kindness to everyone...

"Be kind to people whether they deserve your kindness or not. If your kindness reaches the deserving, good for you. If your kindness reaches the undeserving, take joy in compassion."

—— Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) [attributed by tradition].

 

that steep uphill road...

And what could make thee conceive what it is, that steep uphill road?
It is the freeing of a slave;
Or the giving of food in a day of hunger
of an orphan near of kin,
Or a needy person in misery,
Then he has become one of those who have believed, and exhort one another to patience, and exhort one another to kindness.

(Quran 90:12-17)