“To say that a man is merry and jovial, because he has a kindly heart towards others, is a vulgar error.”
— Thomas Hobbes
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Simplified Meaning:
The quote means that just because someone is happy and cheerful, it does not necessarily mean they are kind or care about others. Sometimes, people can seem lively and joyful but still be selfish or not considerate of others' feelings. For instance, a person at a party might be the life of the event, making jokes and laughing loudly, but they might not show any real concern for their friends' well-being. This quote teaches us not to judge someone's kindness based only on their outward appearance or mood. Instead, we should pay attention to how they treat people, even when no one is looking. By looking deeper, we can better understand a person’s true nature and intentions.
Related tags
Attitude Character Empathy Heart Human nature Joyfulness Kindness Misconceptions Philosophy
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