diff --git a/src/category_theory/limits/shapes/terminal.lean b/src/category_theory/limits/shapes/terminal.lean
index 7cc0eb6ec378e..95fd1a16e56b2 100644
--- a/src/category_theory/limits/shapes/terminal.lean
+++ b/src/category_theory/limits/shapes/terminal.lean
@@ -49,6 +49,13 @@ t.lift (as_empty_cone Y)
 lemma is_terminal.hom_ext {X Y : C} (t : is_terminal X) (f g : Y ⟶ X) : f = g :=
 t.hom_ext (by tidy)
 
+@[simp] lemma is_terminal.comp_from {Z : C} (t : is_terminal Z) {X Y : C} (f : X ⟶ Y) :
+  f ≫ t.from Y = t.from X :=
+t.hom_ext _ _
+
+@[simp] lemma is_terminal.from_self {X : C} (t : is_terminal X) : t.from X = 𝟙 X :=
+t.hom_ext _ _
+
 /-- Give the morphism from an initial object to any other. -/
 def is_initial.to {X : C} (t : is_initial X) (Y : C) : X ⟶ Y :=
 t.desc (as_empty_cocone Y)
@@ -57,6 +64,13 @@ t.desc (as_empty_cocone Y)
 lemma is_initial.hom_ext {X Y : C} (t : is_initial X) (f g : X ⟶ Y) : f = g :=
 t.hom_ext (by tidy)
 
+@[simp] lemma is_initial.to_comp {X : C} (t : is_initial X) {Y Z : C} (f : Y ⟶ Z) :
+  t.to Y ≫ f = t.to Z :=
+t.hom_ext _ _
+
+@[simp] lemma is_initial.to_self {X : C} (t : is_initial X) : t.to X = 𝟙 X :=
+t.hom_ext _ _
+
 /-- Any morphism from a terminal object is mono. -/
 lemma is_terminal.mono_from {X Y : C} (t : is_terminal X) (f : X ⟶ Y) : mono f :=
 ⟨λ Z g h eq, t.hom_ext _ _⟩
@@ -126,6 +140,13 @@ instance unique_from_initial [has_initial C] (P : C) : unique (⊥_ C ⟶ P) :=
 { default := initial.to P,
   uniq := λ m, by { apply colimit.hom_ext, rintro ⟨⟩ } }
 
+@[simp] lemma terminal.comp_from [has_terminal C] {P Q : C} (f : P ⟶ Q) :
+  f ≫ terminal.from Q = terminal.from P :=
+by tidy
+@[simp] lemma initial.to_comp [has_initial C] {P Q : C} (f : P ⟶ Q) :
+  initial.to P ≫ f = initial.to Q :=
+by tidy
+
 /-- A terminal object is terminal. -/
 def terminal_is_terminal [has_terminal C] : is_terminal (⊤_ C) :=
 { lift := λ s, terminal.from _ }
@@ -258,4 +279,28 @@ initial.to _
 
 end comparison
 
+variables {C} {J : Type v} [small_category J]
+
+/--
+If `j` is initial in the index category, then the map `limit.π F j` is an isomorphism.
+-/
+lemma is_iso_π_of_is_initial {j : J} (I : is_initial j) (F : J ⥤ C) [has_limit F] :
+  is_iso (limit.π F j) :=
+⟨⟨limit.lift _ (cone_of_diagram_initial I F), ⟨by { ext, simp }, by simp⟩⟩⟩
+
+instance is_iso_π_initial [has_initial J] (F : J ⥤ C) [has_limit F] :
+  is_iso (limit.π F (⊥_ J)) :=
+is_iso_π_of_is_initial (initial_is_initial) F
+
+/--
+If `j` is terminal in the index category, then the map `colimit.ι F j` is an isomorphism.
+-/
+lemma is_iso_ι_of_is_terminal {j : J} (I : is_terminal j) (F : J ⥤ C) [has_colimit F] :
+  is_iso (colimit.ι F j) :=
+⟨⟨colimit.desc _ (cocone_of_diagram_terminal I F), ⟨by simp, by { ext, simp }⟩⟩⟩
+
+instance is_iso_ι_terminal [has_terminal J] (F : J ⥤ C) [has_colimit F] :
+  is_iso (colimit.ι F (⊤_ J)) :=
+is_iso_ι_of_is_terminal (terminal_is_terminal) F
+
 end category_theory.limits