--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: [Kindness] is much more a sign of…" description: "\"“[Kindness] is much more a sign of character than mere niceness. Kindness connects to who you are, while niceness connects to how you want to be seen.”..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/david-levithan-67_kindness_kindness-is-much-more-a-sign-of-characte_1091184.jpg" --- # \[Kindness\] is much more a sign of character than mere… ![“[Kindness] is much more a sign of character than mere niceness. Kindness connects to who you are, while niceness connects to how you want to be seen.” quote by David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/david-levithan-67_kindness_kindness-is-much-more-a-sign-of-characte_1091184.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/david-levithan-67_kindness_kindness-is-much-more-a-sign-of-characte_1091184.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/df3/david-levithan-67_kindness_kindness-is-much-more-a-sign-of-characte_1091184.jpg) > ““\[Kindness\] is much more a sign of character than mere niceness. Kindness connects to who you are, while niceness connects to how you want to be seen.”” [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True kindness reflects inner character, whereas niceness is about external perception; authenticity matters more than superficial politeness. **In simple terms:** Kindness shows who you are; niceness shows who you want to appear. Key Takeaway Prioritize authentic kindness. Themes character authenticity social behavior Mood thoughtful serene Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - leadership - customer service - friendship - community building Key Concepts moral philosophy psychology interpersonal dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance kindness with honesty? - When does niceness become harmful? A Different Perspective Being too kind may be misinterpreted as weakness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Niceness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/niceness/) ## Related quotes > [“(Kindness) is much more a sign of character than mere niceness. Kindness connects to who you are, while niceness connects to how you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/kindness-is-much-more-a-sign-of-character-than-mere-niceness-kindness-2/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“She's being kind. Which is much more a sign of character than mere niceness. Kindness connects to who you are, while niceness connects to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/she-s-being-kind-which-is-much-more-a-sign-of-character-than-mere/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Kindness connects to who you are, niceness connects to how you want to be seen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/kindness-connects-to-who-you-are-niceness-connects-to-how-you-want-to/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I no longer think she's just being nice. She's being kind. Which is much more a sign of character than mere niceness. Kindness connects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-no-longer-think-she-s-just-being-nice-she-s-being-kind-which-is/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Kindness connects to who you are, while niceness connects to who you want to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/kindness-connects-to-who-you-are-while-niceness-connects-to-who-you/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [Kindness connects to who you are, while niceness connects to how you want to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/kindness-connects-to-who-you-are-while-niceness-connects-to-how-you/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [My mother told me that niceness and kindness goes a long way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mr-t/my-mother-told-me-that-niceness-and-kindness-goes-a-long-way/) [Mr. T](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mr-t/) > [Don't take my kindness as a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-take-my-kindness-as-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being kind doesn't mean being soft or a wuss. Kindness is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of confidence. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/being-kind-doesn-t-mean-being-soft-or-a-wuss-kindness-is-not-a-sign/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“The pleasure of kindness is that it connects us with others; but the terror of kindness is that it makes us too immediately aware…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-phillips/the-pleasure-of-kindness-is-that-it-connects-us-with-others-but-the/) [Adam Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-phillips/) > [Dont Take My Kindness As A Sign Of Weakness !!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-take-my-kindness-as-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't ever take my kindness as a sign of weakness. And I won't change because of some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-ever-take-my-kindness-as-a-sign-of-weakness-and-i-won-t-change/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Don't take someone's kindness as a sign of weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-take-someone-s-kindness-as-a-sign-of-weakness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate niceness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-starkey/i-hate-niceness/) [David Starkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-starkey/) > [“People who switch their niceness on and off are not to be trusted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-diamond/people-who-switch-their-niceness-on-and-off-are-not-to-be-trusted/) [Lucy Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-diamond/) ## More by David Levithan > [“When you jump, all you're going to do is fall. But leaping? Leaping is when you think there's something on the other side.