Kindness requires sincerity. It comes from the heart. Politeness can be compelled by forcing you to follow agreed-upon rules. Knowing the distinction will help you avoid disappointment in life. This is about the power of genuine heartfelt gestures.
That's a fantastic quote. It makes me wonder if it can be taken a bit further... measuring an individual in how he treats a person who does him harm... 🤔
I think that if someone does you harm you may have an incentive / reason for reacting in the way that you do. And if you don't react then is that being magnanimous, forgiving, or being a walk over. So there's plenty of unpack there.
But, when someone can't harm you and you have no incentive / reason to treat them well, badly, or just ignore them - I think that's more revealing of your character. Especially if it's spontaneous and if you're having a bad day.
Agree with you that spontaneity is the key to seeing the difference between being polite versus being kind.
Reminds me of Malcom Forbes' quote: "The true measure of an individual is how he treats a person who can do him absolutely no good."
That's a fantastic quote. It makes me wonder if it can be taken a bit further... measuring an individual in how he treats a person who does him harm... 🤔
I think that if someone does you harm you may have an incentive / reason for reacting in the way that you do. And if you don't react then is that being magnanimous, forgiving, or being a walk over. So there's plenty of unpack there.
But, when someone can't harm you and you have no incentive / reason to treat them well, badly, or just ignore them - I think that's more revealing of your character. Especially if it's spontaneous and if you're having a bad day.
For example, politicians being politicians aside, I liked this photo of Obama fist-pumping a White House cleaner (https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/252760515439390723) or what he did when he forgot to slate the Marine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np7lObaDiBk).
Great, subtle, analysis!
Thanks, Chris!