The Kindness of Strangers

"If we really think about it, our very survival, even today, depends upon the acts and kindness of so many people. Right from the moment of our birth, we are under the care and kindness of our parents; later in life, when facing the sufferings of disease and old age, we are again dependent on the kindness of others. If at the beginning and end of our lives we depend upon others' kindness, why then in the middle should we not act kindly toward others?

Anyone who considers himself or herself, above all, a member of the human family should develop a kind heart. It is a powerful feeling that we should consciously develop and apply. Instead we often neglect it, particularly in our prime years when we experience a false sense of security.

Kindness and compassion are among the principal values that make our lives meaningful. They are a source of lasting happiness and joy. They are the foundation of a good heart, the heart of one who acts out of a desire to help others."

-The Dalai Lama
from the preface of The Kindness of Strangers