This thought-provoking quote comes from the lyrics of George Harrison’s song “Any Road” (though it’s often misattributed to Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”). Harrison started writing the song in 1988 and it became his last single and the opening track of his final studio album, “Brainwashed,” released posthumously in 2003. The “quiet Beatle’s” interest in Indian culture and Hinduism influenced his career as a musician and songwriter from the mid-1960s until his death. In “Any Road,” Harrison offers us reassurance that we eventually end up where we’re meant to be, even if we aren’t always sure of our direction in life.

In Charles Dickens’ final completed novel, “Our Mutual Friend,” published in 1864, this line is spoken by young Jenny Wren in defense of her friend Lizzie Hexam. Through the world of Dickens’ richly drawn characters, we hear a quiet nudge toward kindness that is steady, compassionate, and rooted in empathy. The sentiment reflects the author’s lifelong belief that compassion and patience are forms of true courage, a theme woven throughout his work from “A Christmas Carol” to “Bleak House.” It’s a reminder that while it may be easier to harden our hearts when life feels overwhelming, choosing softness is its own kind of power. After all, it’s the small, everyday acts of kindness that ultimately shape who we become — and the legacy we leave behind.