--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Words of kindness had always been more…" description: "\"“Words of kindness had always been more difficult for me to handle than harsh reprimands. Ever since I had been quite young, I could resist those who w..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/ann-howard-creel-35194_compassion_words-of-kindness-had-always-been-more-d_1999146.jpg" --- # Words of kindness had always been more difficult for me to… ![“Words of kindness had always been more difficult for me to handle than harsh reprimands. Ever since I had been quite young, I could resist those who went against me, had been able to deny their opinions. My inner strength came from an ability to handle, then separate myself from, adversity…” quote by Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/ann-howard-creel-35194_compassion_words-of-kindness-had-always-been-more-d_1999146.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/ann-howard-creel-35194_compassion_words-of-kindness-had-always-been-more-d_1999146.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bbc/ann-howard-creel-35194_compassion_words-of-kindness-had-always-been-more-d_1999146.jpg) > ““Words of kindness had always been more difficult for me to handle than harsh reprimands. Ever since I had been quite young, I could resist those who went against me, had been able to deny their opinions. My inner strength came from an ability to handle, then separate myself from, adversity. Compassion, however, brought up more raw emotion than judgments could ever stir.”” [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote contrasts how kindness triggers strong emotions, while harsh criticism is easier to dismiss, suggesting emotional vulnerability in compassion **In simple terms:** Kindness hits harder than criticism Key Takeaway Recognize and manage emotional reactions to kindness Themes emotional vulnerability compassion self‑control Mood reflective introspective Type personal psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - leadership - conflict resolution - self‑development Key Concepts psychology emotional intelligence resilience Questions to Reflect On - How do you protect yourself when kindness feels intense? - Can you use this awareness to deepen empathy? A Different Perspective Kindness can be overwhelming if not balanced with self‑care ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Inner strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inner-strength/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Raw emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raw-emotion/) [Words of kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/words-of-kindness/) ## Related quotes > [“Good acts grow upon a person. I have sometimes thought that many men, judging from their utter lack of kindness and of a disposition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heber-j-grant/good-acts-grow-upon-a-person-i-have-sometimes-thought-that-many-men/) [Heber J. Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heber-j-grant/) > [Some would never think of talking to friends the way they do to their own children. We should speak with the same words of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-wright/some-would-never-think-of-talking-to-friends-the-way-they-do-to-their/) [Randall Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-wright/) > [For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-beautiful-eyes-look-for-the-good-in-others-for-beautiful-lips/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Fromsmall beginnings, mighty things grow around the world people are spreading this words of kindness >>. :)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose/fromsmall-beginnings-mighty-things-grow-around-the-world-people-are/) [Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose/) > [The beautiful for your eyes. Look for the good in others beautiful of lips and speak only words of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mayte/the-beautiful-for-your-eyes-look-for-the-good-in-others-beautiful-of/) [Mayte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mayte/) > [There is nothing worse than words of kindness that lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juvenal/there-is-nothing-worse-than-words-of-kindness-that-lie/) [Juvenal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juvenal/) > [“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-levenson/for-attractive-lips-speak-words-of-kindness-for-lovely-eyes-seek-out-5/) [Sam Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-levenson/) > [For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-attractive-lips-speak-words-of-kindness-for-lovely-eyes-seek-out-4/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/for-attractive-lips-speak-words-of-kindness-for-lovely-eyes-seek-out-3/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [For beautiful eyes seek out the good in people, for pretty lips only speak words of kindness, for beautiful hair let a child run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-beautiful-eyes-seek-out-the-good-in-people-for-pretty-lips-only/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The words of kindness are more healing to a drooping heart than balm or honey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-fielding/the-words-of-kindness-are-more-healing-to-a-drooping-heart-than-balm/) [Sarah Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-fielding/) > [For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/for-attractive-lips-speak-words-of-kindness/) [Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/) > [“For attractive lips, speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. For a slim figure, share your food with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-levenson/for-attractive-lips-speak-words-of-kindness-for-lovely-eyes-seek-out/) [Sam Levenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-levenson/) > [Teach them the quiet words of kindness, to live beyond themselves. Urge them toward excellence, drive them toward gentleness, pull them deep into yourself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-conroy/teach-them-the-quiet-words-of-kindness-to-live-beyond-themselves-urge/) [Pat Conroy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-conroy/) > [“BEAUTY For beautiful lips... speak words of kindness. For lovely eyes... seek out the good in people. For a slim figure... share your food…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jos-n-harris/beauty-for-beautiful-lips-speak-words-of-kindness-for-lovely-eyes/) [José N. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jos-n-harris/) ## More by Ann Howard Creel > [“I’ve often wondered, even to this day, why during painful times some people seem to step away from themselves and make decisions that fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/i-ve-often-wondered-even-to-this-day-why-during-painful-times-some/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“We’d save up a penny or two, bring them down here, and set them on the tracks. When a train comes, it flattens out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/we-d-save-up-a-penny-or-two-bring-them-down-here-and-set-them-on-the/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“Memories are fragile things to hold, but many times, it's what we have.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/memories-are-fragile-things-to-hold-but-many-times-it-s-what-we-have/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“As a child, when I first heard the story of Creation, I’d closed my eyes and pictured the earth as a ball rolling off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/as-a-child-when-i-first-heard-the-story-of-creation-i-d-closed-my/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“Flashes of memories: skimming over the water into darkness, salt on her lips, big boats lingering on the horizon, crates of liquor luring them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/flashes-of-memories-skimming-over-the-water-into-darkness-salt-on-her/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“In the past, I would’ve listed things such as common interests, mutual attraction, worldliness, and higher education. My freedom above all else. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/in-the-past-i-would-ve-listed-things-such-as-common-interests-mutual/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“The sea was a landscape of longing, she thought, a landscape of ceaseless change.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/the-sea-was-a-landscape-of-longing-she-thought-a-landscape-of/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“He touched me as if I were the curved and delicate handle of a china cup, but he held me tightly just as I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/he-touched-me-as-if-i-were-the-curved-and-delicate-handle-of-a-china/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“She also knew that the story you made up in your mind was rarely the real story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/she-also-knew-that-the-story-you-made-up-in-your-mind-was-rarely-the/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“Livy: Don’t you ever wonder what else is out there…beyond the farm? Ray: Sometimes Livy: Aren’t you curious how other people lived? Ray: I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/livy-don-t-you-ever-wonder-what-else-is-out-there-beyond-the-farm-ray/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“Sometimes you do find what you're looking for closer than you think”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/sometimes-you-do-find-what-you-re-looking-for-closer-than-you-think/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) > [“My aunts were not cruel, you understand. They loved to talk, and at every available opportunity they gave away the neatly wrapped presents of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-howard-creel/my-aunts-were-not-cruel-you-understand-they-loved-to-talk-and-at/) [Ann Howard Creel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) [Explore all 13 Ann Howard Creel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-howard-creel/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) Segun Magbagbeola > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) Talib al Habib > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Words of kindness had always been more difficult for me to handle than harsh reprimands. 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