--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If you give appreciation to people, you…" description: "\"If you give appreciation to people, you win their goodwill.\" — William James" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/william-james-228_appreciation_if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-w_235739.png" --- # If you give appreciation to people, you win their goodwill. ![“If you give appreciation to people, you win their goodwill.” quote by William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/william-james-228_appreciation_if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-w_235739.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/william-james-228_appreciation_if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-w_235739.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/william-james-228_appreciation_if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-w_235739.png) > “If you give appreciation to people, you win their goodwill.” [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Showing appreciation fosters goodwill, strengthening relationships and cooperation. **In simple terms:** Being grateful makes people like you more. Key Takeaway Express gratitude to build trust. Themes relationships psychology social reciprocity gratitude Mood motivational reflective Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - team meetings - customer service - personal interactions - leadership coaching Key Concepts positive reinforcement emotional intelligence trust building Questions to Reflect On - When do you give appreciation? - How does gratitude affect teamwork? A Different Perspective Overuse may seem insincere; appreciation must be genuine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Appreciation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) [Appreciation People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation-people-536127/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Goodwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodwill/) [Gratitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gratitude/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Win](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-win/) [Win Goodwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/win-goodwill-536129/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [If you give appreciation to people, you win their goodwill. But more important than that, practicing this philosophy has made a different person of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-win-their-goodwill-but-more/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [The greatest award is the appreciation of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gopi-sundar/the-greatest-award-is-the-appreciation-of-the-people/) [Gopi Sundar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gopi-sundar/) > [When I go out and I see the genuine appreciation from the people, that's a big thing for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yami-gautam/when-i-go-out-and-i-see-the-genuine-appreciation-from-the-people-that/) [Yami Gautam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yami-gautam/) > [I have got a lot of appreciation from people and they really like my voice in Sufi songs, so I will continue with that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javed-ali/i-have-got-a-lot-of-appreciation-from-people-and-they-really-like-my/) [Javed Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javed-ali/) > [I have great appreciation for people who do anything well. I think that it's very difficult to do what you do well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/i-have-great-appreciation-for-people-who-do-anything-well-i-think/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [Telugu and Tamil actors have been so open-hearted and warm in welcoming me to be part of their industries. This appreciation from such people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sudeep/telugu-and-tamil-actors-have-been-so-open-hearted-and-warm-in/) [Sudeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sudeep/) > [Being here and receiving appreciation from the people here in Nantes has a special appeal. But I do believe I have worked hard for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharmila-tagore/being-here-and-receiving-appreciation-from-the-people-here-in-nantes/) [Sharmila Tagore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharmila-tagore/) > [...no matter how avid they themselves may be for praise and appreciation, people are often niggardly in giving it to others, however merited it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/no-matter-how-avid-they-themselves-may-be-for-praise-and-appreciation/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [“Criticism is another way of appreciation. So when people criticise you don't get upset, just boost yourself and do better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-k-dutta/criticism-is-another-way-of-appreciation-so-when-people-criticise-you/) [G.K. Dutta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-k-dutta/) > [Sleater-Kinney is a band that we hold close to our hearts as well; it's not something that we're cynical or jaded about. We only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/sleater-kinney-is-a-band-that-we-hold-close-to-our-hearts-as-well-it/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [Appreciation is necessary for encouraging hardwork but sometimes our encouragements should rely on the beauty of our works and the satisfaction we gain. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/appreciation-is-necessary-for-encouraging-hardwork-but-sometimes-our/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Our differences are what make us great. Let us think about how we can extend this appreciation to people of color, undocumented immigrants, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-mock/our-differences-are-what-make-us-great-let-us-think-about-how-we-can/) [Janet Mock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-mock/) > [Don't matter what they throw at us. Only angry people win football games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darrell-royal/don-t-matter-what-they-throw-at-us-only-angry-people-win-football/) [Darrell Royal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darrell-royal/) > [“You can’t be afraid to lose!” he shouted with a jolt of force, and he pointed at me. “You will not win all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-posnanski/you-can-t-be-afraid-to-lose-he-shouted-with-a-jolt-of-force-and-he/) [Joe Posnanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-posnanski/) > [I think nobody can explain why some people win and why some people lose. It really doesn't always have to do much with talent.