How Kindness Transforms Our Relationships with Imperfect People

A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.

Joseph Joubert

Kindness is often thought of as simply being nice to people, but it goes beyond that. It’s about putting the needs of others before your own and going the extra mile to make someone else’s life a little bit easier. Joseph Joubert‘s quote “A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve” suggests that kindness should be unconditional, and it’s not about how deserving someone is of your kindness.

When we show kindness to others, we often do so based on certain criteria. We may be kind to someone because they are kind to us, or because they have helped us in the past. But what about those who don’t fit into these categories? What about the people who are difficult to be around, or who have wronged us in some way? Joubert’s quote challenges us to extend our kindness to everyone, regardless of their actions or attitudes toward us.

Joseph Joubert.jpg

It’s easy to be kind to someone who is kind to us. But what about those who are not? When we show kindness to those who are difficult to love, we show that our kindness is not based on what people can do for us or how they make us feel. We are showing that kindness is an inherent part of who we are, and it’s something we give freely to others without expecting anything in return.

Loving people more than they deserve is not about ignoring their flaws or excusing their bad behavior. It’s about recognizing that everyone has their struggles and their moments of weakness. It’s about understanding that people make mistakes and that sometimes they need a little extra kindness to get back on track. When we love people more than they deserve, we are acknowledging their humanity and showing them that we see them as more than just their actions.

The Good Samaritan MET EP151
The Good Samaritan – painting by David Teniers the Younger (MET, 89.15.25)

In today’s world, it’s easy to get caught up in a culture of judgment and criticism. We are quick to point out the flaws in others and slow to extend a hand of kindness. But if we truly want to make a positive impact on the world, we need to shift our focus to kindness and compassion. When we love people more than they deserve, we are creating a ripple effect of kindness that has the potential to change the world.

As a final point, Joseph Joubert’s quote “A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve” is a reminder that kindness should be unconditional. It’s not about how deserving someone is of our kindness, but rather about recognizing the inherent value of every human being. When we love people more than they deserve, we are showing them that they matter and that they are worthy of our kindness. This type of kindness has the power to transform lives and create a better world for all of us.


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