--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If kindness has falseness at its base, it…" description: "\"If kindness has falseness at its base, it is no longer kindness. It is labored courtesy.\" — Piero Ferrucci" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/piero-ferrucci-22893_courtesy_if-kindness-has-falseness-at-its-base-it_2008765.png" --- # If kindness has falseness at its base, it is no longer… ![“If kindness has falseness at its base, it is no longer kindness. It is labored courtesy.” quote by Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/piero-ferrucci-22893_courtesy_if-kindness-has-falseness-at-its-base-it_2008765.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/piero-ferrucci-22893_courtesy_if-kindness-has-falseness-at-its-base-it_2008765.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/277/piero-ferrucci-22893_courtesy_if-kindness-has-falseness-at-its-base-it_2008765.png) > “If kindness has falseness at its base, it is no longer kindness. It is labored courtesy.” [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kindness that is insincere becomes mere polite formality, losing its true moral value. **In simple terms:** Fake kindness is just courtesy. Key Takeaway Seek genuine compassion. Themes authenticity morality kindness integrity Mood cautious thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal relationships - customer service - volunteering - leadership training Key Concepts ethical philosophy social behavior Questions to Reflect On - When have you felt kindness was insincere? - How can you verify genuine intent? A Different Perspective Superficial kindness can be manipulative. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) ## Related quotes > [“Truth is the world and falseness is man who lives within his mind world which has copied the world of Truth. Therefore, man must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woo-myung/truth-is-the-world-and-falseness-is-man-who-lives-within-his-mind/) [Woo Myung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woo-myung/) > [Imagination can't create anything new, can it? It only recycles bits and pieces from the world and reassembles them into visions... 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I can bear artifice in the frivolities and gauds of the world–it is all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-eden/oh-where-is-truth-am-i-never-to-find-it-i-can-bear-artifice-in-the/) [Emily Eden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-eden/) > [A belief, however necessary it may be for the preservation of a species, has nothing to do with truth. The falseness of a judgment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/a-belief-however-necessary-it-may-be-for-the-preservation-of-a/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [The cynics were watchdogs terrifying malefactors. They tried to expose falseness and conceit. 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Truth knows both Truth and falseness. However, the false know neither the false…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woo-myung/people-do-not-know-what-truth-is-and-what-false-is-truth-knows-both/) [Woo Myung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woo-myung/) > [“4. The falseness of an opinion is not for us any objection to it: it is here, perhaps, that our new language sounds most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/4-the-falseness-of-an-opinion-is-not-for-us-any-objection-to-it-it-is/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“The average man thinks that a little falseness goes with beauty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/the-average-man-thinks-that-a-little-falseness-goes-with-beauty/) [Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/) > [“See, Biff, everybody around me is so false that I'm constantly lowering my ideals...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-miller/see-biff-everybody-around-me-is-so-false-that-i-m-constantly-lowering/) [Arthur Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-miller/) > [A person who looks different all the time frightens me. Only one animal changes its skin: the snake.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-grillparzer/a-person-who-looks-different-all-the-time-frightens-me-only-one/) [Franz Grillparzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-grillparzer/) ## More by Piero Ferrucci > [Psychosynthesis brings the matter to a point of extreme simplicity, seeing the self as the most elementary and distinctive part of our beings -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/psychosynthesis-brings-the-matter-to-a-point-of-extreme-simplicity/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Being kind is the simplest way to become who we really are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/being-kind-is-the-simplest-way-to-become-who-we-really-are/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [How often-even before we began-have we declared a task 'impossible'? And how often have we construed a picture of ourselves as being inadequate?...A great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/how-often-even-before-we-began-have-we-declared-a-task-impossible-and/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [The transition from rebellion to acceptance has an extremely important consequence. . . in which we start seeing life as a training school, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/the-transition-from-rebellion-to-acceptance-has-an-extremely/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Something similar happens on the other side of the equation: Giving kindness does us as much good as receiving it. . . . The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/something-similar-happens-on-the-other-side-of-the-equation-giving/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [The factors that contributed to my growth were many - finding someone who understood me, exploring the unconscious, awakening my latent love . