--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't assume that kindness is an…" description: "\"You can't assume that kindness is an inherited trait. It is learned behavior.\" — Katie Couric" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/katie-couric-9751_assuming_you-can-t-assume-that-kindness-is-an-inh_2430863.jpg" --- # You can't assume that kindness is an inherited trait. It… ![“You can't assume that kindness is an inherited trait. It is learned behavior.” quote by Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/katie-couric-9751_assuming_you-can-t-assume-that-kindness-is-an-inh_2430863.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/katie-couric-9751_assuming_you-can-t-assume-that-kindness-is-an-inh_2430863.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/katie-couric-9751_assuming_you-can-t-assume-that-kindness-is-an-inh_2430863.jpg) > “You can't assume that kindness is an inherited trait. It is learned behavior.” [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kindness is not genetic but taught through example and practice. **In simple terms:** Kindness is learned. Key Takeaway Teach and model kindness daily. Themes empathy learning behavior Mood warm inspirational Type advice motivational When to use this quote - parenting - education - workplace culture Key Concepts Social learning moral development Questions to Reflect On - How can you model kindness in a hostile environment? - What habits reinforce compassionate behavior? A Different Perspective Kindness may be resisted by entrenched attitudes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Assume Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assume-kindness-279967/) [Assuming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Inherited Trait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inherited-trait-279968/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness Inherited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-inherited-279966/) [Learned behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-behavior/) [Trait Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trait-learned-279969/) [Traits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traits/) ## Related quotes > [“While average finger number is an inherited trait, the heritability of finger number is low—genes don’t explain individual differences much.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-sapolsky/while-average-finger-number-is-an-inherited-trait-the-heritability-of/) [Robert M. Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-sapolsky/) > [There is no thing we cannot overcome Say not thy evil instinct is inherited, Or that some trait inborn makes thy whole life forlorn,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-wheeler-wilcox/there-is-no-thing-we-cannot-overcome-say-not-thy-evil-instinct-is/) [Ella Wheeler Wilcox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-wheeler-wilcox/) > [Love is a learned behavior. If you don't learn how to love yourself someone will teach you how to hate yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-gaskins/love-is-a-learned-behavior-if-you-don-t-learn-how-to-love-yourself/) [Tony Gaskins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-gaskins/) > [Behind everyone's learned behaviors and odd eccentricities lurks a soul, ready to make contact if only coaxed out through a crack in the ego.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-dass/behind-everyone-s-learned-behaviors-and-odd-eccentricities-lurks-a/) [Ram Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-dass/) > [We don't have that for the most part it is learned behavior and so the first part is we have to understand why people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-assaraf/we-don-t-have-that-for-the-most-part-it-is-learned-behavior-and-so/) [John Assaraf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-assaraf/) > [Parents can ruin children, and sometimes that's a learned behavior. Sometimes you can't blame your parents for it, sometimes you can. I think to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mcmillan/parents-can-ruin-children-and-sometimes-that-s-a-learned-behavior/) [Terry McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mcmillan/) > [ “...\[C\]ulture-learned behavior patterns so deeply engrained they produce unconscious involuntary reactions-is a prison.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-howard-griffin/c-ulture-learned-behavior-patterns-so-deeply-engrained-they-produce/) [John Howard Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-howard-griffin/) > [Your desire or beliefs will literally be reaching back into time, teaching the nerves new tricks. Definite reorganizations in that past will occur in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/your-desire-or-beliefs-will-literally-be-reaching-back-into-time/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [Some people are born with a fire inside them. The will to succeed. It isn’t a learned behavior. It’s just some unknown biological factor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-a-konrath/some-people-are-born-with-a-fire-inside-them-the-will-to-succeed-it/) [J.A. Konrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-a-konrath/) > [No child is ever born afraid. Fear is a learned behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-carter-scott/no-child-is-ever-born-afraid-fear-is-a-learned-behavior/) [Cherie Carter-Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-carter-scott/) > [Human behavior is subject to the same laws as any other natural phenomenon. Our customs, behaviors, and values are byproducts of our culture. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/human-behavior-is-subject-to-the-same-laws-as-any-other-natural/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [Fear is the culprit that robs us of our greatest lives. And although it's mostly made up or a learned behavior from our past,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/fear-is-the-culprit-that-robs-us-of-our-greatest-lives-and-although/) [Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/) > [I have excellent balance. That's a learned behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-have-excellent-balance-that-s-a-learned-behavior/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [The harassment and the bullying that students face is a learned behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-mcbride/the-harassment-and-the-bullying-that-students-face-is-a-learned/) [Sarah McBride](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-mcbride/) > [Learned behaviors have replaced the biologically given ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/learned-behaviors-have-replaced-the-biologically-given-ones/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) ## More by Katie Couric > [The media can be an instrument of change. It can maintain the status quo and reflect the views of the society or it can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/the-media-can-be-an-instrument-of-change-it-can-maintain-the-status/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [Be fearless. Have the courage to take risks. Go where there are no guarantees. Get out of your comfort zone even if it means…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/be-fearless-have-the-courage-to-take-risks-go-where-there-are-no/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [Nobody ever asks men about the work-life balance, and I just find that interesting, because clearly, I would imagine most men also want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/nobody-ever-asks-men-about-the-work-life-balance-and-i-just-find-that/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [All three networks have always had a morning show but now cable of course is taking some of that audience away and a variety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/all-three-networks-have-always-had-a-morning-show-but-now-cable-of/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [A less-than dream job can help you find your dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/a-less-than-dream-job-can-help-you-find-your-dreams/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [They see us interacting with people, they see us doing serious interviews, they see us having fun, and when you're conversing with someone, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/they-see-us-interacting-with-people-they-see-us-doing-serious/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [He was always sort of a scrappy little kid wasn't he? A bit of a fighter?