Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

What are the subtle signs that someone is a genuinely good person? A recent Reddit thread on r/AskReddit posed this thought-provoking question, and the responses offer a treasure trove of small but powerful insights into human goodness. The thread quickly filled with heartfelt responses, highlighting quiet, everyday actions that often go unnoticed but speak volumes about a person's true character. These subtle signs might just make you rethink what it means to be ‘good.’

1. How they treat people who can do nothing for them

As Redditor jirennadir put it simply:
"How they treat people who can do nothing for them."


This sentiment was echoed by Bitter_Sense_5689, who elaborated:
"People who are kind to janitors, secretaries, and fast food workers are generally the people that you want by your side."



2. Humility in Accepting Help

A genuinely good person shows humility by accepting help when needed. This openness reflects emotional maturity and fosters trust.
"They don’t let pride get in the way of letting others lend a hand when they need it. It shows a level of trust and respect for others," shared u/helpinghandharry.

This openness to support creates a sense of mutual respect and collaboration.

3. Quiet acts of kindness

Genuinely good people often do good without seeking recognition. Redditor InsanelyEpicFrog captured this beautifully:
"They do something good without feeling the need to mention it to anyone."

octavia323 added:
"They don’t post about their kind acts or acts of service on social media to gain attention."



4. Taking the Time to Teach

Genuine goodness often shines through when someone goes out of their way to teach others without arrogance or condescension. It’s not just about sharing knowledge—it’s about doing so in a way that makes others feel empowered and valued.
"Someone who pauses to teach others without condescension is a rare kind of good," wrote u/patientprodigy.

This act of kindness demonstrates patience and a willingness to uplift others, qualities that often go unnoticed but have a profound impact.

5. Consistency, even when no one is watching

True goodness shows up when there’s no audience. As Ok-Double-7982 observed:
"They do the right thing even when no one is looking or may not notice."

These examples illustrate that true goodness is a reflection of character, often revealed in the smallest, most unexpected ways. The way we act when no one is looking can say more about us than any public display of virtue. But goodness isn’t only about how we treat people—it’s also about the way we interact with the world around us, including our furry friends.

6. Genuine kindness to animals

While goodness often focuses on how we treat each other, our interactions with animals can also reveal a great deal about our character.

Many Redditors pointed out that how someone treats animals can be a window into their character. Genuine kindness extends beyond humans—small gestures like rescuing a stray or being patient with a pet reveal a lot about someone's heart. These interactions often reflect a deep empathy that extends to all living beings.

"They’re kind to animals," wrote Redditor MiaLba.




7. Keeping their word, even with kids

Keeping promises—even small ones—matters more than people realize. As tracyvu89 pointed out:
"Keep their words even with kids."

Banana_Joe85 expanded on this:
"I try to never outright lie to them, keep my word to them, and always take their questions and concerns seriously."

8. Leaving a positive impression

Sometimes, goodness is as simple as making people feel comfortable. Frequent-Law8230 described it well:
"They leave you feeling good about yourself when they go."




9. Respect for others, no matter their status

It’s easy to show respect to those above us, but truly good people extend that same respect to everyone. Redditor Loud-Thanks7002 offered a humble example:
"They take the shopping cart back to the return area when they’re done. Or even a bigger sign—they take back a stray cart that isn’t theirs."

Whether it's returning a shopping cart or offering a warm smile to a stranger, these small gestures create a ripple effect of kindness that strengthens communities. It’s these thoughtful actions, no matter how small, that make a big impact.

10. Empathy in Conflict

How someone handles disagreements is a strong indicator of their character. As Redditor ancientevilvorsoason observed:

"How they act to being wrong. Not something major. Small stuff. Inconsequential stuff. If they learn from said mistakes."
Goodness isn’t always loud or obvious—it thrives in the quiet, everyday moments where integrity and kindness shine through. All of these small yet powerful acts contribute to a kinder, more compassionate world.

More For You

Boss fires woman unfairly, then panics when she obeys his request
Representative photo by Canva

Boss fires woman unfairly, then panics when she obeys his request

Being abruptly fired from a job can be emotionally devastating, often leaving the dismissed employee stunned and hurt. While most people quietly pack their things and depart, one woman chose to fully comply with her boss’s instructions—and her compliance ended up unsettling him greatly.


Keep ReadingShow less
group of kids dancing in black shirts and jeans

Never say never.

Photo by Rainier Ridao on Unsplash

Dance teacher gives encouraging speech to young girl who was told she'd never be a professional dancer

Encouraging kids to pursue their dreams and goals is a powerful catalyst to see them go for it. With the right people in your corner, anything can seem possible. Without them or the encouragement, though, it can be dream crushing. And if kids are explicitly told they will never accomplish those dreams, it can be a nail in the coffin.

For Kim McSwain, owner of KM Agency Dance School, she turned one of her own mistakes from the past into a moment to help one of her students, Zoe, go for her dance dream. McSwain shared an emotional video of her encouraging one of her dancers to pursue her dream of becoming a professional after she was told she would never be one. In the caption, she wrote, "We want all of our kids to grow up and be what they want to be 💕."

Keep ReadingShow less
United States Post Office at night

Sweet story delivery!

Photo by Joe Han on Unsplash

Woman with Down syndrome named Grace, 26, befriends favorite postman named Will

The most unlikely friendships can develop in the most unlikely places. For best friends Will and Grace (yep, just like the namesake NBC sitcom, Will & Grace), that place was their local post office.

Grace, a 26-year-old with Down syndrome, is an artist and entrepreneur who owns a small business called Candidly Kind. She started in March 2018 when she was a senior in high school after she was mistreated and turned down for a job. "Her mission since day one has been to spread light, love, and acceptance, and to give back to help people with disabilities," her mom Carrie explains in an Instagram video. With frequent packages to mail to her customers, Grace began making trips to her local post office, where she met Will, a postman working there who quickly became her favorite.

Keep ReadingShow less
Cybersecurity experts now say complex passwords do more harm than good
Representative Cover Image Source: Pexels | Antoni Shkraba

Cybersecurity experts now say complex passwords do more harm than good

For years, we've been told that long, complicated passwords—filled with random letters, numbers, and special characters—are the key to keeping our accounts secure. But new guidelines from the U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) suggest that this approach is outdated—and may actually make you less safe.

Instead of hard-to-remember combinations, experts now recommend using simpler, more memorable passwords that don’t require frequent changes, according to QBE European Operations.

Keep ReadingShow less
Woman texts ‘brutally ugly’ date by mistake—he leaves her with the bill
Representative cover image source: Pexels | Photo by Andrea Piacquadio

Woman texts ‘brutally ugly’ date by mistake—he leaves her with the bill

First dates don’t always go as planned, but one woman’s dating misstep turned into an instant regret moment after she accidentally sent an insulting text—not to her friend, but directly to her date.

Reddit user u/Affectionate_Base827 shared his experience of a date gone wrong, explaining how a mistaken text message led him to walk out mid-meal, leaving his date stuck with the bill.

Keep ReadingShow less