--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: For my father, being kind was natural…" description: "\"For my father, being kind was natural... I have to really work at it. I love competing and winning, conquest - not words you usually associate with kin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/david-copperfield-2966_be-kind_for-my-father-being-kind-was-natural-i-h_3078493.png" --- # For my father, being kind was natural... I have to really… ![“For my father, being kind was natural... I have to really work at it. I love competing and winning, conquest - not words you usually associate with kindness.” quote by David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/david-copperfield-2966_be-kind_for-my-father-being-kind-was-natural-i-h_3078493.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/david-copperfield-2966_be-kind_for-my-father-being-kind-was-natural-i-h_3078493.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4bf/david-copperfield-2966_be-kind_for-my-father-being-kind-was-natural-i-h_3078493.png) > “For my father, being kind was natural... I have to really work at it. I love competing and winning, conquest - not words you usually associate with kindness.” [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kindness may come naturally to some, but for others it requires deliberate effort, especially when competitive instincts dominate. **In simple terms:** Kindness can be learned, not just innate. Key Takeaway Practice kindness actively. Themes kindness effort competition Mood introspective motivational Type self-help inspirational When to use this quote - team sports - leadership - parenting - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology personal development Questions to Reflect On - What habits can nurture kindness? - How to balance competition and compassion? A Different Perspective Competitive drive can undermine genuine kindness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Competing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/competing/) [Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conquest/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [My father to me is kind of like my hero, the strongest guy I ever met in my life so I want to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-father-to-me-is-kind-of-like-my-hero-the-strongest-guy-i-ever-met/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Reverend Father is the only kind man I ever see. When I arrive here I believe it is the place he warns against. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/reverend-father-is-the-only-kind-man-i-ever-see-when-i-arrive-here-i/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [contrary to what many believed, my father was kind and tenderhearted, especially towards his family. His forbidding sternness seemed to melt into love, kindness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/contrary-to-what-many-believed-my-father-was-kind-and-tenderhearted/) [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/) > [Being a father kind of gives you something more to play for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-curry/being-a-father-kind-of-gives-you-something-more-to-play-for/) [Stephen Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-curry/) > [My father was the kind of man who liked to hang out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sinatra-jr/my-father-was-the-kind-of-man-who-liked-to-hang-out/) [Frank Sinatra Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sinatra-jr/) > [“Kindness is never wasted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/kindness-is-never-wasted/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be the living expression of God's kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/be-the-living-expression-of-god-s-kindness-kindness-in-your-face/) [Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/) > [Let us learn to live with kindness, to love everyone, even when they do not love us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/let-us-learn-to-live-with-kindness-to-love-everyone-even-when-they-do/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [Character is the architect of the being.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-berliawsky-nevelson/character-is-the-architect-of-the-being/) [Louise Berliawsky Nevelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-berliawsky-nevelson/) > [If you can be kind and considerate for one day, then you can be for another. It won't cost you a penny in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-carnegie/if-you-can-be-kind-and-considerate-for-one-day-then-you-can-be-for/) [Dale Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-carnegie/) > [“Don't play with others, or at one day, you will be played by others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/usama-ejaz/don-t-play-with-others-or-at-one-day-you-will-be-played-by-others/) Usama Ejaz > [Make your heart like a lake, with calm, still surface, and great depths of kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/make-your-heart-like-a-lake-with-calm-still-surface-and-great-depths/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [What one thing does the world need most today-apart, that is, from the all-inclusive thing we call righteousness? Aren't you inclined to agree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/what-one-thing-does-the-world-need-most-today-apart-that-is-from-the/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) ## More by David Copperfield > [There is a safe spot within every tornado. My job is to find it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/there-is-a-safe-spot-within-every-tornado-my-job-is-to-find-it/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I'm inventing new principles. The audience has a point of view that no one can predict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-m-inventing-new-principles-the-audience-has-a-point-of-view-that-no/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I love creating new things. It's kind of my job, it's what I do, and I really have fun with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-love-creating-new-things-it-s-kind-of-my-job-it-s-what-i-do-and-i/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I was teaching magic at NYU when I was 16.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-was-teaching-magic-at-nyu-when-i-was-16/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [The real secret of magic lies in the performance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/the-real-secret-of-magic-lies-in-the-performance/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Everyone was talking about having airplanes disappear. And I said, "Wait, wait, wait. That's what you like? I'd tell you a story about something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/everyone-was-talking-about-having-airplanes-disappear-and-i-said-wait/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [For me, it's about risk taking, taking things in new directions. Because every single time, no matter how much you learn, you can never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/for-me-it-s-about-risk-taking-taking-things-in-new-directions-because/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [It's okay for me to be gay, but God didn't make me that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/it-s-okay-for-me-to-be-gay-but-god-didn-t-make-me-that-way/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Ride on! Rough-shod if need be, smooth-shod if that will do, but ride on! Ride on over all obstacles, and win the race!