Hillsdale College

Kindness

Care for others and seek to fulfill their genuine needs.

StoriesLives of Virtue

Kindness is the moral virtue that inclines one to assist others by supplying their needs and alleviating their suffering or distress. The virtue of kindness begins in compassion, but it works to fulfill others’ true needs, rather than their felt needs; thus, it is more than a habit of sympathy or emotion. Insofar as kindness begins in fellow-feeling and aims at the good of others, it is closely related to the virtue of friendship.

When we practice the virtue of kindness, we try to understand others' needs and seek to meet them the best we can. True kindness is a hallmark of a good friend.

Related Virtues

Justice

Featured Stories

The Little PrinceAntoine de Saint-Exupéry
Grade K-1

Story

PinocchioCarlo Collodi
Grade 1-4

Story

Charlotte’s WebE.B. White
Grade 2-3

Story

Anne of Green GablesL. M. Montgomery
Grade 4-6

Story

The Secret GardenFrances Hodgson Burnett
Grade 4-6

Story

Momotaro: Peach BoyFrom What Your Kindergartner Needs to KnowE.D. Hirsch Jr. and John Holdren
Grade K-1

Story

More Stories

Featured Biographies

The House That Jane Built: A Story About Jane AddamsTanya Lee Stone
Grade K-4

Biography

Annie and HelenDeborah Hopkinson
Grade 1-5

Biography

Clara and DaviePatricia Polacco
Grade 2-4

Biography

Dangerous JaneSuzanne Slade
Grade 2-5

Biography

To the Front! Clara Barton Braves the Battle of AntietamClaudia Friddell
Grade 2-6

Biography

Jane Addams: Pioneer Social WorkerCharnan Simon
Grade 3-6

Biography

More Biographies

Lives of Virtue

Jane Addams
Jane AddamsJane Addams demonstrated kindness, generosity, and respect by founding Hull House, a settlement house in Chicago that provided essential services, education, and support to impoverished immigrants, fostering community and social reform.
Clara Barton
Clara BartonClara Barton, driven by compassion and courage, founded the American Red Cross and tirelessly devoted her life to providing aid and comfort to those in crisis, embodying selflessness and resilience in the face of adversity.
Anne Sullivan Macy
Anne Sullivan MacyAnne Sullivan, with remarkable patience and dedication, transformed Helen Keller’s life through innovative teaching, embodying kindness, perseverance, and an unwavering belief in the power of education to uplift and empower.
Florence Nightingale
Florence NightingaleThrough her selfless dedication to improving healthcare and nursing, Florence Nightingale used her talents to transform medical practices with kindness, courage, and rigorous reform.
More Lives of Virtue