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/the-factors-that-contributed-to-my-growth-were-many-finding-someone/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [“Some time ago, my son Emilio was going back to school after vacation. He did not like the idea at all and was filled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/some-time-ago-my-son-emilio-was-going-back-to-school-after-vacation/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Eliminate something superfluous from your life. Break a habit. Do something that makes you feel insecure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/eliminate-something-superfluous-from-your-life-break-a-habit-do/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [To act honestly- even at the risk of saying the unpleasant truth, or of saying no and causing distress to others- if done with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/to-act-honestly-even-at-the-risk-of-saying-the-unpleasant-truth-or-of/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [We can proceed according to the planned itinerary, strenuously trying to make life conform to our needs, or we can adapt to whatever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/we-can-proceed-according-to-the-planned-itinerary-strenuously-trying/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Inspiration comes whenever it wants, even at the most unlikely times and in the most inappropriate situations. Often it arrives bit by bit. Therefore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/inspiration-comes-whenever-it-wants-even-at-the-most-unlikely-times/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [In trusting, we let ourselves go. We know that all kinds of unexpected events may come our way. Our tension eases, our mind and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/in-trusting-we-let-ourselves-go-we-know-that-all-kinds-of-unexpected/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [The word humility (also human) is derived from the Latin humus, meaning the soil. Perhaps this is not simply because it entails stooping and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/the-word-humility-also-human-is-derived-from-the-latin-humus-meaning/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [We are used to thinking in terms of what we can teach our children. Maybe we need to ask ourselves what we may learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/we-are-used-to-thinking-in-terms-of-what-we-can-teach-our-children/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) > [Awareness by itself is not enough: it must be joined by mastery. We need gradually to develop a steering ability to keep ourselves from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/piero-ferrucci/awareness-by-itself-is-not-enough-it-must-be-joined-by-mastery-we/) [Piero Ferrucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) [Explore all 26 Piero Ferrucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/piero-ferrucci/) ## More Courtesy quotes > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Less of your courtesy and more of your purse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/proverb/less-of-your-courtesy-and-more-of-your-purse/) Proverb > [Dullness is a courteous fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-mustafa/dullness-is-a-courteous-fear/) [Mohammad MUSTAFA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-mustafa/) > [Lobbying' is the activity of attempting to influence legislation by privately influencing the legislators. It is the result and creation of a mixed economy-of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/lobbying-is-the-activity-of-attempting-to-influence-legislation-by/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) > [“...a great man who is vicious will only be a great doer of evil, and a rich man who is not liberal will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-cervantes/a-great-man-who-is-vicious-will-only-be-a-great-doer-of-evil-and-a/) Miguel Cervantes > [“I would court you, with all the grace and courtesy that you deserve,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-pacat/i-would-court-you-with-all-the-grace-and-courtesy-that-you-deserve/) [C.S. Pacat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-pacat/) > [The greater the man the greater the courtesy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-the-great/the-greater-the-man-the-greater-the-courtesy/) [Alfred the Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-the-great/) > [“Out of all its squalor and human decay, its eruptions of butchery, India produced so many people of grace and beauty, ruled by elaborate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/out-of-all-its-squalor-and-human-decay-its-eruptions-of-butchery/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/show-some-mercy-to-this-chair-which-has-stretched-out-its-arms-to-you/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-post/manners-are-a-sensitive-awareness-of-the-feelings-of-others/) [Emily Post](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-post/) > [His courtesy was somewhat extravagant. He would write and thank people who wrote to thank him for wedding presents and when he encountered anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/his-courtesy-was-somewhat-extravagant-he-would-write-and-thank-people/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [They who sow courtesy reap friendship, and they who plant kindness gather love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-basil/they-who-sow-courtesy-reap-friendship-and-they-who-plant-kindness/) [Saint Basil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-basil/) > [“If a lady offers you a kindness, you absolutely have to accept”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-wallingford/if-a-lady-offers-you-a-kindness-you-absolutely-have-to-accept/) Maria Wallingford > [though I be but the prince of Wales, yet I am king of courtesy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/though-i-be-but-the-prince-of-wales-yet-i-am-king-of-courtesy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Princes of courtesy, merciful, proud and strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-newbolt/princes-of-courtesy-merciful-proud-and-strong/) [Henry Newbolt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-newbolt/) [Browse all 527 Courtesy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/courtesy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If kindness has falseness at its base, it is no longer kindness. 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