There is nothing stronger
in the world than gentleness.

Han Suyin
  

Gentleness, self-sacrifice and generosity are the exclusive possession of no one race or religion.

Mohandas Gandhi

      

What would you have? Your gentleness shall force More than your force move us to gentleness.

William Shakespeare

  
Gentleness is a way of life, showing our love in how we interact with people and things. Like any way of life, gentleness has to be practiced for us to become more gentle. If we want to become more gentle, we must take active steps, that is (1) choosing to be more gentle, (2) keeping this resolution in mind, (3) acting in gentleness, and (4) catching ourselves when we are not gentle so that we can be more aware of our gentleness or lack of gentleness in the future.

Thomas Stobie
   
The way to overcome the angry person is with gentleness, the evil person with goodness, the miser with generosity and the liar with truth.

Indian Proverb
   
   
 Only the weak are cruel.  Gentleness can only be expected from the strong.

Leo Buscaglia
   

Gentleness is the antidote for cruelty.

Phaedrus

   

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In our rough and rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness,
being soft and virtually spineless.  Not so!  Gentleness includes such enviable
qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when
surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those
who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact
and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and
dignity.  Instead of losing, the gentle gain.  Instead of being ripped off
and taken advantage of, they come out ahead!

Charles Swindoll
   

What keeps faith cheerful is the extreme persistence of gentleness
and humor.  Gentleness is everywhere in daily life, a sign that faith
rules through ordinary things:  through cooking and small talk, through
storytelling, making love, fishing, tending animals and sweet corn and
flowers, through sports, music, and books, raising kids—all the places
where the gravy soaks in and grace shines through.  Even in a time of
elephantine vanity and greed, one never has to look far to see the
campfires of gentle people.  Lacking any other purpose in life,
it would be good enough to live for their sake.

Garrison Keillor

  

Practice being gentle, respectful and loving toward the life force
in all things.  Remind yourself that your efforts do make a difference, 
even if you think they are miniscule in comparison
to the magnitude of the problem.

Wayne Dyer
  

You need to be prepared for firm decisions and action, without
losing gentleness towards those who obstruct or abuse you.
It's as great a weakness to be angry with them as it is
to abandon your plan of action and give up through fear.

 Marcus Aurelius

   

I have three precious things which I hold fast and prize.  The first
is gentleness; the second is frugality; the third is humility, which
keeps me from putting myself before others.  Be gentle and you
can be bold; be frugal and you can be liberal; avoid putting
yourself before others and you can become
a leader among people.

Lao Tzu

  

  
Gentleness means recognizing that the world around us is fragile, especially
other people. It is recognizing our own capacity to do harm and choosing 
to be tender, soft-spoken, soft-hearted, and careful. When we are gentle
we touch the world in ways that protect and preserve it.  Being gentle
doesn't mean being weak; gentleness can be firm, even powerful. To behave
in a gentle manner requires that we stay centered in our own values and
strength -- that we are active rather than reactive. Coming from this center,
a gentle word or touch can channel our energy into healing or making peace.

unattributed, Wisdom Commons
   

It is only persons of firmness that can have real gentleness. Those
who appear gentle are, in general, only a weak character,
which easily changes into asperity.

Francois de le Rochefoucauld
   

Don't judge the gentle; their gentleness is stronger than your fears and angers.
Don't judge those who have lost their gentleness; you haven't lived their lives.
In all people, hope for the gentleness to return and see gentleness
for the beauty that it is.

C. JoyBell C.
   

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 It's true that we live in a harsh world, but it's also true that gentleness
invades that harshness with its own kind of beauty.  We see it in the way
a mother cradles a newborn baby, in the eyes of a father roughhousing
with a preschooler, in the silence of a setting sun, in the affectionate
caress of a lifetime lover and friend, in the peace that settles during an
anxious prayer, and in a thousand ways more.
   Yes, gentleness is invading our world today.  The only question is
whether or not you've joined the revolution.

Mike and Amy Nappa
   

I choose gentleness.  Nothing is won by force.  I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.  If I clench my fist, may it
be only in prayer.  If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

Max Lucado
   

Gentleness is a divine trait:  nothing is so strong as gentleness
and nothing so gentle as real strength.

Ralph Sockman
  
As we come to grips with our own selfishness and stupidity, we make
friends with the impostor and accept that we are impoverished and
broken and realize that, if we were not, we would be God. The art
of gentleness toward ourselves leads to being gentle with others--
and is a natural prerequisite for our presence to God in prayer.

Brennan Manning
Abba's Child
   

I learned that it is the weak who are cruel, and that gentleness
is to be expected only from the strong.

Leo Rosten
Captain Newman, M. D
   

Gentleness is not apathy but is an aggressive expression of how we
view people. We see people as so valuable that we deal with them
in gentleness. . . . To be apathetic is to turn people over to mean
and destructive elements, to truly love people causes
us to be aggressively gentle.

Gayle D. Erwin
Spirit Style
   
   
Gentleness is strength under control.  It is the ability
to stay calm, no matter what happens.

Elizabeth George
   

His gentleness was uncompromising; because he would not
compete for dominance, he was indomitable.

Ursula K. LeGuin
The Dispossessed
   

Considering the fact that we're all laced with flaws, idiosyncrasies,
and vulnerabilities, wouldn't it be wise and kind to adopt
an attitude of gentleness in relating to each other?

Sue Patton Thoele
The Courage to Be a Stepmom
   

      
   

Found online:
 

 
(Found online images come from a variety of unattributed
sources from various social media pages.  They're too nice
not to share!)

      
   

Yes, life can be mysterious and confusing--but there's much of life that's actually rather dependable and reliable.  Some principles apply to life in so many different contexts that they can truly be called universal--and learning what they are and how to approach them and use them can teach us some of the most important lessons that we've ever learned.
My doctorate is in Teaching and Learning.  I use it a lot when I teach at school, but I also do my best to apply what I've learned to the life I'm living, and to observe how others live their lives.  What makes them happy or unhappy, stressed or peaceful, selfish or generous, compassionate or arrogant?  In this book, I've done my best to pass on to you what I've learned from people in my life, writers whose works I've read, and stories that I've heard.  Perhaps these principles can be a positive part of your life, too!
Universal Principles of Living Life Fully.  Awareness of these principles can explain a lot and take much of the frustration out of the lives we lead.