--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Kindness is not a fixed trait that we…" description: "\"“Kindness is not a fixed trait that we either have or lack, but more like a muscle that can be developed and strengthened.”\" — Sharon Salzberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/sharon-salzberg-562_kindness_kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-ei_2218997.png" --- # Kindness is not a fixed trait that we either have or lack… ![“Kindness is not a fixed trait that we either have or lack, but more like a muscle that can be developed and strengthened.” quote by Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/sharon-salzberg-562_kindness_kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-ei_2218997.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/sharon-salzberg-562_kindness_kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-ei_2218997.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/sharon-salzberg-562_kindness_kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-ei_2218997.png) > ““Kindness is not a fixed trait that we either have or lack, but more like a muscle that can be developed and strengthened.”” [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Kindness grows through practice like a muscle, not a static trait. **In simple terms:** Kindness can be built and strengthened. Key Takeaway Practice kindness daily to develop it. Themes compassion personal growth habit formation Mood warm encouraging Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - volunteering - daily interactions - teaching - conflict resolution Key Concepts Neuroplasticity emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you make kindness feel authentic? - What small act can you repeat today? A Different Perspective Kindness may feel forced if not genuine. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness Fixed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-fixed-4944666/) [Like Muscle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-muscle/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Personal development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-development/) [Personal growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-growth/) [Real love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-love/) [Realtionship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/realtionship/) [Strength](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strength/) [Trait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trait/) [Trait Lack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trait-lack-4944667/) ## Related quotes > [“Self-compassion is like a muscle. The more we practice flexing it, especially when life doesn’t go exactly according to plan (a frequent scenario for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/self-compassion-is-like-a-muscle-the-more-we-practice-flexing-it/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [Sometimes I think about how much my life has changed because of you. I think about you and your happiness, about us and our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sometimes-i-think-about-how-much-my-life-has-changed-because-of-you-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I STILL have the memories of us, I STILL have the feelings for you and I STILL have the Love For You. 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To be strong, you have to exercise it, and to grow as a person, giving is the exercise. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zig-ziglar/giving-is-like-a-muscle-to-be-strong-you-have-to-exercise-it-and-to/) [Zig Ziglar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zig-ziglar/) > [Belief in ourself is like a muscle - it is strengthened by constant and careful use.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-devrye/belief-in-ourself-is-like-a-muscle-it-is-strengthened-by-constant-and/) [Catherine DeVrye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-devrye/) > [Fearlessness is like a muscle. I know from my own life that the more I exercise it the more natural it becomes to not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/fearlessness-is-like-a-muscle-i-know-from-my-own-life-that-the-more-i/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) ## More by Sharon Salzberg > [Some things hurt, you know, and there's pain. But we magnify the suffering of it often, I think, by our reactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/some-things-hurt-you-know-and-there-s-pain-but-we-magnify-the/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“Even when we do our very best to treat those close to us with utmost respect and understanding, conflict happens. That’s life. That’s human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-when-we-do-our-very-best-to-treat-those-close-to-us-with-utmost/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“Loving ourselves calls us to give up the illusion that we can control everything and focuses us on building our inner resource of resilience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/loving-ourselves-calls-us-to-give-up-the-illusion-that-we-can-control/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [In order to do anything about the suffering of the world we must have the strength to face it without turning away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/in-order-to-do-anything-about-the-suffering-of-the-world-we-must-have/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“When we believe a wounding story, our whole world is diminished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-believe-a-wounding-story-our-whole-world-is-diminished/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“The paradigm for our relationships is formed from our earliest experiences and is actually hardwired into our neurological and emotional network.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/the-paradigm-for-our-relationships-is-formed-from-our-earliest/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [Vulnerability in the face of constant change is what we share, whatever our present condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/vulnerability-in-the-face-of-constant-change-is-what-we-share/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“Asking questions is an opportunity for creativity and personal expression, both for the person asking and the person answering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/asking-questions-is-an-opportunity-for-creativity-and-personal/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [Compassion isn't morose; it's something replenishing and opening; that's why it makes us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/compassion-isn-t-morose-it-s-something-replenishing-and-opening-that/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“When we open our hearts to the breadth of our experiences, we learn to tune into our needs, unique perceptions, thoughts & feelings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-open-our-hearts-to-the-breadth-of-our-experiences-we-learn-to/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“As we explore new ways of loving and being loved by others, we need to equip ourselves with open, pliant minds; we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/as-we-explore-new-ways-of-loving-and-being-loved-by-others-we-need-to/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [Even in the midst of devastation, something within us always points the way to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-in-the-midst-of-devastation-something-within-us-always-points/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“It's important to investigate the nature of anger because it is such a powerful energy and can be so destructive. When we can face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/it-s-important-to-investigate-the-nature-of-anger-because-it-is-such/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“When we contemplate the miracle of embodied life, we begin to partner with our bodies in a kinder way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-contemplate-the-miracle-of-embodied-life-we-begin-to-partner/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) [Explore all 473 Sharon Salzberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 not a fixed trait that we either have or lack, but more like a muscle that can be developed and strengthened.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sharon Salzberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-either-have-or-lack-but-more/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Kindness" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-either-have-or-lack-but-more/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/sharon-salzberg-562_kindness_kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-ei_2218997.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/sharon-salzberg-562_kindness_kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-ei_2218997.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/sharon-salzberg-562_kindness_kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-ei_2218997.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Kindness is not a fixed trait that we either have or lack, but more like a muscle that can be developed and…” — Sharon Salzberg", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sharon Salzberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Kindness is not a fixed trait...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-either-have-or-lack-but-more/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/kindness-is-not-a-fixed-trait-that-we-either-have-or-lack-but-more/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```