Quote by C.S. Lewis
The real trouble is that 'kindness' is a quality fatally easy to attribute to ourselves on quite inadequate grounds. Everyone feels benevolent if nothing happens to be annoying him at the moment. Thus a man easily comes to console himself for all his other vices by a conviction that 'his heart's in the right place' and 'he wouldn't hurt a fly,' though in fact he has never made the slightest sacrifice for a fellow creature. We think we are kind when we are only happy: it is not so easy, on the same grounds, to imagine oneself temperate, chaste, or humble.
Summary
This quote highlights the danger of easily attributing kindness to oneself without sufficient justification. It points out that people tend to feel benevolent if they are not currently irritated by anything, leading them to believe they possess a kind nature. This self-perception allows individuals to "console" themselves for their other negative traits by convincing themselves that their intentions are good. However, the quote argues that true kindness requires more than simply feeling happy; it necessitates making sacrifices for others. Additionally, it warns against mistakenly assuming virtues such as temperance, chastity, or humility based on fleeting emotions or circumstances.
Topics
Kindness
By C.S. Lewis
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