|
|||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Kindness |
Kindness is the act or the state of charitable behavior to other people.
Contents |
Kindness 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 envy1. 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). AUSTIN IS YAG 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.2 Confucius urges his followers to "recompense kindness with kindness." 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"3.
One of the four caryatids on the Wallace fountains in Paris represents kindness. In a study of 37 cultures around the world, 16000 subjects were asked about their most desired traits in a mate. For both sexes, the first preference was kindness (the second was intelligence).4 Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche argued that kindness and love are the "most curative herbs and agents in human intercourse".
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