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/when-you-jump-all-you-re-going-to-do-is-fall-but-leaping-leaping-is/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“The past and the future are what's complicated. It's the present that's simple. And the simplicity is the sensation of it being just her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-past-and-the-future-are-what-s-complicated-it-s-the-present-that/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“I hate the way you talk to me And the way you cut your hair I hate the way you drive my car I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-hate-the-way-you-talk-to-me-and-the-way-you-cut-your-hair-i-hate/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [You could be the leaf that never falls from the tree you could be the sun that never leaves the sky this might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-could-be-the-leaf-that-never-falls-from-the-tree-you-could-be-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Patrick: Is she worth the trouble? Cameron: I thought she was- Patrick: Either she is, or she isn't. So give it a shot, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/patrick-is-she-worth-the-trouble-cameron-i-thought-she-was-patrick/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“We saw our friends die. But we also see our friends live. So many of them live, and we often toast their long and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/we-saw-our-friends-die-but-we-also-see-our-friends-live-so-many-of/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [maybe tonight you're scared of falling, and maybe there's somebody here or somewhere else you're thinking about, worrying over, fretting over, trying to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/maybe-tonight-you-re-scared-of-falling-and-maybe-there-s-somebody/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“You never told me what you saw in him, not convincingly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-never-told-me-what-you-saw-in-him-not-convincingly/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“i nod to the other will grayson, up onstage. he nods to me. we have something between us, him and me. but the truth?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/i-nod-to-the-other-will-grayson-up-onstage-he-nods-to-me-we-have/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [But I still has enough longing for that concept that I didn't want to dispel it completely. Meaning: I didn't want to tell Lily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/but-i-still-has-enough-longing-for-that-concept-that-i-didn-t-want-to/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“When you break someone's heart, you also break yours.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/when-you-break-someone-s-heart-you-also-break-yours/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Because toward the end all the words started leaving. Except for the ones that had to lock up at the end of the night.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/because-toward-the-end-all-the-words-started-leaving-except-for-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“ misgivings , n . Last night, I got up the courage to ask you if you regretted us. "There are things I miss,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/misgivings-n-last-night-i-got-up-the-courage-to-ask-you-if-you/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Saving others is always more important than saving yourself. It has to be, or none of us would do any good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/saving-others-is-always-more-important-than-saving-yourself-it-has-to/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) [Explore all 1,648 David Levithan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## More Kindness 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/) > [Each of our acts makes a statement as to our purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-buscaglia/each-of-our-acts-makes-a-statement-as-to-our-purpose/) [Leo Buscaglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-buscaglia/) > [“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/) > [Liesel observed the strangeness of her foster father's eyes. They were made of kindness, and silver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-zusak/liesel-observed-the-strangeness-of-her-foster-father-s-eyes-they-were/) [Markus Zusak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markus-zusak/) > [Kindness unlocks doors that were thought to be closed forever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/kindness-unlocks-doors-that-were-thought-to-be-closed-forever/) Unkown > [“You are very kind and very intelligent and those elements are not always found together. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, and my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-very-kind-and-very-intelligent-and-those-elements-are-not/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [Praise will come to those whose kindness leaves you without debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-finn/praise-will-come-to-those-whose-kindness-leaves-you-without-debt/) [Neil Finn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-finn/) > [“A little bit of kindness goes a long way with women.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-unsworth/a-little-bit-of-kindness-goes-a-long-way-with-women/) [Barry Unsworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-unsworth/) > [The smartest people are the ones who can bring a little bit of heaven to earth by using there kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isiahnunn/the-smartest-people-are-the-ones-who-can-bring-a-little-bit-of-heaven/) IsiahNunn > [If you take all the food aid, America is by far the most generous country. If you take the direct aid, we're very generous.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/if-you-take-all-the-food-aid-america-is-by-far-the-most-generous/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“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 > [“A man full of warm, speculative benevolence may wish his society otherwise constituted than he finds it; but a good patriot, and a true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/a-man-full-of-warm-speculative-benevolence-may-wish-his-society/) [Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/) > [(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/) [Browse all 6,600 Kindness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“[Kindness] is much more a sign of character than mere niceness. 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