--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is a terrible thing, this kindness…" description: "\"“It is a terrible thing, this kindness that human beings do not lose. Terrible, because when we are finally naked in the dark and cold, it is all we ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/ursula-k-le-guin-138_change_it-is-a-terrible-thing-this-kindness-tha_2048482.jpg" --- # It is a terrible thing, this kindness that human beings do… ![“It is a terrible thing, this kindness that human beings do not lose. Terrible, because when we are finally naked in the dark and cold, it is all we have. We who are so rich, so full of strength, we end up with that small change. We have nothing else to give.” quote by Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/ursula-k-le-guin-138_change_it-is-a-terrible-thing-this-kindness-tha_2048482.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/ursula-k-le-guin-138_change_it-is-a-terrible-thing-this-kindness-tha_2048482.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e4a/ursula-k-le-guin-138_change_it-is-a-terrible-thing-this-kindness-tha_2048482.jpg) > ““It is a terrible thing, this kindness that human beings do not lose. Terrible, because when we are finally naked in the dark and cold, it is all we have. We who are so rich, so full of strength, we end up with that small change. We have nothing else to give.”” [Ursula K. Le Guin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-k-le-guin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human kindness is both a fragile comfort and a heavy burden when all material wealth is stripped away, leaving only compassion as our sole possession. **In simple terms:** Kindness is our only true wealth when everything else is gone. Key Takeaway Cherish and share kindness before it becomes a sole reliance. Themes compassion vulnerability materialism humanity Mood melancholic reflective hopeful Type philosophical literary inspirational When to use this quote - poverty - war zones - terminal illness - elder care Key Concepts existentialism ethical responsibility social critique Questions to Reflect On - What would you do if you could only rely on kindness? - How does society value material wealth versus moral wealth? A Different Perspective Kindness can be exploited or become a crutch, preventing self-reliance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Cold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cold/) [Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-human-1357449/) [Naked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naked/) [Naked Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/naked-dark-1420332/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Terrible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrible/) [Thing Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-kindness-279534/) ## Related quotes > [“shall pass through this world but once. 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I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. 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