“Good travels at a snail's pace. Those who want to do good are not selfish, they are not in a hurry, they know that to impregnate people with good requires a long time.”
Share this quote
Probable attribution
This saying is widely associated with Mahatma Gandhi, but the attribution is not supported by a reliable primary source.
Likely origin: Attributed to Gandhi (often to his autobiography); no dated primary line verbatim-confirmed.
About this quote
Real, lasting change in people can't be forced or rushed; it settles slowly, over years of steady effort. The urge to see quick results is often a quiet form of self-interest, wanting the credit now. Those who care more about the good than the applause make peace with the slow pace.
When to use it
- A community organizer spending years earning a neighborhood's trust before any real change shows.
- A teacher whose steady influence only surfaces in students long after they have left the class.
- Quietly modeling a calmer temper at home until, months later, the whole family is calmer too.