Sunday, May 15, 2011

On the absence of kindness

This quote resonates with me for a whole lot of reasons. I suspect it may resonate with you, too:
"The end never really justifies the meanness."
E. Duane Hulse
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11 comments:

Lifelong Learner said...

The meanness saddens me to my core. We are so quick to be mean as a culture. "And that's all I've got to say about that."

10:29 PM, May 15, 2011
lissa said...

Very profound. And with the work I'm doing, in cyberbullying awareness, even more significant...I'll definitely remember this quote. May just borrow it for a workshop..

10:44 PM, May 15, 2011
On My Soapbox said...

Very interesting. It says, in an eloquent way, "Is meanness worth it?". I don't think so. I think it's sad for all involved. The world would be a much better place with less anger and hatred aka meanness.

12:10 AM, May 16, 2011
21 Wits said...

You had me at "The End" those two words bring such a final sadness...this is really quite a deep, deep quote....even the other quote that's been around for a long time ending with means...both are great words for thought...for the moment I live for the mysteries in the middle.....!

6:34 AM, May 16, 2011
CorvusCorax12 said...

i see kindness around me all the time, but on a broader level i wish it was more celebrated. A lot of reality shows now reward cheating, conniving and backstabbing to win the biggest price (survivor for instance) that it make me wonder.

7:37 AM, May 16, 2011
Anonymous said...

Rightly suits Osama

12:11 PM, May 16, 2011
David Edward said...

is it generational, were so many of these people mistreated or poorly trained by their parents? a troubling puzzle

12:45 PM, May 16, 2011
Mustang Sally said...

AMEN!

6:02 PM, May 16, 2011
Mark said...

Good quote. I don't think it's generational so much as it's amplified over the past few generations, as instant gratification becomes easier and more readily achieved. It makes people tunnel-visioned and unable to see the bigger picture; that we're all inter-connected with each other and every other living thing on the planet. That said, being mean (or simply not mindful) doesn't hurt just the target, but all of us everywhere, including the one being mean in the first place.

This reminds me of another quote of unknown origin: "It's nice to be important, but more important to be nice."

7:00 PM, May 16, 2011
awareness said...

If people could get out of their skin every once in a while and see just how their self absorbed behaviour impacts the people around them, perhaps we could make some headway in this world.

5:22 AM, May 17, 2011
Wayward Son said...

Meanness is never a means. Someone can yell at me all day long and never get anywhere but offer me a hand or speak with kindness...the doors open.

8:08 PM, May 18, 2011

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