Who said “The thing that goes the farthest towards making life worth while, That costs the least,…”?

Misattributed

Not Wilbur D. Nesbit. It's commonly credited to them, but the evidence shows it isn't theirs.

What the research foundListed as misattributed to Wilbur D. Nesbit; no source in their known works.

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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APA

“The thing that goes the farthest towards making life worth while, That costs the least, and does the most, is just a pleasant smile.” [Quotation attributed to Wilbur D. Nesbit]. (n.d.). Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39648-the-thing-that-goes-the-farthest-towards-making/

MLA

“The thing that goes the farthest towards making life worth while, That costs the least, and does the most, is just a pleasant smile.” Attributed to Wilbur D. Nesbit. Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39648-the-thing-that-goes-the-farthest-towards-making/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

“The thing that goes the farthest towards making life worth while, That costs the least, and does the most, is just a pleasant smile.” Attributed to Wilbur D. Nesbit. Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/39648-the-thing-that-goes-the-farthest-towards-making/.

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