- Feb 5, 2002
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Why are some people kind? This question is especially though of course not exclusively pertinent in forming the young. I think we take kindness for granted, forgetting both its central importance and the need to cultivate it, in self and others.
“We are for the most part unhappy, because the world is an unkind world.” So wrote Fr. Frederick Faber, a noted author and close collaborator with John Henry Newman. He describes kindness as “the overflowing of self upon others. We put others in the place of self.” He says that kindness is our imitation of Divine Providence.
But how is kindness cultivated? It seems that here two things are worthy of note. First, we should consider the unique power of showing kindness to those in whom we would form it. While all virtues are cultivated at least in part by way of example, the power of showing kindness stands out.
If I am courageous toward or in the presence of my children, this is very important as a good example. If I act justly toward them, again this is good example and will tend to inspire them to act justly toward others. But there is something unique in kindness. When I am kind toward them, they are powerfully moved, consciously and unconsciously, to ‘pass on’ that kindness. To say that kindness is contagious only weakly captures this.
Continued below.
“We are for the most part unhappy, because the world is an unkind world.” So wrote Fr. Frederick Faber, a noted author and close collaborator with John Henry Newman. He describes kindness as “the overflowing of self upon others. We put others in the place of self.” He says that kindness is our imitation of Divine Providence.
But how is kindness cultivated? It seems that here two things are worthy of note. First, we should consider the unique power of showing kindness to those in whom we would form it. While all virtues are cultivated at least in part by way of example, the power of showing kindness stands out.
If I am courageous toward or in the presence of my children, this is very important as a good example. If I act justly toward them, again this is good example and will tend to inspire them to act justly toward others. But there is something unique in kindness. When I am kind toward them, they are powerfully moved, consciously and unconsciously, to ‘pass on’ that kindness. To say that kindness is contagious only weakly captures this.
Continued below.
