From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

gift giving during a South Indian wedding.

Kindness is the act or the state of being kind and marked by charitable behaviour, marked by mild disposition, pleasantness, tenderness and concern for others. It is a recognized value in many cultures and religions (see ethics in religion).

In philosophy

Kindness is something which is lacking in us these days. It is always 'I', it is never 'we' or 'us'. We should be kind to others and should always seek others' welfare in our own special way. This will only make the world a better place to live in.

• According to book two of Aristotle's "Rhetoric" it is one of the emotions (see list of emotions), which is defined as being "helpfulness towards some one in need, not in return for anything, nor for the advantage of the helper himself, but for that of the person helped".^[1]
• Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche argued that kindness and love are the "most curative herbs and agents in human intercourse".^{[citation needed]}
• Kindness is considered to be one of the Knightly Virtues.

In religion

• It is considered to be one of the seven virtues, specifically the one of the Seven Contrary Virtues (direct opposites of the seven deadly sins) that is the direct opposite to envy^[2].
• The Talmud claims that "deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments."
• Paul of Tarsus defines love as being "patient and kind..." (I Corinthians).
• In Buddhism, one of the Ten Perfections (Paramitas) is Mettā, which is usually translated into English as "loving-kindness". Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama wrote "my religion is kindness" and authored a book entitled "Kindness, Clarity, and Insight".^[3]
• Confucius urges his followers to "recompense kindness with kindness."

In psychology

In a study of 37 cultures around the world, sixteen thousand subjects were asked about their most desired traits in a mate. For both sexes, the first preference was kindness (the second was intelligence).^[4]

References

Further reading

• RABBI-UL-AWWAL (July 1998). "What is Kindness to Parents?". Islamic Voice 12-07 (139). http://www.islamicvoice.com/july.98/hadith.htm. 
• El-Sayed M. Amin. "Kindness to a Non-Muslim Neighbor: Tips for Interaction". Society. Islam Online. http://www.islamonline.net/English/introducingislam/society/Neighborhoods/article02.shtml. Retrieved 2005-11-22. 

See also

• Altruism
• Compassion
• Emotion
• Empathy
• Generosity
• Pay it forward
• Random act of kindness
• Reciprocity
• Sympathy
• The Kindness Offensive
• Seven Heavenly Virtues
• Seven Deadly Sins (opposite of the seven virtues)

From Wikiquote

Quotes about kindness.

Sourced

• Shall we make a new rule of life from tonight: always to try to be a little kinder than is necessary?
  • J. M. Barrie in The Little White Bird (1902)

• Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.
  • Leo Buscaglia, quoted in Words from the Wise : Over 6,000 of the Smartest Things Ever Said (2007) by Rosemarie Jarski

• Care about the beings you care about in gorgeous and surprising ways. Color outside the lines. Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty. This is your last chance.
  • Anne Herbert in "Handy tips on how to behave at the death of the world" in Whole Earth Review (Spring 1995)

• And if you ask what is the temper which is most fitted to be victorious over sin on earth, I answer that in it the warp of a sunny gentleness must be woven across the woof of a strong character. That will make the best tissue to stand the wear and tear of the world's trials. Our Lord was divinely gentle, but He was also strong with a wondrous strength and firmness.
  • W. H. Littleton, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 255.

• Seek to mingle gentleness in all your rebukes; bear with the infirmities of others; make allowance for constitutional frailties; never say harsh things, if kind things will do as well.
  • J. R. MacDuff, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 256.

• Deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments.
  • Talmud

• I expect to pass through this life but once. If therefore there be any kindnesses I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow beings, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
  • Anna B. Hegeman, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 362.

• Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindnesses and small obligations, given habitually, are what win and preserve the heart, and secure comfort.
  • Sir Humphry Davy, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 363.

• Kindness has converted more sinners than either zeal, eloquence, or learning.
  • Frederick William Faber, reported in Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895), p. 363.

• This world is not for the poor, nor the next for the unkind.
  • Tiruvalluvar in the Thirukkural 247

Unsourced

• The best and simplest cosmetic for women is constant gentleness and sympathy for the noblest interests of her fellow-creatures. This preserves and gives to her features an indelibly gay, fresh, and agreeable expression. If women would but realize that harshness makes them ugly, it would prove the best means of conversion.
  • Berthold Auerbach

• Gentleness in the gait is what simplicity is in the dress. Violent gestures or quick movements inspire involuntary disrespect.
  • Honoré de Balzac

• Gentleness, which belongs to virtue, is to be carefully distinguished from the mean spirit of cowards and the fawning assent of sycophants.
  • Hugh Blair

• True gentleness is founded on a sense of what we owe to Him who made us, and to the common nature which we all share. It arises from reflection on our own failings and wants, and from just views of the condition and the duty of man. It is native feeling heightened and improved by principle.
  • Hugh Blair

• Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.
  • Confucius

• Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.
  • Barbara De Angelis

• Sticks and stones can build homes, but words can build up people.
  • James DeMaio

• I wonder why it is we are not all kinder to each other...How much the world needs it! How easily it is done!
  • Henry Drummond

• We do not believe, or we forget, that "the Holy Ghost came down, not in shape of a vulture, but in the form of a dove."
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson

• Kindness has converted more sinners than zeal, eloquence or learning.
  • Frederick William Faber

• Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.
  • Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

• When you are kind to someone in trouble, you hope they'll remember and be kind to someone else. And it'll become like a wildfire.
  • Whoopi Goldberg

• I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
  • Stephen Grellet

• Kindness is the sunshine in which virtue grows.
  • Robert Green Ingersoll

• A kind heart is a fountain of gladness, making everything in its vicinity freshen into smiles.
  • Washington Irving

• Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.
  • Samuel Johnson

• Always set high value on spontaneous kindness. He whose inclination prompts him to cultivate your friendship of his own accord will love you more than one whom you have been at pains to attach to you.
  • Samuel Johnson

• A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.
  • Joseph Joubert

• Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.
  • Blaise Pascal

• Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.
  • Plato

• To give pleasure to a single heart by a single kind act is better than a thousand head-bowings in prayer.
  • Saadi

• Kindness is more than deeds. It is an attitude, an expression, a look, a touch. It is anything that lifts another person.
  • C. Neil Strait

• Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.
  • Mark Twain

• Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are truly endless.
  • Mother Teresa

• So many gods, so many creeds,
  So many paths that wind and wind,
  While just the art of being kind
  Is all the sad world needs.
  • Ella Wheeler Wilcox

• A matter dealt with gently is sure to prosper, but a matter dealt with violently causes vexation.
  • Anonymous

External links

Wikipedia has an article about:

Kindness

Look up kindness in Wiktionary, the free dictionary

From Wikisource

This work published before January 1, 1923 is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.