--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This kindness, this stupid kindness, is…" description: "\"“This kindness, this stupid kindness, is what is most truly human in a human being. It is what sets man apart, the highest achievement of his soul. No,..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/vasily-grossman-4608_church-fathers_this-kindness-this-stupid-kindness-is-wh_2064565.jpg" --- # This kindness, this stupid kindness, is what is most truly… ![“This kindness, this stupid kindness, is what is most truly human in a human being. It is what sets man apart, the highest achievement of his soul. No, it says, life is not evil! This kindness is both senseless and wordless. It is instinctive, blind. When Christianity clothed it in the teachings of…” quote by Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/vasily-grossman-4608_church-fathers_this-kindness-this-stupid-kindness-is-wh_2064565.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/vasily-grossman-4608_church-fathers_this-kindness-this-stupid-kindness-is-wh_2064565.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ac2/vasily-grossman-4608_church-fathers_this-kindness-this-stupid-kindness-is-wh_2064565.jpg) > ““This kindness, this stupid kindness, is what is most truly human in a human being. It is what sets man apart, the highest achievement of his soul. No, it says, life is not evil! This kindness is both senseless and wordless. It is instinctive, blind. When Christianity clothed it in the teachings of the Church Fathers, it began to fade; its kernel became a husk. It remains potent only while it is dumb and senseless, hidden in the living darkness of the human heart – before it becomes a tool or commodity in the hands of preachers, before its crude ore is forged into the gilt coins of holiness. It is as simple as life itself. Even the teachings of Jesus deprived it of its strength. But, as I lost faith in good, I began to lose faith even in kindness. It seemed as beautiful and powerless as dew. What use was it if it was not contagious? How can one make a power of it without losing it, without turning it into a husk as the Church did? Kindness is powerful only while it is powerless. If Man tries to give it power, it dims, fades away, loses itself, vanishes.”” [Vasily Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vasily-grossman/) ## 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 most valuable when it is instinctive and unselfish, not turned into doctrine or commodity. **In simple terms:** Pure kindness is instinctive and loses power when institutionalized. Key Takeaway Preserve kindness’s rawness; avoid turning it into a tool. Themes humanity spirituality authenticity critique of religion philosophy Mood reflective melancholic critical Type philosophical literary reflective When to use this quote - personal relationships - social activism - community building - spiritual practice Key Concepts instinctive compassion moral purity deinstitutionalization Questions to Reflect On - How can we keep kindness genuine in organized settings? - What practices protect kindness from becoming a commodity? A Different Perspective Institutionalizing kindness can strip it of its power and authenticity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church fathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-fathers/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Human heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-heart/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/) [Lost faith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lost-faith/) [Metaphor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metaphor/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Paradox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paradox/) [Powerlessness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/powerlessness/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [“No one could understand; nor could she explain it herself. 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Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/) [Browse all 50 Church fathers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church-fathers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This kindness, this stupid kindness, is what is most truly human in a human being. It is what sets man apart, the highest achievement of his soul. No, it says, life is not evil! This kindness is both senseless and wordless. It is instinctive, blind. When Christianity clothed it in the teachings of the Church Fathers, it began to fade; its kernel became a husk. It remains potent only while it is dumb and senseless, hidden in the living darkness of the human heart – before it becomes a tool or commodity in the hands of preachers, before its crude ore is forged into the gilt coins of holiness. It is as simple as life itself. Even the teachings of Jesus deprived it of its strength. But, as I lost faith in good, I began to lose faith even in kindness. It seemed as beautiful and powerless as dew. What use was it if it was not contagious? How can one make a power of it without losing it, without turning it into a husk as the Church did? Kindness is powerful only while it is powerless. 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