---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In order to be kind, one must do. There…"
description: "\"In order to be kind, one must do. There is no point in thinking good thoughts and not acting on them. There is no currency in wishing things were bette..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/ingrid-newkirk-3962_acting_in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is_1821458.png"
---

#  In order to be kind, one must do. There is no point in…

![“In order to be kind, one must do. There is no point in thinking good thoughts and not acting on them. There is no currency in wishing things were better but not rolling up one's sleeves and helping to change them.” quote by Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/ingrid-newkirk-3962_acting_in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is_1821458.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/ingrid-newkirk-3962_acting_in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is_1821458.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/ingrid-newkirk-3962_acting_in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is_1821458.png)

> “In order to be kind, one must do. There is no point in thinking good thoughts and not acting on them. There is no currency in wishing things were better but not rolling up one's sleeves and helping to change them.”

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Kindness requires action, not just good intentions; deeds give value to compassion.

**In simple terms:** Kindness needs action, not just thoughts.

Key Takeaway

Act on compassion now.

Themes

kindness action compassion

Mood

determined hopeful

Type

motivational ethical

When to use this quote

- volunteering
- community service
- advocacy
- daily kindness

Key Concepts

ethical behavior social responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you turn a kind thought into a concrete act?
- What barriers stop you from helping?

A Different Perspective

Good intentions alone don’t change reality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Be kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/be-kind/) [Currency](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/currency/) [Good thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-thoughts/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Kind Point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind-point-2196786/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [No point](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-point/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Rolling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rolling/) [Rolling up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rolling-up-160344/) [Sleeves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleeves/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Thinking good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-good/) [Thinking Good Thoughts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking-good-thoughts-220852/) [Thoughts Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-acting-2196787/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/)

## Related quotes

> [Thinking good thoughts is not enough, doing good deeds is not enough, seeing others follow your good examples is enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-horton/thinking-good-thoughts-is-not-enough-doing-good-deeds-is-not-enough/)

[Douglas Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-horton/)

> [If you are feeling good , it is because you are thinking good thoughts .](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/if-you-are-feeling-good-it-is-because-you-are-thinking-good-thoughts/)

[Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/)

> [Simply by performing good actions and thinking good thoughts you will not attain enlightenment. It takes something more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/simply-by-performing-good-actions-and-thinking-good-thoughts-you-will/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“You'll be thinking of me. You may not be thinking good thoughts, but you'll be thinking of me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gavin-de-becker/you-ll-be-thinking-of-me-you-may-not-be-thinking-good-thoughts-but/)

[Gavin de Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gavin-de-becker/)

> [There's been a thoughtfulness to everything I do. Even the stupidest things I do have some kind of point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-carrey/there-s-been-a-thoughtfulness-to-everything-i-do-even-the-stupidest/)

[Jim Carrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-carrey/)

> [Silence allows you to watch your mind and become aware of the thoughts that you may be acting on unconsciously. When you see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda-radha-saraswati/silence-allows-you-to-watch-your-mind-and-become-aware-of-the/)

[Sivananda Radha Saraswati](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda-radha-saraswati/)

> [There's no substitute for rolling up your sleeves and working with the people who can make a difference. They get the benefit of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-milken/there-s-no-substitute-for-rolling-up-your-sleeves-and-working-with/)

[Michael Milken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-milken/)

> [ Sundance \[festival\] is all your Hollywood buds and buddies and rolling out and high-fiving and "Hell, yeah. Here comes the movie," and in Venice,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gordon-green/sundance-festival-is-all-your-hollywood-buds-and-buddies-and-rolling/)

[David Gordon Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gordon-green/)

> [I am absolutely convinced that there are weapons...I saw evidence back in 1998 when we would see the inspectors being barred from gaining entry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-cohen/i-am-absolutely-convinced-that-there-are-weapons-i-saw-evidence-back/)

[William Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-cohen/)

> [I told my wife when I was rolling up, I felt like the president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaquille-o-neal/i-told-my-wife-when-i-was-rolling-up-i-felt-like-the-president/)

[Shaquille O'Neal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaquille-o-neal/)

> [The art of concentrating strength at one point, forcing a breakthrough, rolling up and securing the flanks on either side, and then penetrating like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erwin-rommel/the-art-of-concentrating-strength-at-one-point-forcing-a-breakthrough/)

[Erwin Rommel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erwin-rommel/)

