To those who are good, I am good; and to those who are not good, I am… — Lao Tzu · Smartyfair

To those who are good, I am good; and to those who are not good, I am also good; and thus all get to be good.

Lao Tzuphilosopher · Ancient China (traditionally 6th century BC)Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher believed to have written the Tao Te Ching, a book about living simply and in harmony with nature — today considered one of the most translated books in the world, second only to the Bible.8 quotes

Source foundKindnessAncient

In plain words

Be good to kind people and unkind people alike, and kindness spreads.

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Where these words come from

How sure this is: 88% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
What turned up: Tao Te Ching, ch. 49, Legge translation, 1891; bracketed editorial words removed (Legge inserts them for implied sense, e.g. "(to me)").
Work: Tao Te Ching
Occasion: 6th century BCE (traditional) · China · chapter 49, on treating everyone with goodness
Sources checked: en.wikisource.orgChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 21 August 2026Fetched; confirmed verbatim, including trailing clause "and thus (all) get to be good"

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More from Lao Tzu

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.

Lao Tzu A violent wind does not outlast the morning; a squall of rain does not outlast the day. Such is the course of Nature.

Lao Tzu He who devotes himself to learning seeks from day to day to increase his knowledge.

Lao Tzu The highest excellence is like water.

Lao Tzu A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Lao Tzu He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent.

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