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/he-was-always-sort-of-a-scrappy-little-kid-wasn-t-he-a-bit-of-a/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [Obviously, people in Texas have big hearts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/obviously-people-in-texas-have-big-hearts/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [Sometimes I think change is a good thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/sometimes-i-think-change-is-a-good-thing/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [I've always tried to stay true to my authentic self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/i-ve-always-tried-to-stay-true-to-my-authentic-self/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [Some suggested over the weekend that it is wrong to expect Elian Gonzalez to live in a place that tolerates no dissent or freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/some-suggested-over-the-weekend-that-it-is-wrong-to-expect-elian/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [Can you explain what Internet is?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/can-you-explain-what-internet-is/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [But of course when people watch morning television, Terry, it's a very different animal. You know, they're running around, they're getting their kids ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/but-of-course-when-people-watch-morning-television-terry-it-s-a-very/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [Changing the world doesn't happen all at once. It isn't a big bang. It's an evolution, the sum of a billion tiny sparks. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/changing-the-world-doesn-t-happen-all-at-once-it-isn-t-a-big-bang-it/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) > [Obviously I love doing newsmaker interviews, and if I can contribute in any way to that, I would love to. I love reporting, getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-couric/obviously-i-love-doing-newsmaker-interviews-and-if-i-can-contribute/) [Katie Couric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) [Explore all 70 Katie Couric quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-couric/) ## More Assuming quotes > [Some books are not read in the right way because they have skipped a stage of opinion, assume a crystallization of information in society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/some-books-are-not-read-in-the-right-way-because-they-have-skipped-a/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [Our young Marines of today are courageous, willing to make sacrifices, and are marvelous team players. I am confident our Corps, and indeed our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-conway/our-young-marines-of-today-are-courageous-willing-to-make-sacrifices/) [James T. Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-conway/) > [Everyone assumes writers spend their time lounging around, writing and occasionally striking a pose whilst having a think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/everyone-assumes-writers-spend-their-time-lounging-around-writing-and/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [Islam never differentiates between men and women as regards political rights and puts them on an equal footing. However, even if a woman is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yusuf-al-qaradawi/islam-never-differentiates-between-men-and-women-as-regards-political/) [Yusuf al-Qaradawi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yusuf-al-qaradawi/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [A state of mind is something that one assumes. It cannot be purchased, it must be created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/a-state-of-mind-is-something-that-one-assumes-it-cannot-be-purchased/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [One must believe that every living thing whatsoever must change insensibly in its organization and in its form... One must therefore never expect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-baptiste-lamarck/one-must-believe-that-every-living-thing-whatsoever-must-change/) [Jean-Baptiste Lamarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-baptiste-lamarck/) > [I think the biggest problem working with me would be that I'm an only child, and so I have an internal dialogue that goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-think-the-biggest-problem-working-with-me-would-be-that-i-m-an-only/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) > [It is worth noticing that those who assume an imposing demeanor and seek to pass themselves off for something beyond what they are, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/it-is-worth-noticing-that-those-who-assume-an-imposing-demeanor-and/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [People just assume that if you're famous, you're in Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/people-just-assume-that-if-you-re-famous-you-re-in-hollywood/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [The behavior of any bureaucratic organization can best be understood by assuming that it is controlled by a secret cabal of its enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-conquest/the-behavior-of-any-bureaucratic-organization-can-best-be-understood/) [Robert Conquest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-conquest/) > [Humans suffer from self-centred notions as to the nature of life. Humans assume that alien life forms should conform to standards that match our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-perry/humans-suffer-from-self-centred-notions-as-to-the-nature-of-life/) [Steve Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-perry/) > [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/) [Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/) > [Everyone seems to assume that the unscrupulous parts of journalism will be the frivolous or jocular parts. This is against all ethical experience. Jokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/everyone-seems-to-assume-that-the-unscrupulous-parts-of-journalism/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) [Browse all 2,452 Assuming quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/assuming/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't assume that kindness is an inherited trait. 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