Verily the kindness that gazes upon itself in a mirror turns to stone, and a good deed that calls itself by tender names becomes the parent to a curse.

Summary

This quote suggests that when acts of kindness or good deeds are done solely for self-recognition or praise, they lose their genuine essence. It implies that true kindness comes from a selfless place, while self-centered acts lead to negative consequences. The mirror symbolism implies that self-reflecting on one's own goodness can lead to arrogance and a hardened heart, while labeling good deeds with self-glorifying titles leads to unintended harm. The quote overall emphasizes the importance of performing kind acts without seeking personal recognition or validation.

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