--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: How quickly a truly benevolent act is…" description: "\"How quickly a truly benevolent act is repaid by the consciousness of having done it!\" — Hosea Ballou" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/hosea-ballou-3245_benevolence_how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-re_1627407.png" --- # How quickly a truly benevolent act is repaid by the… ![“How quickly a truly benevolent act is repaid by the consciousness of having done it!” quote by Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/hosea-ballou-3245_benevolence_how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-re_1627407.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/hosea-ballou-3245_benevolence_how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-re_1627407.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/hosea-ballou-3245_benevolence_how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-re_1627407.png) > “How quickly a truly benevolent act is repaid by the consciousness of having done it!” [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acts of genuine kindness generate a rewarding inner consciousness, reinforcing moral behavior. **In simple terms:** Kind deeds bring inner satisfaction. Key Takeaway Practice sincere generosity. Themes benevolence consciousness morality spirituality Mood uplifting reflective Type spiritual motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - charitable giving - daily acts of kindness - community service Key Concepts psychology of altruism inner reward ethical fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - How does inner awareness influence future generosity? - What distinguishes true benevolence from self‑serving acts? A Different Perspective May not account for external consequences of actions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benevolence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) [Benevolent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolent/) [Benevolent Act](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolent-act-353234/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Quickly Truly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/quickly-truly-353235/) [Repaid Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repaid-consciousness-353232/) [Truly Benevolent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-benevolent-353233/) ## Related quotes > [To the truly benevolent mind, indeed, nothing is more satisfactory than to hear of a miser denying himself the necessaries of life a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-payn/to-the-truly-benevolent-mind-indeed-nothing-is-more-satisfactory-than/) [James Payn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-payn/) > [“That bodies should be lent us, while they can afford us pleasure, assist us in acquiring knowledge, or doing good to our fellow creatures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/that-bodies-should-be-lent-us-while-they-can-afford-us-pleasure/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [The soul of the truly benevolent man does not seem to reside much in his own body. Its life, to a great extent, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace-mann/the-soul-of-the-truly-benevolent-man-does-not-seem-to-reside-much-in/) [Horace Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace-mann/) > [To feel much for others and little for ourselves, that to restrain our selfish, and to indulge our benevolent affections, constitutes the perfection of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/to-feel-much-for-others-and-little-for-ourselves-that-to-restrain-our/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Alas few socialists are either benevolent enough to work hard at these occupations out of benevolence or self-interested enough to work hard at them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccarthy/alas-few-socialists-are-either-benevolent-enough-to-work-hard-at/) [John McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccarthy/) > [A benevolent mind, and the face assumes the patterns of benevolence. An evil mind, then an evil face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-sangster/a-benevolent-mind-and-the-face-assumes-the-patterns-of-benevolence-an/) [Jimmy Sangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-sangster/) > [In regard to the colored people, there is always more that is benevolent, I perceive, than just, manifested towards us. What I ask for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/in-regard-to-the-colored-people-there-is-always-more-that-is/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [Under the present dispensation, the great majority of factories are little despotisms, benevolent in some cases, malevolent in others. Even where benevolence prevails, passive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/under-the-present-dispensation-the-great-majority-of-factories-are/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [What can a man do with music who is not benevolent?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/what-can-a-man-do-with-music-who-is-not-benevolent/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [“How easy is it for one benevolent being to diffuse pleasure around him, and how truly is a kind heart a fountain of gladness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/how-easy-is-it-for-one-benevolent-being-to-diffuse-pleasure-around/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [Beneficence is a duty. He who frequently practices it, and sees his benevolent intentions realized, at length comes really to love him to whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/beneficence-is-a-duty-he-who-frequently-practices-it-and-sees-his/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) > [We like where we live and we wanna participate in our neighbourhoods and communities and stuff and try to- we're not like benevolent- it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-fishman/we-like-where-we-live-and-we-wanna-participate-in-our-neighbourhoods/) [Jon Fishman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-fishman/) > [The conqueror is regarded with awe; the wise man commands our respect; but it is only the benevolent man that wins our affection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-dean-howells/the-conqueror-is-regarded-with-awe-the-wise-man-commands-our-respect/) [William Dean Howells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-dean-howells/) > [Intelligent Design opens the whole possibility of us being created in the image of a benevolent God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-dembski/intelligent-design-opens-the-whole-possibility-of-us-being-created-in/) [William A. Dembski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-dembski/) > [“But benevolent patriarchy is still patriarchy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/but-benevolent-patriarchy-is-still-patriarchy/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) ## More by Hosea Ballou > [Purity in person and in morals is true godliness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/purity-in-person-and-in-morals-is-true-godliness/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Envy may justly be called "the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity;" it is the most acid fruit that grows on the stock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/envy-may-justly-be-called-the-gall-of-bitterness-and-bond-of-iniquity/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Be circumspect in your dealings, and let the seed you plant be the offspring of prudence and care; thus fruit follows the fair blossom,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/be-circumspect-in-your-dealings-and-let-the-seed-you-plant-be-the/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Honest and courageous people have very little to say about either their courage or their honesty. The sun has no need to boast of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/honest-and-courageous-people-have-very-little-to-say-about-either/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [The cloudy weather melts at length into beauty, and the brightest smiles of the heart are born of its tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/the-cloudy-weather-melts-at-length-into-beauty-and-the-brightest/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Servility is disgusting to a truly noble character, and engenders only contempt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/servility-is-disgusting-to-a-truly-noble-character-and-engenders-only/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Obedience sums up our entire duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/obedience-sums-up-our-entire-duty/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Too many people embrace religion from the same motives that they take a companion in wedlock, not from true love of the person, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/too-many-people-embrace-religion-from-the-same-motives-that-they-take/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Man, being not only a religious, but also a social being, requires for the promotion of his rational happiness religious institutions, which, while they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/man-being-not-only-a-religious-but-also-a-social-being-requires-for/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Brevity and conciseness are the parents of correction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/brevity-and-conciseness-are-the-parents-of-correction/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [There is one court whose findings are incontrovertible, and whose sessions are held in the chambers of our own breast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/there-is-one-court-whose-findings-are-incontrovertible-and-whose/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [“Kecurigaan selalu menjadi musuh kebahagiaan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/kecurigaan-selalu-menjadi-musuh-kebahagiaan/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Mystery and innocence are not akin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/mystery-and-innocence-are-not-akin/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Obedience and resignation are our personal offerings upon the altar of duty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/obedience-and-resignation-are-our-personal-offerings-upon-the-altar/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) > [Liberality should be tempered with judgment, not with profuseness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/liberality-should-be-tempered-with-judgment-not-with-profuseness/) [Hosea Ballou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) [Explore all 135 Hosea Ballou quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/) ## More Benevolence quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [I rejoice that the reign of Christ is such, while it thrills the soul with emotions, and opens before the highest intellect the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simpson/i-rejoice-that-the-reign-of-christ-is-such-while-it-thrills-the-soul/) [Matthew Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-simpson/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The benevolence of wrapping the partridge in a vine leaf brings out its quality, just as the barrel of Diogenes brought forth the qualities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmanuel-des-essarts/the-benevolence-of-wrapping-the-partridge-in-a-vine-leaf-brings-out/) [Emmanuel des Essarts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmanuel-des-essarts/) > [“Now general benevolence was one of the leading features of the Pickwickian theory, and no one was more remarkable for the zealous manner in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/now-general-benevolence-was-one-of-the-leading-features-of-the/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Conservatives say the government can't end poverty by force, but they believe it can use force to make people moral. Liberals say government can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/conservatives-say-the-government-can-t-end-poverty-by-force-but-they/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The individualism of current economic theory is manifest in the purely self-interested behaviour it generally assumes. It has no real place for fairness, malevolence,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-e-daly/the-individualism-of-current-economic-theory-is-manifest-in-the/) [Herman E. Daly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-e-daly/) > [Nobody but a beggar chooses to depend chiefly upon the benevolence of his fellow-citizens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/nobody-but-a-beggar-chooses-to-depend-chiefly-upon-the-benevolence-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [Want compassion is not to be numbered among the general faults of mankind. The black ingredient which fouls our disposition is envy. Hence our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/want-compassion-is-not-to-be-numbered-among-the-general-faults-of/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [When you have lived as long as I have, the div replied, you find that cruelty and benevolence are but shades of the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khaled-hosseini/when-you-have-lived-as-long-as-i-have-the-div-replied-you-find-that/) [Khaled Hosseini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khaled-hosseini/) > [ They \[spies\] cannot be properly managed without benevolence and straightforwardness. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-tzu/they-spies-cannot-be-properly-managed-without-benevolence-and/) [Sun Tzu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-tzu/) > [Generosity during life is a very different thing from generosity in the hour of death; one proceeds from genuine liberality, and benevolence; the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martial/generosity-during-life-is-a-very-different-thing-from-generosity-in/) [Martial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martial/) > [There is in St. Paul's definite, soul-stirring assertion of the wrath of God and the reality of the judgment at hand, a truth more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-allen/there-is-in-st-paul-s-definite-soul-stirring-assertion-of-the-wrath/) [Roland Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-allen/) > [Men resemble the gods in nothing so much as in doing good to their fellow creatures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/men-resemble-the-gods-in-nothing-so-much-as-in-doing-good-to-their/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [General benevolence, but not general friendship, made a man what he ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/general-benevolence-but-not-general-friendship-made-a-man-what-he/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) [Browse all 371 Benevolence quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benevolence/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "How quickly a truly benevolent act is repaid by the consciousness of having done it!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Hosea Ballou" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-repaid-by-the-consciousness-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Benevolence" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-repaid-by-the-consciousness-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/hosea-ballou-3245_benevolence_how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-re_1627407.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/hosea-ballou-3245_benevolence_how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-re_1627407.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/434/hosea-ballou-3245_benevolence_how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-re_1627407.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“How quickly a truly benevolent act is repaid by the consciousness of having done it!” — Hosea Ballou", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Hosea Ballou", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hosea-ballou/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "How quickly a truly benevolent act...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-repaid-by-the-consciousness-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hosea-ballou/how-quickly-a-truly-benevolent-act-is-repaid-by-the-consciousness-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```