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We all need a reminder now and then that humanity still has hope. History often paints a picture of wars and struggles, and the media echoes these themes. It can feel difficult to believe in people, but there’s still hope to be found.
For every tragic event in history, there's been an equally meaningful moment filled with kindness. Humanity carries immense goodness within. From ancient acts of compassion to the daily kindnesses we show, we continue to demonstrate our capacity for good, and that will likely endure for generations.
This collection highlights ten of those inspiring moments, showcasing instances of mercy and generosity that will remind you of the good in the world.
10. Owens and Long
Jesse Owens’s performance and class at the 1936 Olympic Games are inspiring and well-known. A lesser-known fact about those Olympic Games, however, which may prompt even more inspiration, is the friendship it forged between Owens and German Olympian Luz Long.
Though Long was competing as an official representative of Hitler himself, he showed no fear in befriending and aiding Owens. At one point, Owens, though he had already raked in four gold medals, was struggling to qualify for the long jump event. It was then that Long, despite his Führer’s open contempt for Owens, offered the American star some advice, which actually allowed Owens to successfully qualify. Owens later said of the meeting, “It took a lot of courage for him to befriend me. You can melt down all the medals and cups I have, and they wouldn’t be a plating on the 24-karat friendship I felt for Luz Long at that moment. Hitler must have gone crazy watching us embrace.”
The two remained friends until Long’s death in 1943 when he even penned one of his final letters to Owens.
9. An Accidental Family
When Wanda Dench texted her grandson to invite him to Thanksgiving dinner at her Mesa, Arizona, home, she received a surprising response: “You not my grandma. Can I still get a plate tho?” She wrote back, “Of course. That’s what grandma’s do…feed everyone.” And thus, a loving family was created by accident.
Dench unintentionally sent a text message to Jamal Hinton, a complete stranger. Their openness and kindness led to an unexpected connection, and Hinton ended up attending Dench’s Thanksgiving dinner. Now, years later, their bond has only grown stronger, and a movie based on their heartwarming and improbable friendship is in development.
8. A Ceasefire to Save a Dog
It’s a bizarre but true historical event: during the Revolutionary War, General George Washington ordered a temporary ceasefire to ensure the return of a lost dog to an opposing general.
After a clash between the two armies, Washington noticed a dog had unintentionally traveled with his troops. Upon inspecting the collar, he saw it belonged to General William Howe, his adversary. Despite his troops’ defeat and desire to keep the dog as leverage, Washington’s sense of honor wouldn’t allow him to do so.
Without hesitation, Washington arranged for the dog’s return with a note reading: “General Washington’s compliments to General Howe, does himself the pleasure to return [to] him a Dog, which accidentally fell into his hands, and by the inscription on the Collar appears to belong to General Howe.”
7. A Warm Welcome for Strays
Speaking of our lifelong friends, it’s important to acknowledge the numerous acts of kindness extended to them over the years.
A heartwarming instance comes from an Ikea store on the island of Sicily, which kept its doors open during the freezing winter months to offer shelter to stray dogs in need. Not only did the store provide a warm place for the dogs, but they also allowed the animals to rest on a variety of cozy Ikea rugs. The store went even further by grooming, feeding, and even posting the dogs' photos on adoption sites to help them find forever homes.
6. The Truth About Pyramid Builders
It is a common myth that slaves were responsible for building the Egyptian pyramids. While it is true that a small number of enslaved people were involved, the majority of the pyramid builders were skilled laborers and artisans who were compensated for their work. This should help restore some confidence in history, but there’s more to the story.
Although the workers were typically well-paid for their efforts, there came a time when their wages began to arrive irregularly and late. This led to the first known strike in history, as the builders refused to continue working on the pyramids. At first, officials under Ramesses III were unsure how to address the situation, but eventually, they agreed to the workers' demands, ensuring that payments would be made promptly and regularly. The first recorded strike in history was ultimately successful.
5. The Battle of Castle Itter
The Battle of Castle Itter has earned the title of the most unusual battle of World War II, and it may deserve another designation as well: the most faith-restoring.
