Kindness
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kindness is the act or the state of charitable behaviour to other people. It is considered to be one of the Knightly Virtues, and is a recognized value in many cultures and religions (see ethics 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[1].
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"[2].
Paul defines love as being `patient and kind...` (I Corinthians)
One of the four caryatids on the Wallace fountains in Paris represents kindness.
Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche had this to say about kindness:
- Economy of kindness. Kindness and love, the most curative herbs and agents in human intercourse, are such precious finds that one would hope these balsamlike remedies would be used as economically as possible; but this is impossible. Only the boldest Utopians would dream of the economy of kindness.
Reference Source: [1]Kindness as a source of humanity and gratification. Contains hundreds of kindness related quotations and extensive excerpts from two classic works from the public domain: "On Kindness" by Jean Guibert and "Kindness" by Frederick Faber.
