ancient Greece (traditionally 6th century BC)Aesop is remembered as the storyteller behind hundreds of short fables — quick tales about animals like the tortoise and the hare that end with a lesson about life.5 quotes

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In plain words

Every bit of kindness counts, even the tiny bits.

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Where these words come from

How sure this is: 48% sureLots of sources credit Aesop with this, and they agree with each other. The book or the speech it first came from hasn't turned up yet.
What turned up: Modern expansion of Aesop's 'A kindness is never wasted' moral (The Lion and the Mouse)
Work: The Lion and the Mouse — modern wording of the fable's moral
Sources checked: read.govChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 20 August 2026

Nothing made from these words yet — Storyfaire is where they get made.

More from Aesop

Slow and steady wins the race.

Aesop Union gives strength.

Aesop In critical moments even the very powerful have need of the weakest.

Aesop It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.

More on kindness

Treat all men alike. Give them all the same law. Give them all an even chance to live and grow.

Chief Joseph No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it for any one else.

Charles Dickens There is only one enduring happiness in life — to live for others.

Leo Tolstoy Among individuals, as among nations, respect for the rights of others is peace.

Benito Juárez As to diseases, make a habit of two things — to help, or at least, to do no harm.

Hippocrates The quality of mercy is not strain'd, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.

William Shakespeare