“Kindness and a caring mind are two separate qualities. Kindness is manners. It is superficial custom, an acquired practice. Not so the mind. The mind is deeper, stronger, and, I believe, it is far more inconstant.”
In this quote by Haruki Murakami, the distinction between kindness and a caring mind is explored. Murakami suggests that while kindness may be seen as a superficial act, a caring mind goes deeper and is a more innate quality within an individual. Let's delve deeper into the implications of this idea.
In this quote by Haruki Murakami, the distinction between kindness and a caring mind is highlighted. Kindness is often seen as a superficial quality, based on manners and societal norms, while a caring mind delves deeper into genuine care and empathy. This differentiation is still relevant today, especially in a society where surface-level gestures are sometimes prioritized over true compassion and understanding.
In this quote, Haruki Murakami delves into the distinction between kindness and a caring mind. He suggests that kindness is merely a surface-level behavior, while a caring mind runs much deeper and is more complex.
When you consider the distinction between kindness and a caring mind, do you agree with Haruki Murakami's assessment? Why or why not?
How do you define kindness in your own life? Is it more about manners and customs, or does it involve a deeper sense of empathy and understanding?
In what ways do you cultivate a caring mind in yourself and in your interactions with others? How do you navigate the complexities of the mind's inconstancy in your efforts to be truly caring?
“No. Kindness and a caring mind are two separate qualities. Kindness is manners. It is superficial custom, an acquired practice. Not so the mind. The mind is deeper, stronger and, I believe, it is far more inconstant.”
“If you don’t believe in the world, and if there is no love in it, then everything is phony. No matter which world we are talking about, no matter what kind of world we are talking about, the line separating fact from hypothesis is practically invisible to the eye. It can only be seen with the inner eye, the eye of the mind.”
“Aomame's family - as far as Ushikawa could see it, that is - were narrow-minded in their thinking, narrow-minded in the way they lived. They were people who had no doubt whatsoever that the more narrow-minded they became, the closer they got to heaven.”
“Think it over carefully. This is very important," I say, "because to believe something, whatever it might be, is the doing of the mind. Do you follow? When you say you believe, you allow the possibility of disappointment. And from disappointment or betrayal, there may come despair. Such is the way of the mind.”
“Reading aloud is different from just following sentences with your eyes. Something quite unexpected wells up in your mind, a kind of indefinable resonance that I find impossible to resist.”
“Do you really think you can read out my mind?" she asks me, face to face."I think so," I say, wishing to convince myself. "There has to be a way.""It is like looking for lost drops of rain in a river.""You're wrong. The mind is not like raindrops. It does not lose itself among other things. If you believe in me at all, than believe this: I promise you I will find it. Everything depends on this.""I believe you," she whispers after a moment. "Please find my mind.”