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Now everything was in ruins. The air was still and cold like the air in a refrigerating-room. What I felt was fear; I was afraid to look or speak or move. Everything about me seemed evil. When kindness has left people, even for a few moments, we become afraid of them, as if their reason had left them. When it has left a place where we have always found it, it is like shipwreck; we drop from security into something malevolent and bottomless.

Willa Cather#60

EmotionHuman natureEvilFearKindnessSecurity

About this quote

What does it mean?
Fear arises when kindness disappears from people or places, creating a sense of sudden danger and loss of security.
In plain terms
When kindness is gone, we feel afraid and unsafe.
What can you take from it?
Kindness provides a sense of safety and order in our lives.

Where it applies

  • sudden loss of support
  • unwelcoming environments
  • isolation

Putting it to work

  • recognize sources of kindness
  • prepare for sudden changes
  • build resilience

Questions to consider

  • When have you felt unsafe without a clear reason?
  • How does kindness affect your sense of security?

Another view

Fear can sometimes be a healthy response to real danger rather than just lost kindness.

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