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/ride-on-rough-shod-if-need-be-smooth-shod-if-that-will-do-but-ride-on/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Magicians are the people who began to use film as an illusion on stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/magicians-are-the-people-who-began-to-use-film-as-an-illusion-on-stage/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I'm just waiting for people to start asking me to make the rain disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-m-just-waiting-for-people-to-start-asking-me-to-make-the-rain/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [Magicians lose the opportunity to experience a sense of wonder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/magicians-lose-the-opportunity-to-experience-a-sense-of-wonder/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I am fortunate to have the resources to have many methods to do each of my illusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-am-fortunate-to-have-the-resources-to-have-many-methods-to-do-each/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [I'm the luckiest man in the world - performing 500 shows a year and loving what I do - illusion IS my day to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/i-m-the-luckiest-man-in-the-world-performing-500-shows-a-year-and/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) > [From the very beginning, I studied acting, directing, lighting, dance and movement. I didn't rely on just the magic to take place. It's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-copperfield/from-the-very-beginning-i-studied-acting-directing-lighting-dance-and/) [David Copperfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) [Explore all 144 David Copperfield quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-copperfield/) ## More Be kind quotes > [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/) > [Volunteer. Find ways to be useful. Be kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-black/volunteer-find-ways-to-be-useful-be-kind/) [Claudia Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-black/) > [Remember to be kind. Remember to be loving. Remember to feel all your feelings and to take care of yourself. But most of all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/remember-to-be-kind-remember-to-be-loving-remember-to-feel-all-your/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [(I)f we are going to be kind, let it be out of simple generosity, not because we fear guilt or retribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-f-we-are-going-to-be-kind-let-it-be-out-of-simple-generosity-not/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let me be patient, let me be kind, make me unselfish, without being blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauryn-hill/let-me-be-patient-let-me-be-kind-make-me-unselfish-without-being-blind/) [Lauryn Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauryn-hill/) > [But I believed in starting over. There was finally, I knew, only rupture and hurt and falling short between all persons, but, Shirley, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorrie-moore/but-i-believed-in-starting-over-there-was-finally-i-knew-only-rupture/) [Lorrie Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorrie-moore/) > [Those type of whites who are always going to jail with Negroes are the ones who tell Negroes to be loving and be kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-x/those-type-of-whites-who-are-always-going-to-jail-with-negroes-are/) [Malcolm X](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-x/) > [I thought being in the wheelchair might be kind of limiting for me as an actor. It turned out cool in a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-beaver/i-thought-being-in-the-wheelchair-might-be-kind-of-limiting-for-me-as/) [Jim Beaver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-beaver/) > [When you have the choice between being right and being kind just choose kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/when-you-have-the-choice-between-being-right-and-being-kind-just/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [In my case, when I am trying to be "kind" I often default in a sort of toothless loving-all stance that is, actually, not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/in-my-case-when-i-am-trying-to-be-kind-i-often-default-in-a-sort-of/) [George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/) > [What one thing does the world need most today-apart, that is, from the all-inclusive thing we call righteousness? Aren't you inclined to agree that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/what-one-thing-does-the-world-need-most-today-apart-that-is-from-the/) [B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/) > [At least with pets, and for all I know, people too, intelligence and quick-wittedness have nothing to do with a talent for being loved,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baxter/at-least-with-pets-and-for-all-i-know-people-too-intelligence-and/) [Charles Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baxter/) > [“A part of a healthy conscience is being able to confront consciencelessness. When you teach your daughter, explicitly or by passive rejection, that she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stout/a-part-of-a-healthy-conscience-is-being-able-to-confront/) [Martha Stout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stout/) > [Don't let fear or insecurity stop you from trying new things. Believe in yourself. Do what you love. And most importantly, be kind to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacy-london/don-t-let-fear-or-insecurity-stop-you-from-trying-new-things-believe/) [Stacy London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacy-london/) > [Technology has just been the major progression of the last 15 years - instant communication. That stuff has gone so global. That's what's interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti-west/technology-has-just-been-the-major-progression-of-the-last-15-years/) [Ti West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti-west/) Browse all 873 Be kind quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "For my father, being kind was natural... I have to really work at it. 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