To say, 'well done' to any bit of good work is to take hold of

The great preacher Phillips Brooks, whose words have lifted countless hearts across generations, once spoke this timeless truth: “To say, ‘well done’ to any bit of good work is to take hold of the powers which have made the effort and strengthen them beyond our knowledge.” In this saying, he reveals a mystery of the human soul—the sacred force of encouragement. For when a word of praise is spoken with sincerity, it does not merely please the ear; it nourishes the spirit, awakens hidden strength, and kindles courage in the heart of the doer. Brooks saw in such praise not flattery, but a divine act, a recognition of goodness that multiplies goodness.

In the ancient world, wise teachers knew that the soul grows by recognition. A child praised for honesty becomes more honest; a worker thanked for diligence becomes more devoted; a soldier honored for courage grows ever braver. The words “well done” are not mere sound—they are life-giving breath. They affirm that human effort matters, that virtue does not go unseen, and that the smallest act of goodness has meaning. Brooks, himself a pastor and a teacher of men’s hearts, understood that the power of affirmation is sacred, for it reaches beyond what the speaker can measure. To say “well done” is to cooperate with the divine work unfolding within another soul.

He spoke from the experience of one who saw human weakness and hope intertwined. In his day, the world was changing swiftly, and people often labored without acknowledgment, weary under the weight of duty. Brooks saw how a single word of encouragement could renew the weary spirit. When he said that such words “strengthen the powers beyond our knowledge,” he meant that praise sets in motion unseen forces—confidence, inspiration, and faith—that continue working long after the moment has passed. The hearer walks away not only happier, but transformed; their courage deepens, their energy returns, their purpose grows clear.

Consider the story of Florence Nightingale, the “Lady with the Lamp.” In the long nights of the Crimean War, she walked among the wounded, tending the broken and dying. Her work was grueling, her strength often failing. Yet one evening, a soldier whispered faintly, “God bless you, ma’am. Well done.” That simple phrase—offered by a man in pain—became a spark that renewed her spirit. It reminded her that her efforts mattered, that her compassion had not gone unseen. History remembers her heroism, but it was that one word of affirmation that rekindled her inner fire. Thus, Brooks’s wisdom holds true: a word of recognition may seem small, yet its echoes reach beyond our knowledge.

The origin of this quote reflects Brooks’s life as both minister and mentor. As rector of Boston’s Trinity Church in the nineteenth century, he was not only a man of faith, but of deep humanity. He believed that God works through human kindness, and that every soul, however humble, is sustained by the warmth of being seen and valued. In his ministry, he often reminded his congregation that encouragement is not indulgence—it is nourishment. To lift another with our words is to participate in the very work of creation, for through encouragement, we help others to grow into their best selves.

O listener, take this teaching to heart. Never withhold a word of praise when it is deserved. Do not assume that the strong need no encouragement, nor that the quiet have no need of notice. Even the mighty tree grows taller beneath the warmth of the sun, and even the steadfast heart hungers for affirmation. To say “well done” sincerely is to become a channel of grace; it is to give strength where before there was weariness, to give hope where before there was doubt. Your words, though simple, may lift a life higher than you will ever see.

Learn, then, to be generous with your acknowledgment. When you behold goodness—whether in work, in art, or in deed—speak your recognition without delay. Let your praise be truthful and heartfelt, for false flattery is poison, but sincere affirmation is medicine for the soul. Encourage your children, your friends, your companions in labor; for the smallest “well done” spoken in honesty may awaken greatness in them.

Thus remember the wisdom of Phillips Brooks: when we praise good work, we become part of its power. We strengthen what is noble in others and, in so doing, strengthen the goodness of the world itself. Words, rightly spoken, are not forgotten—they live on, echoing in the hearts of those we touch, guiding them toward courage and light. So speak life, speak faith, and speak kindness; for in saying “well done,” you help shape the destiny of another soul—and perhaps, unknowingly, the destiny of the world.