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-bryant/i-think-nobody-can-explain-why-some-people-win-and-why-some-people/) [Howard Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-bryant/) ## More by William James > [Effort is the one strictly undervalued and original contribution we make to this world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/effort-is-the-one-strictly-undervalued-and-original-contribution-we/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [We are all potentially such sick men. The sanest and best of us are of one clay with lunatics and prison-inmates. And whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-are-all-potentially-such-sick-men-the-sanest-and-best-of-us-are-of/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [In the dim background of our mind we know meanwhile what we ought to be doing: getting up, dressing ourselves, answering the person who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/in-the-dim-background-of-our-mind-we-know-meanwhile-what-we-ought-to/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“Our minds thus grow in spots; and like grease-spots, the spots spread. But we let them spread as little as possible: we keep unaltered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/our-minds-thus-grow-in-spots-and-like-grease-spots-the-spots-spread/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Circumstance does not make me, it reveals me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/circumstance-does-not-make-me-it-reveals-me/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > ['Facts' are the bounds of human knowledge, set for it, not by it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/facts-are-the-bounds-of-human-knowledge-set-for-it-not-by-it/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Woe to him whose beliefs play fast and loose with the order which realities follow in his experience; they will lead him nowhere or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/woe-to-him-whose-beliefs-play-fast-and-loose-with-the-order-which/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [We never fully grasp the import of any true statement until we have a clear notion of what the opposite untrue statement would be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/we-never-fully-grasp-the-import-of-any-true-statement-until-we-have-a/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [It is your friends who make your world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/it-is-your-friends-who-make-your-world/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/human-beings-can-alter-their-lives-by-altering-their-attitudes-of-mind/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [Most people, probably, are in doubt about certain matters ascribed to their past. They may have seen them, may have said them, done them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/most-people-probably-are-in-doubt-about-certain-matters-ascribed-to/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [“How soon, indeed, are human things forgotten! As we meet here this morning, the Southern sun is shining on their place of burial, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/how-soon-indeed-are-human-things-forgotten-as-we-meet-here-this/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [There can be no difference anywhere that does not make a difference somewhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/there-can-be-no-difference-anywhere-that-does-not-make-a-difference/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [It is wrong always, everywhere, and for everyone, to believe anything upon insufficient evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/it-is-wrong-always-everywhere-and-for-everyone-to-believe-anything/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [The pragmatist turns away from abstraction and insufficiency, from verbal solutions, from bad a priori reasons, from fixed principles, closed systems, and pretended absolutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-pragmatist-turns-away-from-abstraction-and-insufficiency-from/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) [Explore all 854 William James quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) ## More Appreciation quotes > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Time can but make her beauty over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/time-can-but-make-her-beauty-over-again/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [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/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [A very small percentage of the people in this world will actually experience and live today. So many people will be stuck on another…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/a-very-small-percentage-of-the-people-in-this-world-will-actually/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [Stop chasing the things you want and embrace all that you already have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/stop-chasing-the-things-you-want-and-embrace-all-that-you-already-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Appreciation is the purest vibration that exists on the planet today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-hicks/appreciation-is-the-purest-vibration-that-exists-on-the-planet-today/) [Esther Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-hicks/) > [“My thank-yous always come out rather labored. I often don't give them at all. People do what they're supposed to do and then wait…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/my-thank-yous-always-come-out-rather-labored-i-often-don-t-give-them/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [“Like gratitude, authentic appreciation in the workplace is a realisation that can be nurtured and accessed with daily mindful practice. By and large, people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-dines/like-gratitude-authentic-appreciation-in-the-workplace-is-a/) [Christopher Dines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-dines/) > [Think of your mind, your emotions, and your spirit as the ultimate garden. The way to ensure a bountiful, nourishing harvest is to plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/think-of-your-mind-your-emotions-and-your-spirit-as-the-ultimate/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [“Recognize and appreciate little things, and enjoy what Life has to offer”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/recognize-and-appreciate-little-things-and-enjoy-what-life-has-to/) [Cesar Nikko Caharian III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-nikko-caharian-iii/) > [Men, when it comes to women, value diamonds and put no stock into copper. Diamonds are rare. You can find copper anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enhance-dreams/men-when-it-comes-to-women-value-diamonds-and-put-no-stock-into/) [Enhance Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enhance-dreams/) > [“Everything we perceive to be solid and static is made up of almost entirely empty space.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-p-kauffman/everything-we-perceive-to-be-solid-and-static-is-made-up-of-almost/) [Joseph P. Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-p-kauffman/) > [Be very slow to believe that you are wiser than all others; it is a fatal but common error. Where one has been saved…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-caleb-colton/be-very-slow-to-believe-that-you-are-wiser-than-all-others-it-is-a/) [Charles Caleb Colton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-caleb-colton/) [Browse all 2,528 Appreciation quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/appreciation/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If you give appreciation to people, you win their goodwill.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "William James" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-win-their-goodwill/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Appreciation" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-win-their-goodwill/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/william-james-228_appreciation_if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-w_235739.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/william-james-228_appreciation_if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-w_235739.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d0/william-james-228_appreciation_if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-w_235739.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If you give appreciation to people, you win their goodwill.” — William James", "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": "William James", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If you give appreciation to people,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-win-their-goodwill/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/if-you-give-appreciation-to-people-you-win-their-goodwill/#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 } } ] } ```