--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I smiled back and I thought how…" description: "\"I smiled back and I thought how incredible that was, that they would find the time to smile. There was goodness in the world still, even if you couldn’..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/jenny-valentine-35757_goodness_i-smiled-back-and-i-thought-how-incredib_1502910.png" --- # I smiled back and I thought how incredible that was, that… ![“I smiled back and I thought how incredible that was, that they would find the time to smile. There was goodness in the world still, even if you couldn’t always see it.” quote by Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/jenny-valentine-35757_goodness_i-smiled-back-and-i-thought-how-incredib_1502910.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/jenny-valentine-35757_goodness_i-smiled-back-and-i-thought-how-incredib_1502910.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/955/jenny-valentine-35757_goodness_i-smiled-back-and-i-thought-how-incredib_1502910.png) > “I smiled back and I thought how incredible that was, that they would find the time to smile. There was goodness in the world still, even if you couldn’t always see it.” [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Recognizing small acts of kindness reveals enduring goodness despite hidden challenges. **In simple terms:** Kindness shows the exists. Key Takeaway Notice and appreciate simple kindness. Themes gratitude hope humanity Mood warm reflective Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily interactions - community service - personal reflection - overcoming cynicism Key Concepts empathy optimism Questions to Reflect On - How can you create more moments of visible kindness? - What does noticing kindness teach you about resilience? A Different Perspective Kindness can be fleeting and unnoticed without attention. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Goodness in the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness-in-the-world/) [Incredibles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incredibles/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Smile Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile-goodness-5514701/) [Smiled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled/) [Smiled Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled-thought-1281969/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Thought Incredible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-incredible-3181922/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-smile-462840/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“She said something to you and you smiled and I thought to myself that I'd never seen anything so... I don't know... I'd never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kubica/she-said-something-to-you-and-you-smiled-and-i-thought-to-myself-that/) [Mary Kubica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kubica/) > [As I got older, I fell more in love with movies and thought it would be incredible to someday be in one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-purser/as-i-got-older-i-fell-more-in-love-with-movies-and-thought-it-would/) [Shannon Purser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-purser/) > [“He appreciated all beautiful things. As she stood before him poised, scrutinizing every inch of his face, liable to strike him, he thought she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-salcedo/he-appreciated-all-beautiful-things-as-she-stood-before-him-poised/) [Nicki Salcedo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-salcedo/) > [There was goodness in the world still, even if you couldn't always see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/there-was-goodness-in-the-world-still-even-if-you-couldn-t-always-see/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [“If you’d ever asked, I would have crawled to help you. But you never wanted my help. You only wanted me to be your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosamund-hodge/if-you-d-ever-asked-i-would-have-crawled-to-help-you-but-you-never/) [Rosamund Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosamund-hodge/) > [“He almost smiled, I thought. And it was almost beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brittainy-c-cherry/he-almost-smiled-i-thought-and-it-was-almost-beautiful/) [Brittainy C. Cherry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brittainy-c-cherry/) > [“I smiled back at her. I thought such awful thoughts that I cannot even say them out loud because they would make Jesus want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-lamott/i-smiled-back-at-her-i-thought-such-awful-thoughts-that-i-cannot-even/) [Anne Lamott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-lamott/) > [“Judas put his arm around me. I smiled and thought of the words unreality and despair .”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/judas-put-his-arm-around-me-i-smiled-and-thought-of-the-words/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [I smiled: I thought to myself Mr. Rochester is peculiar — he seems to forget that he pays me £30 per annum for receiving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-bronte/i-smiled-i-thought-to-myself-mr-rochester-is-peculiar-he-seems-to/) [Charlotte Bronte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-bronte/) > [“I remember looking at myself in the mirror one morning and thinking, I am not a handsome guy. What am I going to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/i-remember-looking-at-myself-in-the-mirror-one-morning-and-thinking-i/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“I don't have a love life. I have a like life.' Mamie smiled. She thought how nice that might be, to be peacefully free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/i-don-t-have-a-love-life-i-have-a-like-life-mamie-smiled-she-thought/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [It made her think that it was curious how much nicer a person looked when he smiled. She had not thought of it before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hodgson-burnett/it-made-her-think-that-it-was-curious-how-much-nicer-a-person-looked/) [Frances Hodgson Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hodgson-burnett/) > [“Wild rambling roses had started to appear on the sides of the path; creatures of habit making their yearly bids between the bracken and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/wild-rambling-roses-had-started-to-appear-on-the-sides-of-the-path/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [But chiefly, no lies! No lies about there being a Santa Claus or about the world being full of noble and honorable people all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/but-chiefly-no-lies-no-lies-about-there-being-a-santa-claus-or-about/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [I just wanted to say that there is so much goodness in the world. We keep looking at the terrible and diabolical things when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twinkle-khanna/i-just-wanted-to-say-that-there-is-so-much-goodness-in-the-world-we/) [Twinkle Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twinkle-khanna/) ## More by Jenny Valentine > [What's wrong with the world Peter? God, I don't know. Where do you start? People give up. We're defeatists and we stop striving or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/what-s-wrong-with-the-world-peter-god-i-don-t-know-where-do-you-start/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [It's not knowing that drives you mad. It's imaging things that you wish you couldn't think up all by yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/it-s-not-knowing-that-drives-you-mad-it-s-imaging-things-that-you/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [“According to Grandad, being a vegetarian wasn't about just health or cruelty of money or flavor: it was about manners. He said that stealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/according-to-grandad-being-a-vegetarian-wasn-t-about-just-health-or/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [“What are you afraid of," she said. "Daylight?" No. I'm afraid of you. I'm afraid of myself, of whatever it is I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/what-are-you-afraid-of-she-said-daylight-no-i-m-afraid-of-you-i-m/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [Everything is going to be fine.” I hate it when people say that, people who have absolutely no idea of what’s coming next. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/everything-is-going-to-be-fine-i-hate-it-when-people-say-that-people/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [Even when you’d lost everything you thought there was to lose, somebody came along and gave you something for free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/even-when-you-d-lost-everything-you-thought-there-was-to-lose/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [It's amazing what storms your face can hide, what terrible wrecks can writhe and heave beneath, without one ripple on the surface.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/it-s-amazing-what-storms-your-face-can-hide-what-terrible-wrecks-can/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [“I cut off a piece of meatball dripping with sauce. I tried to make my face right. I tried to smile and not grimace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/i-cut-off-a-piece-of-meatball-dripping-with-sauce-i-tried-to-make-my/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [I didn't have time to lose it. I didn't have time to lie down in the corner shop and scream and beat the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/i-didn-t-have-time-to-lose-it-i-didn-t-have-time-to-lie-down-in-the/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [I told myself that some families we get without asking, while others we choose. And I chose those two. I think that’s what you’d…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/i-told-myself-that-some-families-we-get-without-asking-while-others/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [There was goodness in the world still, even if you couldn't always see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/there-was-goodness-in-the-world-still-even-if-you-couldn-t-always-see/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) > [I thought about having a proper room, breathing life into it, and nobody minding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-valentine/i-thought-about-having-a-proper-room-breathing-life-into-it-and/) [Jenny Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) [Explore all 13 Jenny Valentine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-valentine/) ## More Goodness quotes > [This is a proof of a well-trained mind, to rejoice in what is good and to grieve at the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/this-is-a-proof-of-a-well-trained-mind-to-rejoice-in-what-is-good-and/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [The writings of latter-day prophets clearly teach that the sorrows and sufferings endured by Adam and Eve upon their leaving the Garden of Eden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-k-judd/the-writings-of-latter-day-prophets-clearly-teach-that-the-sorrows/) [Daniel K Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-k-judd/) > [Love reacts with goodness towards those who ill-treat it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alistair-begg/love-reacts-with-goodness-towards-those-who-ill-treat-it/) [Alistair Begg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alistair-begg/) > [For the glory born of Goodness Never dies, And its flag is not half-masted In the skies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-harte/for-the-glory-born-of-goodness-never-dies-and-its-flag-is-not-half/) [Bret Harte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-harte/) > [One may not doubt that, somehow Good Shall come of Water and of Mud; And sure, the reverent eye must see A purpose in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-brooke/one-may-not-doubt-that-somehow-good-shall-come-of-water-and-of-mud/) [Rupert Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-brooke/) > [I've never had any desire to be good. I don't like goodness particularly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hanif-kureishi/i-ve-never-had-any-desire-to-be-good-i-don-t-like-goodness/) [Hanif Kureishi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hanif-kureishi/) > [the path of goodness had a name it is called Love in it we find the key to every hope and has it's root…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/the-path-of-goodness-had-a-name-it-is-called-love-in-it-we-find-the/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [The family remains the basic unit of society and the first school in which children learn the human, spiritual and moral values which enable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/the-family-remains-the-basic-unit-of-society-and-the-first-school-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [To make one good action succeed another, is the perfection of goodness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-ibn-abi-talib/to-make-one-good-action-succeed-another-is-the-perfection-of-goodness/) [Ali ibn Abi Talib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-ibn-abi-talib/) > [The living can't quit living because the world has turned terrible and people they love and need are killed. They can't because they don't.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-living-can-t-quit-living-because-the-world-has-turned-terrible/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [The future teachers I try to recruit are those show have refused to let themselves be neutered in this way, either in their private…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-kozol/the-future-teachers-i-try-to-recruit-are-those-show-have-refused-to/) [Jonathan Kozol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-kozol/) > [A good man therefore is a standing lesson to us all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-fielding/a-good-man-therefore-is-a-standing-lesson-to-us-all/) [Henry Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-fielding/) > [And if thy heart be straight with God then every creature shall be to thee a mirror of life and a book of holy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-a-kempis/and-if-thy-heart-be-straight-with-god-then-every-creature-shall-be-to/) [Thomas a Kempis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-a-kempis/) > [“Sometimes resilience arrives in the moment you discover your own unshakeable goodness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/sometimes-resilience-arrives-in-the-moment-you-discover-your-own/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/what-is-sin-it-is-the-glory-of-god-not-honored-the-holiness-of-god/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) [Browse all 3,129 Goodness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I smiled back and I thought how incredible that was, that they would find the time to smile. 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