> [To make a start, out of particulars and make them general, rolling up the sum, by defective means Sniffing the trees, just another dog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-carlos-williams/to-make-a-start-out-of-particulars-and-make-them-general-rolling-up/)

[William Carlos Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-carlos-williams/)

> [Art is love creating the new world and justice is love rolling up its sleeves to heal the old one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright-2/art-is-love-creating-the-new-world-and-justice-is-love-rolling-up-its/)

[N. T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright-2/)

> [“We already have everything we need. There is nothing to improve. Thinking we are good or bad, fair or unfair, all that is nonsense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/we-already-have-everything-we-need-there-is-nothing-to-improve/)

[Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/)

> [A lot of what keeps me going is wanting to be better, thinking I'm not good enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-jane-grace/a-lot-of-what-keeps-me-going-is-wanting-to-be-better-thinking-i-m-not/)

[Laura Jane Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-jane-grace/)

## More by Ingrid Newkirk

> [When it comes to having a central nervous system, and the ability to feel pain, hunger, and thirst, a rat is a pig is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/when-it-comes-to-having-a-central-nervous-system-and-the-ability-to/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [We all have prejudices to dispel: the need to get away from thinking that 'I' am important and special and 'you' are not, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/we-all-have-prejudices-to-dispel-the-need-to-get-away-from-thinking/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [The extinction of Homo Sapiens would mean survival for millions, if not billions, of Earth-dwelling species. Phasing out the human race will solve every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/the-extinction-of-homo-sapiens-would-mean-survival-for-millions-if/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [Pet ownership is slavery. Animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or be entertained by.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/pet-ownership-is-slavery-animals-are-not-ours-to-eat-wear-experiment/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [Perhaps measuring animal intelligence by comparing it to human intelligence isn't the best litmus test.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/perhaps-measuring-animal-intelligence-by-comparing-it-to-human/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [One hates to be absolute, but in my view, there is no such thing as humane meat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/one-hates-to-be-absolute-but-in-my-view-there-is-no-such-thing-as/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [It's interesting that one of the definitions of the word 'human' is 'sympathetic.' More and more people are beginning to show that they understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/it-s-interesting-that-one-of-the-definitions-of-the-word-human-is/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> […we would like an end to pet shops and the breeding of animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/we-would-like-an-end-to-pet-shops-and-the-breeding-of-animals/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [Never doubt that one person can make a difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/never-doubt-that-one-person-can-make-a-difference/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [Probably everything we do is a publicity stunt ... we are not here to gather members, to please, to placate, to make friends. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/probably-everything-we-do-is-a-publicity-stunt-we-are-not-here-to/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [The bottom line is that people dont have the right to manipulate or to breed dogs and cats ... If people want toys, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/the-bottom-line-is-that-people-dont-have-the-right-to-manipulate-or/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [Even painless research is fascism, supremacism, because the act of confinement is traumatizing in itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/even-painless-research-is-fascism-supremacism-because-the-act-of/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [All of us in society are supposed to believe that cruelty to animals is wrong and that it is a good thing to prevent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/all-of-us-in-society-are-supposed-to-believe-that-cruelty-to-animals/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [I think if you're against cruelty and you look at what happens to animals in slaughterhouses and on factory farms, you have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/i-think-if-you-re-against-cruelty-and-you-look-at-what-happens-to/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

> [Humans have grown like a cancer. We're the biggest blight on the face of the earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/humans-have-grown-like-a-cancer-we-re-the-biggest-blight-on-the-face/)

[Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

[Explore all 118 Ingrid Newkirk quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/)

## More Acting quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/)

[Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/)

[Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/)

> [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/)

[Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/)

[Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/)

> [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/)

[Ryan Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-newman/)

> [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/)

[Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/)

> [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/)

[Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/)

[Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/)

[Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In order to be kind, one must do. There is no point in thinking good thoughts and not acting on them. There is no currency in wishing things were better but not rolling up one's sleeves and helping to change them.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ingrid Newkirk"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is-no-point-in-thinking-good/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is-no-point-in-thinking-good/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/ingrid-newkirk-3962_acting_in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is_1821458.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/ingrid-newkirk-3962_acting_in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is_1821458.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/421/ingrid-newkirk-3962_acting_in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is_1821458.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In order to be kind, one must do. There is no point in thinking good thoughts and not acting on them. There…” — Ingrid Newkirk",
                "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": "Ingrid Newkirk",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In order to be kind, one...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is-no-point-in-thinking-good/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/in-order-to-be-kind-one-must-do-there-is-no-point-in-thinking-good/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
