--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Kindness does not require us to be blind…" description: "\"Kindness does not require us to be blind to facts or to live in fancies, but it does require us to cherish a habit of goodwill, ready to show pity if s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/alexander-maclaren-3410_blind_kindness-does-not-require-us-to-be-blind_573514.jpg" --- # Kindness does not require us to be blind to facts or to… ![“Kindness does not require us to be blind to facts or to live in fancies, but it does require us to cherish a habit of goodwill, ready to show pity if sorrow appears, and slow to turn away even if hostility appears.” quote by Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/alexander-maclaren-3410_blind_kindness-does-not-require-us-to-be-blind_573514.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/alexander-maclaren-3410_blind_kindness-does-not-require-us-to-be-blind_573514.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b7/alexander-maclaren-3410_blind_kindness-does-not-require-us-to-be-blind_573514.jpg) > “Kindness does not require us to be blind to facts or to live in fancies, but it does require us to cherish a habit of goodwill, ready to show pity if sorrow appears, and slow to turn away even if hostility appears.” [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kindness requires acknowledging reality while maintaining compassion, even toward hostility. **In simple terms:** Be compassionate without ignoring facts. Key Takeaway Balance truth with empathy. Themes compassion truth resilience Mood thoughtful empathetic Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - conflict resolution - caregiving - social work Key Concepts ethical empathy emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - When have you shown kindness despite hostility? - How can you protect yourself while staying compassionate? A Different Perspective Compassion may be exploited by others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blind/) [Facts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facts/) [Goodwill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodwill/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Hostility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostility/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow/) ## Related quotes > [Don't pay back in kind, pay back in kindness. If someone does wrong by you, do right by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/don-t-pay-back-in-kind-pay-back-in-kindness-if-someone-does-wrong-by/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“Judgment does not win others over. Kindness does.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-ehman/judgment-does-not-win-others-over-kindness-does/) [Karen Ehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-ehman/) > [Giving kindness does as much good as receiving it...Kind people are healthier and live longer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/giving-kindness-does-as-much-good-as-receiving-it-kind-people-are/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [“We often look for kindness back in the same place we gave it, and mostly that is where we go wrong. Kindness does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drishti-bablani-wordions/we-often-look-for-kindness-back-in-the-same-place-we-gave-it-and/) [Drishti Bablani, Wordions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drishti-bablani-wordions/) > [“This is what kindness does, Ms.Albert said. Each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-woodson/this-is-what-kindness-does-ms-albert-said-each-little-thing-we-do/) [Jacqueline Woodson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-woodson/) > [No kind action ever stops with itself. One kind action leads to another. Good example is followed. A single act of kindness throws out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-earhart/no-kind-action-ever-stops-with-itself-one-kind-action-leads-to/) [Amelia Earhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-earhart/) > [The greatest work that kindness does to others is that it makes them kind themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amelia-earhart/the-greatest-work-that-kindness-does-to-others-is-that-it-makes-them/) [Amelia Earhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amelia-earhart/) > [Something similar happens on the other side of the equation: Giving kindness does us as much good as receiving it. . . . 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Miles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-a-miles/) > [We're not going to cure terrorism and spread peace and goodwill in the Middle East by killing innocent people, or I'm not even saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-sheehan/we-re-not-going-to-cure-terrorism-and-spread-peace-and-goodwill-in/) [Cindy Sheehan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-sheehan/) > [We are surrounded every day by countless acts of immeasurable kindness and goodwill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bel-edwards/we-are-surrounded-every-day-by-countless-acts-of-immeasurable/) [John Bel Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bel-edwards/) ## More by Alexander MacLaren > [If our faith in God is not the veriest sham, it demands, and will produce, the abandonment sometimes, the subordination always, of external helps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-our-faith-in-god-is-not-the-veriest-sham-it-demands-and-will/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [God keeps giving Himself as long as we bring that into which He can pour Himself. And when we stop bringing, He stops giving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/god-keeps-giving-himself-as-long-as-we-bring-that-into-which-he-can/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [As we look upon that agony and those tearful prayers, let us not only look with thankfulness; but let that kneeling Saviour teach us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/as-we-look-upon-that-agony-and-those-tearful-prayers-let-us-not-only/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Ah, my brother, it is a far harder thing, and it is afar higher proof of a thorough-going, persistent, Christian principle woven into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/ah-my-brother-it-is-a-far-harder-thing-and-it-is-afar-higher-proof-of/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [The cross is the centre of the world's history; the incarnation of Christ and the crucifiction of our Lord are the pivot round which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/the-cross-is-the-centre-of-the-world-s-history-the-incarnation-of/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [The grave has a door on its inner side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/the-grave-has-a-door-on-its-inner-side/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Being in Christ, it is safe to forget the past; it is possible to be sure of the future; it is possible to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/being-in-christ-it-is-safe-to-forget-the-past-it-is-possible-to-be/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Do not let the loud utterances of your own wills anticipate, nor drown, the still, small voice in which God speaks. Bridle impatience till…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/do-not-let-the-loud-utterances-of-your-own-wills-anticipate-nor-drown/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Man's course begins in a garden, but it ends in a city.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/man-s-course-begins-in-a-garden-but-it-ends-in-a-city/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [The cup which my Saviour giveth me, can it be anything but a cup of salvation?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/the-cup-which-my-saviour-giveth-me-can-it-be-anything-but-a-cup-of/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Love is the only fire that is hot enough to melt the iron obstinacy of a creatures' will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/love-is-the-only-fire-that-is-hot-enough-to-melt-the-iron-obstinacy/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [If you want to live in this world, doing the duty of life, knowing the blessings of it, doing your work heartily, and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/if-you-want-to-live-in-this-world-doing-the-duty-of-life-knowing-the/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Faith is the sight of the inward eye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/faith-is-the-sight-of-the-inward-eye/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [Every sin is a mistake, as well as a wrong; and the epitaph for the sinner is, "Thou fool!"](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/every-sin-is-a-mistake-as-well-as-a-wrong-and-the-epitaph-for-the/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) > [True peace comes not from the absence of trouble, but from the presence of God and will be deep and passing all understanding in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-maclaren/true-peace-comes-not-from-the-absence-of-trouble-but-from-the/) [Alexander MacLaren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) [Explore all 131 Alexander MacLaren quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-maclaren/) ## More Blind quotes > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. 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Maybe I shall go blind again, for women are never two days alike in their minds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-parker/what-i-shall-feel-to-morrow-i-cannot-tell-maybe-i-shall-go-blind/) [Gilbert Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-parker/) > [Now the stage today is to know that Self Realization gives you experiences and then your faith is established. Not blind but open enlightened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/now-the-stage-today-is-to-know-that-self-realization-gives-you/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) > [The more I produce, the less I am certain. On the road along which the artist walks, night falls ever more densely. Finally, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-more-i-produce-the-less-i-am-certain-on-the-road-along-which-the/) [Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/) > [“The heart’s blind. It’s the head that causes all the trouble. Sometimes both are stupid.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-bromberg/the-heart-s-blind-it-s-the-head-that-causes-all-the-trouble-sometimes/) [K. Bromberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-bromberg/) > [“In the story of the blind men and the elephant, what’s usually ignored is the fact that each man’s description was correct. What Faye…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/in-the-story-of-the-blind-men-and-the-elephant-what-s-usually-ignored/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [My favorite performance would definitely be "Toxic," which was my blind audition song. 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