The battle took place just days after Hitler’s suicide and shortly before the official end of the war. During this brief period, German soldiers, no longer bound by the authority of the Nazi leadership, had more freedom to act according to their true beliefs. This was evident in the Battle of Castle Itter, where U.S. and German soldiers joined forces, along with French POWs and the Austrian Resistance, to fight against Nazi SS troops. This event highlighted the fact that Hitler’s ideology could not fully dominate an entire nation.
4. Without a Second Thought
This entry and the following one highlight the unimaginable and swift selflessness we are capable of in the face of unimaginable tragedy—in this case, the 9/11 terror attacks. Following the initial strikes on the World Trade Center, tunnels were closed and traffic attempting to flee Manhattan through the bridges came to a halt. Many people, particularly those in neighborhoods closest to the attacks, were desperate to escape but had no way out. Fortunately, their rescue arrived almost instantly.
A Coast Guard transmission went out, stating, 'All available boats. This is the United States Coast Guard… Anyone wanting to assist with the evacuation of Lower Manhattan report to Governors Island.' Within moments, approximately 150 private vessels of all kinds, sizes, and functions responded and began their mission. These courageous captains ended up transporting roughly 500,000 people from the disaster area. This event became known as the 9/11 Boat Lift, which remains the largest water-based evacuation in history.
3. Compassion Is Timeless
Kindness is not a modern phenomenon. In fact, it's likely that, as long as humans have existed, human compassion has been present. In 2005, archaeologists uncovered evidence suggesting that this inherent empathy dates back nearly two million years. At the Dmanisi excavation site in Georgia, which had already provided significant insights into our ancestors, scientists discovered a skull and jawbone that are sure to make you say, 'Awww.'
The skull and jawbone belonged to an adult male, likely elderly and possibly ill. He had lost all but one of his teeth, and crucially, his tooth sockets had been resorbed into his skull. This suggests that the man had lost his teeth at least two years before his death. Moreover, it implies that he managed to acquire and prepare enough soft food to survive for years—something he would likely not have been able to achieve on his own.
In conjunction with nearby evidence, such as stone tools and animal bones marked with cut marks, this scene suggests that the elderly man, who may have been ill, unable to hunt, and unable to chew his own food, was cared for by one or more loved ones. For years, and to the detriment of their own caloric intake, they may have shared their meat and foraged food, assisted him in cutting up food, and even chewed his food for him. Given that this would not have supported their own survival, it’s likely that those who cared for him did so out of genuine affection.
2. Make Christmas, Not War
The 1914 Christmas Truce during World War I remains one of the most profound examples of spontaneous human kindness in recent history—and rightfully so. Amid one of the bloodiest wars ever fought, this unplanned and unofficial ceasefire between German and British soldiers on Christmas Day felt like a brief but significant miracle.
On the Western Front, one of the most brutal battlefields in history, German and British troops (along with forces from other nations) were entrenched in the trenches, shooting anything that moved across the lines, creating a deadly no-man’s-land. Yet on Christmas Day, in several locations along the front, soldiers from opposing sides left their positions, called out to each other, and gathered to sing carols and share a meal.
There was no official order for the truce. Soldiers on both sides simply acted on the same shared desire: to make that one day a time of peace and whatever joy could be found amidst the chaos.
1. Operation Yellow Ribbon
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the unprecedented grounding of all aircraft over the United States took place. Never before had so many planes been grounded so swiftly. While the Federal Aviation Administration and airport personnel did their best to manage the situation, a degree of chaos was inevitable. Fortunately, Canada took immediate action and offered to reroute approximately 240 aircraft to its airports. The mission was clear: prevent further attacks by directing as many planes still airborne as possible to Canadian military and civilian airports.
Seventeen Canadian airports stepped forward to receive the diverted aircraft, fully aware that some of the planes could potentially carry terrorists. Fortunately, Canadian authorities were able to clear all the flights as non-threatening. True to Canadian hospitality, many of the stranded passengers were treated with exceptional care. Some were even guided around the local towns by residents, shown local landmarks, and made to feel like esteemed guests.
