--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Little kindness and courtesies are so…" description: "\"Little kindness and courtesies are so important. In relationships, the little things are the big things.\" — Stephen Covey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/stephen-covey-339_big-things_little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-im_1592757.png" --- # Little kindness and courtesies are so important. In… ![“Little kindness and courtesies are so important. In relationships, the little things are the big things.” quote by Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/stephen-covey-339_big-things_little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-im_1592757.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/stephen-covey-339_big-things_little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-im_1592757.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/stephen-covey-339_big-things_little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-im_1592757.png) > “Little kindness and courtesies are so important. In relationships, the little things are the big things.” [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Small acts of kindness and courtesy have outsized impact on relationships, often defining their success. **In simple terms:** Little gestures matter most in relationships. Key Takeaway Practice daily kindness and courtesy. Themes relationships kindness communication detail Mood warm encouraging reflective Type interpersonal motivational When to use this quote - marriage - friendship - teamwork - customer service Key Concepts social reciprocity emotional intelligence habit formation Questions to Reflect On - What small gesture can you give today? - How do you show appreciation consistently? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on small acts may overlook larger systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Big things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) [Bigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bigs/) [Courtesies Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesies-important-2652792/) [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Important](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important/) [Important relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-relationships/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness Courtesies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-courtesies-6040950/) [Little Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-kindness-1108485/) [Little things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/little-things/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [New relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-relationship/) [Relationship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationship/) [Relationships Little](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships-little-872555/) ## Related quotes > [The habit of attending to small things and of appreciating small courtesies is one of the important marks of a good person,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-mandela/the-habit-of-attending-to-small-things-and-of-appreciating-small/) [Nelson Mandela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-mandela/) > [In relationships, the little things are the big things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-relationships-the-little-things-are-the-big-things/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If the right people like you, then you know you get opportunities that other people don't. If you don't develop those relationships, then it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-clark/if-the-right-people-like-you-then-you-know-you-get-opportunities-that/) [Ryan Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-clark/) > [In long distance relationships the little things gets focused on more. Like loving for someone for who they are, not what they look like.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-white/in-long-distance-relationships-the-little-things-gets-focused-on-more/) [Adrian White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-white/) > [The e-mail relationships that I have are kind of fantastic, because I think you get to fill in your relationships a little bit if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meg-ryan/the-e-mail-relationships-that-i-have-are-kind-of-fantastic-because-i/) [Meg Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meg-ryan/) > [I like when there are complicated relationships, that there's a little bit of self-serving parts of it as well as a devotion to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-kudrow/i-like-when-there-are-complicated-relationships-that-there-s-a-little/) [Lisa Kudrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-kudrow/) > [“Philip had received little kindness in his life, and he was touched by the American’s desire to help him: once when a cold kept…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-somerset-maugham/philip-had-received-little-kindness-in-his-life-and-he-was-touched-by/) [William Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-somerset-maugham/) > [An honest kiss, a little kindness, everyone deserves that much, however big or small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/an-honest-kiss-a-little-kindness-everyone-deserves-that-much-however/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A little kindness goes long way but the sad thing is that a little cruelty goes further...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-little-kindness-goes-long-way-but-the-sad-thing-is-that-a-little/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Even a little peace, a little love, a little forgiveness, and a little kindness can change the world for the better and bring it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/even-a-little-peace-a-little-love-a-little-forgiveness-and-a-little/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-scott/i-have-this-theory-that-if-one-person-can-go-out-of-their-way-to-show/) [Rachel Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-scott/) > [A little thought and a little kindness are often worth more than a great deal of money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/a-little-thought-and-a-little-kindness-are-often-worth-more-than-a/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [People will never know how far a little kindness can go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-scott/people-will-never-know-how-far-a-little-kindness-can-go/) [Rachel Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-scott/) > [You've got to try a little kindness, yes show a little kindness Just shine your light for everyone to see. And if you try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-campbell/you-ve-got-to-try-a-little-kindness-yes-show-a-little-kindness-just/) [Glen Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-campbell/) > [“Your little kindness made the whole world my enemy, but I am not scared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/your-little-kindness-made-the-whole-world-my-enemy-but-i-am-not-scared/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) ## More by Stephen Covey > [You can't have the fruits without the roots. It's the principle of sequencing: Private Victories proceed Public Victories. Self-mastery and self-discipline are the foundation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/you-can-t-have-the-fruits-without-the-roots-it-s-the-principle-of/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [The fire inside people is like a match; the way to ignite that flame is initially through friction, then other matches are lit through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/the-fire-inside-people-is-like-a-match-the-way-to-ignite-that-flame/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In a very real sense, there are only two roles in organisations: customers and suppliers. Everybody functions simultaneously in both roles, whether inside or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/in-a-very-real-sense-there-are-only-two-roles-in-organisations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [To blame and accuse other people, is to choose to empower them, to control us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/to-blame-and-accuse-other-people-is-to-choose-to-empower-them-to/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Be part of the solution, not part of the problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/be-part-of-the-solution-not-part-of-the-problem/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [If you are an effective manager of your self, your discipline comes from within; it is a function