In the Wake of the Boston Marathon Attacks, Mr. Rogers Quote Spreads Hope Across the Internet

At times like these, a message worth sharing.

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As the news of Monday’s Boston Marathon attacks unfolded, thousands of people took to social media to share photographs, check up on loved ones and even offer solace and support in the face of tragedy.

(PHOTOS: Tragedy in Boston: One Photographer’s Eyewitness Account)

And who better to spread hope and inspiration than Fred Rogers? In the wake of the attacks, this quote from the late Presbyterian minister and beloved host of the long-running PBS childrens’ show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood went viral:

When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.

The quote made its rounds across Facebook in a post that earned more than 10,000 shares and 5,000 likes. The quote also reached many through Twitter, with the help of comedian Patton Oswalt, who tweeted it to his 1.2 million followers:

While social media has proven to be a breeding ground for misattributed or completely fabricated quotes, Mr. Rogers indeed said — or at least wrote — this one. It comes from The Mister Rogers Parenting Book, which was published in 2002, just a year before his death. The book encourages parents to help their children cope with tragedy by reminding them that no matter the disaster, there will always be good people responding selflessly. At times like these, it’s a message worth sharing.

MORE: The Day the Marathon Stopped: Tragedy in Boston’s Back Bay