Kindness and compassion are often considered similar in meaning, but there are distinct differences between the two. Kindness is marked by being friendly and generous, often towards someone who is distressed. It is characterized by a gentle nature, concern, affection, and consideration. Kindness can be shown not only to humans but also to animals and birds. A kind-hearted person has a naturally kind disposition.
Key Takeaways
- Kindness is characterized by being friendly and generous towards those in distress, while compassion is the inclination to help the needy.
- Kindness is often accompanied by affection, whereas compassion is more frequently associated with mercy.
- Compassionate actions are often driven by sympathy and pity, whereas kindness is driven by a gentle and affectionate nature.
Compassion, on the other hand, is the drive to help those in need. It is often accompanied by mercy, with a compassionate person also displaying a merciful attitude towards the weak. This natural pity that arises in a compassionate person leads them to help others.
One of the key differences between kindness and compassion is that kindness is not often accompanied by mercy, while compassion is. This is why a judge might reduce a punishment based on compassionate grounds. The adjective form of compassion is ‘compassionate,’ which means sympathetic and pitying. Another distinction between the two is that kindness is always accompanied by affection, whereas compassion is not. A judge might reduce a punishment on merciful grounds, but not affectionate grounds.
