ipl-logo

Definition Essay: Defining Kindness

1035 Words5 Pages

Leanne Clark
Communication Cluster
Professor Grissom
21 January 2016
Defining Kindness
Kindness is rarely defined because its meaning usually varies from person to person. Everyone has his or her own conception of the word. The online Oxford Dictionary defines the word kindness as the quality of being considerate, generous, and friendly. Society relates it to morality and goodness. To understand the meaning of the word even better, it would be important to assess what it is not. For example, kindness is not inhumanity. It is neither brutality nor cruelty. Kindness is not related to harshness. It has no associations with heartlessness and hatefulness. Kindness cannot be defined by malevolence, callousness, animosity, meanness, and selfishness. …show more content…

It is impossible to distinguish the two words. A kind person is one who possesses the ability to feel for other people’s misfortunes and unhappiness. Such sympathetic people are usually bighearted enough to try to intervene to their level best in whatever ailing situation is at hand. For example, a person who spends his or her leisure time visiting the sick at the local hospital and paying up the bills of a patient in part or full is considered to be kindhearted. A student who volunteers at the nursing home helping out with the daily chores and caring for the elderly is also considered to be very kind enough to offer his services for free. A philanthropist who frequently donates his resources to the poor or needy population in community is largely thought of to be kind. A kind person, therefore, not only sympathizes with the disadvantaged others in the society but also takes some actions such as offering his time, service or resources with the aim of helping improve the …show more content…

The quality of kindness is defined by the capacity of a person to be gentle, be caring, and tender towards those around him. The ability to accommodate other people with their differences and incapacities are all definitive elements of kindness. The individual who discriminates others based on factors such as race, gender, age, health, religion can never be associated with the word kindness. On the other hand, the individual who shows compassion and care to everybody regardless of their different situations or traits is considered to be very kind. When I am compassionate to the sick, elderly, the poor as well as the young ones I will be seen to exhibit the quality of kindness. However, when I am constantly at war with those around me, beating up children, refusing service to the elderly, insulting and discriminating against other people such as the sick then I am very

Show More
Related
1023 Words | 5 Pages

Kindness is one trait every individual desires to be treated with by others. It is , after all, the state of warm welcoming that helps us assimilate in a society. Besides, no one likes the feeling of getting rejected by a particular group based on their different backgrounds, culture, physique and/or experiences. The only way that perhaps heels this rejection ,due to the difference's in an individual, are the acts of when an another individual presents and treats others with their acts of benevolence. This act then also sheds a new light on an other individual's perspective, and gives them the knowledge to assert what they think is right for them to obtain their objectives.

Read More
476 Words | 2 Pages

For example, when Auggie gets called names he gets sad, but he doesn´t show it, instead he treats people how he would usually treat people. Treating people nice when you are very sad would be hard to do. Then, when Julian called Auggie names he got so sad, but he didn't show it to Julian instead he used kindness. Then, Isaiah loses his family and treats A new family, he met very nice even when he is very sad inside. After that, when Isaiah stays with a

Read More
1626 Words | 7 Pages

Oftentimes, kindness serves as a guiding force in one’s life, allowing them to determine their destiny. Acts of kindness aid people in their growth and help them reach their full potential. When people don’t experience much kindness in their lives, they can become very bitter and angry, especially when their own kindness isn’t reciprocated by others. This lack of kindness from others can hinder someone’s growth as a human being and not allow them to reach their full potential. On the other hand, when people do experience kindness in their lives, they’re much more likely to feel fulfilled and happy, allowing them to reach their full potential.

Read More
107 Words | 1 Pages

Kindness is often overlooked in society yet it still manages to hold a great deal importance in the lives of many. Kindness is an empowering emotion that can change perspectives and alter destinies. In The Glass Roses by Alden Rowan the true importance of kindness is personified throughout the story. In the story Stephen is encapsulated by the kindness of his fellow worker and greatly impacts Stephan’s ability to determine his own destiny. The Glass Roses shows that individuals tend to hide their true emotions in order to gain respect from their peers however kindness, once truly unveiled can play a huge role in determining ones destiny.

Read More
1878 Words | 8 Pages

The concept of being nice to people, even if someone does not particularly like them or isn’t fond of them, has been drilled into my head for the longest time. Teachers today even bring up that I should be nice to those I don’t like as if it is a childish concept. I have learned that being nice to other people is what I should do because it is what is

Read More
760 Words | 4 Pages

Whether humans are naturally kind or cruel is something that has been debated for many years, and is still being debated. In the novel Night by Eliezer Wiesel, Elie Wiesel is a young boy who goes through many horrible things. Even though there are so many bad people, there are many kind people as well that help him survive and make it. Although many people believe that humankind is inherently cruel, people are actually inherently kind because even among those in power, individuals care for each other and want to help, and even in horrible situations, people can remain kind. Even people with higher positions or power still have concern for others in a lower position than themselves.

Read More
994 Words | 4 Pages

So constantly being kind and showing those kind emotions can show your character and build a reputation that you can uphold. In his quote, Elie Wiesel stated “Even on the edge of the abyss, it is possible to dream exalted dreams of compassion.” I believe he talked about

Read More
150 Words | 1 Pages

The “slime” tore apart when pulled hard and fast. The substance broke apart as the polymer chains were stretched. The substance when pulled slowly did stretch and did not break apart. Slime is a non-Newtonian fluid and therefore has a different viscosity depending on the amount of force applied to the slime. This explains why pulling with more force caused the slime to thicken then break and less force simply increased the surface area or was stretched.

Read More
724 Words | 3 Pages

Your words or actions can last forever on others. Sometimes it doesn’t feel permanent to you, but to the other person, it could be everlasting. Though you may not always see the impact of your kindness, it still exists and it still

Read More
617 Words | 3 Pages

The precept that Mr. Brown could be shown in a different angle, instead of emotional effects kindness can also reap physical effects. Being kind has positive effects in our lives. Research has shown that being kind actually increases one's overall sense of well-being and reducing stress levels. The act of being kind also promotes a healthy lifestyle. It helps us relate to other people and have more positive relationships with friends, family, and even strangers we encounter in our daily lives.

Read More
1066 Words | 5 Pages

The word altruism may come to mind for some. When performing acts of kindness we

Read More
1644 Words | 7 Pages

Being able to decide for ourselves what we are compassionate about shows who we really are. When we are compassionate about something, our actions follow right along with it. As mentioned in the text, “Compassion is the root no less of justice than of loving-kindness; but it is more clearly evidenced in the latter than in the former” (Schopenhauer,

Read More
1300 Words | 6 Pages

Expanding kindness to all things is the trickiest part. But it can be done. Saunders mentions the most respectable names in history as an example of kindness like Gandhi, Mother Teresa, and Shakespeare. Kindness is what saves each of us. Each of us can recall the random act of kindness that was done to each of us.

Read More
312 Words | 2 Pages

When a human shows kindness, they do so out of benevolence and are not expecting anything in return. However, kind people do not allow others to take advantage of them. They respect all other people and, as a result, they expect respect from those people. Kindness is not equivalent to niceness. Kindness signifies sympathy, charity, and understanding meanwhile

Read More
454 Words | 2 Pages

The real definition of kindness is “being kind”. In each group of friends they have there own definition of “being kind”. In groups of friends they also have there own thing about how they communicate, it's all about confidant. Also in a good friendship when you do hurt there feelings a good word to use for an apology is “sorry”. Sarcasm is also a big thing a friendship.

Read More

More about Definition Essay: Defining Kindness

Related Topics

Open Document