--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Colleen had this idea -- a faded…" description: "\"“Colleen had this idea -- a faded, crumpled, smudged idea -- that being nice counted for something.”\" — Lauren Tarshis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/lauren-tarshis-25744_kindness_colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-s_2022413.jpg" --- # Colleen had this idea -- a faded, crumpled, smudged idea… ![“Colleen had this idea -- a faded, crumpled, smudged idea -- that being nice counted for something.” quote by Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/lauren-tarshis-25744_kindness_colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-s_2022413.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/lauren-tarshis-25744_kindness_colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-s_2022413.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/lauren-tarshis-25744_kindness_colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-s_2022413.jpg) > ““Colleen had this idea -- a faded, crumpled, smudged idea -- that being nice counted for something.”” [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) ## 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 kindness have value even when unnoticed, shaping character and community. **In simple terms:** Being nice matters. Key Takeaway Practice small kindnesses daily. Themes kindness character community Mood warm reflective Type inspirational ethical When to use this quote - school life - family interactions - online forums - volunteering Key Concepts moral value social impact Questions to Reflect On - How can you make kindness intentional? - What impact does unnoticed kindness have? A Different Perspective Kindness alone may not solve systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) ## Related quotes > [“about to make, but the idea had faded. Not for the first time that day, she wished the hall outside her door hadn’t become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynne-m-spreen/about-to-make-but-the-idea-had-faded-not-for-the-first-time-that-day/) Lynne M. Spreen > [“My idea of being a nice dog stops short of getting murdered for it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-r-erickson/my-idea-of-being-a-nice-dog-stops-short-of-getting-murdered-for-it/) [John R. Erickson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-r-erickson/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [The smartest people are the ones who can bring a little bit of heaven to earth by using there kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isiahnunn/the-smartest-people-are-the-ones-who-can-bring-a-little-bit-of-heaven/) IsiahNunn > [“A little bit of kindness goes a long way with women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/a-little-bit-of-kindness-goes-a-long-way-with-women/) [Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/) > [Praise will come to those whose kindness leaves you without debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-finn/praise-will-come-to-those-whose-kindness-leaves-you-without-debt/) [Neil Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-finn/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/kindness-unlocks-doors-that-were-thought-to-be-closed-forever/) Unkown > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [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/) ## More by Lauren Tarshis > [“But Jess had outgrown that. And anyway, the twins weren’t so exactly alike. Eddie was quiet and serious. Sam never shut up and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/but-jess-had-outgrown-that-and-anyway-the-twins-weren-t-so-exactly/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“There were 11,000 firefighters in the department.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/there-were-11-000-firefighters-in-the-department/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“Tower of London, where they used to chop off your head if the king didn’t like you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/tower-of-london-where-they-used-to-chop-off-your-head-if-the-king/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [Many writers are afraid of writing something bad, so they dont try or give up when their efforts dont lead to a masterpiece right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/many-writers-are-afraid-of-writing-something-bad-so-they-dont-try-or/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“There were nine dogs on the Titanic. They stayed in kennels, but their owners could take them out onto the decks for walks. Two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/there-were-nine-dogs-on-the-titanic-they-stayed-in-kennels-but-their/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [In quiet moments, I love to read.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/in-quiet-moments-i-love-to-read/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“There are plenty of bad people in the world,” he said. “Too many to count. But there are good people, too.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/there-are-plenty-of-bad-people-in-the-world-he-said-too-many-to-count/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“And as it quickly became clear, there were not very many survivors to find. Only fourteen people were pulled out of the rubble alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/and-as-it-quickly-became-clear-there-were-not-very-many-survivors-to/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“The girls smiled and swayed as though Colleen's happiness was their favorite song.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/the-girls-smiled-and-swayed-as-though-colleen-s-happiness-was-their/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“That was how it always was with Colleen: No matter how sad she felt, there was always this little bit of hope - like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/that-was-how-it-always-was-with-colleen-no-matter-how-sad-she-felt/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“But eleven-year-old Max Rosen was determined to stay alive.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/but-eleven-year-old-max-rosen-was-determined-to-stay-alive/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“Sometimes we must all fall out of a tree.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/sometimes-we-must-all-fall-out-of-a-tree/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [“Being in love is one of the most powerful experiences anyone can have. I think that's why we have crushes when we're younger. Maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/being-in-love-is-one-of-the-most-powerful-experiences-anyone-can-have/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [Many writers are afraid of writing something bad, so they don't try or give up when their efforts don't lead to a masterpiece right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/many-writers-are-afraid-of-writing-something-bad-so-they-don-t-try-or/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) > [The most important advice I can offer is that writing is a craft that you can learn by practicing. If you keep writing, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/the-most-important-advice-i-can-offer-is-that-writing-is-a-craft-that/) [Lauren Tarshis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) [Explore all 21 Lauren Tarshis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/) ## More Kindness 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/) > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/kindness-unlocks-doors-that-were-thought-to-be-closed-forever/) Unkown > [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [Praise will come to those whose kindness leaves you without debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-finn/praise-will-come-to-those-whose-kindness-leaves-you-without-debt/) [Neil Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-finn/) > [“A little bit of kindness goes a long way with women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/a-little-bit-of-kindness-goes-a-long-way-with-women/) [Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/) > [The smartest people are the ones who can bring a little bit of heaven to earth by using there kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isiahnunn/the-smartest-people-are-the-ones-who-can-bring-a-little-bit-of-heaven/) IsiahNunn > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 6,600 Kindness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Colleen had this idea -- a faded, crumpled, smudged idea -- that being nice counted for something.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Lauren Tarshis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-smudged-idea-that-being-nice/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Kindness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-smudged-idea-that-being-nice/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/lauren-tarshis-25744_kindness_colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-s_2022413.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/lauren-tarshis-25744_kindness_colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-s_2022413.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/674/lauren-tarshis-25744_kindness_colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-s_2022413.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Colleen had this idea -- a faded, crumpled, smudged idea -- that being nice counted for something.” — Lauren Tarshis", "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": "Lauren Tarshis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-tarshis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Colleen had this idea -- a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-smudged-idea-that-being-nice/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-tarshis/colleen-had-this-idea-a-faded-crumpled-smudged-idea-that-being-nice/#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 } } ] } ```