of your independent will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/if-you-are-an-effective-manager-of-your-self-your-discipline-comes/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I believe in Coach Louis Wong. He is so much more than just a football coach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/i-believe-in-coach-louis-wong-he-is-so-much-more-than-just-a-football/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people struggle with life balance simply because they haven't paid the price to decide what is really important to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-struggle-with-life-balance-simply-because-they-haven-t/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Highly proactive people don't blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. Their behavior is a product of their own conscious choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/highly-proactive-people-don-t-blame-circumstances-conditions-or/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [When it comes to developing character strength, inner security and unique personal and interpersonal talents and skills in a child, no institution can or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/when-it-comes-to-developing-character-strength-inner-security-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Most people define greatness through wealth and popularity and position in the corner office. But what I call everyday greatness comes from character and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/most-people-define-greatness-through-wealth-and-popularity-and/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Contrary to what most people believe, trust is not some soft, illusive quality that you either have or you don't; rather, trust is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/contrary-to-what-most-people-believe-trust-is-not-some-soft-illusive/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [We are limited but we can push back the borders of our limitations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/we-are-limited-but-we-can-push-back-the-borders-of-our-limitations/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Many people seem to think that success in one area can compensate for failure in other areas. But can it really?... True effectiveness requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/many-people-seem-to-think-that-success-in-one-area-can-compensate-for/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) [Explore all 663 Stephen Covey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) ## More Big things quotes > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [I want my squad to be confident, ambitious. They have to believe in big things and we have to set targets internally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-howe/i-want-my-squad-to-be-confident-ambitious-they-have-to-believe-in-big/) [Eddie Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-howe/) > [Little things make the difference. Everyone is well prepared in the big things, but only the winners perfect the little things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bear-bryant/little-things-make-the-difference-everyone-is-well-prepared-in-the/) [Bear Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bear-bryant/) > [I would not have lasted a minute, literally a minute, on this Earth without God and angels by my side, because I was born.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mattie-stepanek/i-would-not-have-lasted-a-minute-literally-a-minute-on-this-earth/) [Mattie Stepanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mattie-stepanek/) > [The larger an English industry was, the more likely it was to go bankrupt, because the English were not naturally corporate people; they disliked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-theroux/the-larger-an-english-industry-was-the-more-likely-it-was-to-go/) [Paul Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-theroux/) > [It's silly to have as one's sole object in life just making money, accumulating wealth. I work because I enjoy what I'm doing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-carson/it-s-silly-to-have-as-one-s-sole-object-in-life-just-making-money/) [Johnny Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-carson/) > [Show me a man who cannot bother to do little things and I'll show you a man who cannot be trusted to do big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-dale-bell/show-me-a-man-who-cannot-bother-to-do-little-things-and-i-ll-show-you/) [Lawrence Dale Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-dale-bell/) > [ITS FUNNY HOW YOU CAN MAKE SILENT HAPPINESS TO OTHER PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR NONE SENSE ACTIONS. BECAUSE SOMETHINGS IT MAYBE LITTLE AS WE…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-voice/its-funny-how-you-can-make-silent-happiness-to-other-people-out-of/) [NO VOICE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/no-voice/) > [The little things, I can obey. But the big things - how we think, what we value - those you must choose yourself. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/the-little-things-i-can-obey-but-the-big-things-how-we-think-what-we/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [The little things are being early to meetings and lifts, stretching and warming up - doing all these things consistently, the walk-throughs that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-herbert/the-little-things-are-being-early-to-meetings-and-lifts-stretching/) [Justin Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-herbert/) > [I promise you this: at the end of your days, you will discover that the things you now perceive to be the big things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/i-promise-you-this-at-the-end-of-your-days-you-will-discover-that-the/) [Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/) > [“He wanted me to understand two big things: First, that nobody, no group, is above others. Public servants are obliged to level with everybody,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/he-wanted-me-to-understand-two-big-things-first-that-nobody-no-group/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [“When it comes to big things in life, there are no accidents. Everything happens for a reason.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ransom-riggs/when-it-comes-to-big-things-in-life-there-are-no-accidents-everything/) [Ransom Riggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ransom-riggs/) > [President Barack Obama is a doer. And we in America will do big things with him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-hunt/president-barack-obama-is-a-doer-and-we-in-america-will-do-big-things/) [Jim Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-hunt/) > [There are experts in little things but there are no experts in big things. There are experts in this fact and that fact but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-ustinov/there-are-experts-in-little-things-but-there-are-no-experts-in-big/) [Peter Ustinov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-ustinov/) [Browse all 748 Big things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/big-things/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Little kindness and courtesies are so important. In relationships, the little things are the big things.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Covey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-important-in-relationships-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Big things" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-important-in-relationships-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/stephen-covey-339_big-things_little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-im_1592757.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/stephen-covey-339_big-things_little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-im_1592757.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1da/stephen-covey-339_big-things_little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-im_1592757.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Little kindness and courtesies are so important. In relationships, the little things are the big things.” — Stephen Covey", "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": "Stephen Covey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Little kindness and courtesies are so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-important-in-relationships-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/little-kindness-and-courtesies-are-so-important-in-relationships-the/#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 } } ] } ```