I expect to pass through this world but once. If there be any kindness I can show, let me do it now.

The wording is first found in late 1868 in U.S. newspapers and a Quaker periodical, presented as a short moral reflection urging immediate kindness because one will not have another chance to meet the same people in the same circumstances. Early printings did not name an author, and later attributions to famous figures (especially Quakers) appear to be retrospective guesses rather than traceable to an original work.

The quote frames life as a one-time passage and argues that compassion and helpful actions should be done promptly, not postponed, because opportunities to do good are fleeting and may not return.

I expect to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing that I can do, to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it; for I will not pass this way again.

I expect to pass through this world but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing that I can do to any fellow human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I will not pass this way again.

I expect to go through this world but once... for I shall not pass this way again.