True respect and understanding between people can only be achieved through empathy — by putting ourselves in another’s shoes. A post on the Internet recently went viral. Someone asked: “What are people thinking when they provide ride-hailing services late at night? Do people really risk their safety just for money?”
Many people agreed. But one netizen’s comment made people stop and think: “I’ve never driven Uber late at night, but I can understand those who do. Between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., the fares are higher, meaning they can earn more for the same distance. There’s also less traffic at night, so drivers can move faster, use less fuel, take more rides, and ultimately earn more. On summer nights, they may not even need to run the air conditioning while waiting for a ride, saving even more.”
By putting themselves in the driver’s situation, this netizen showed true empathy. They didn’t just judge; they understood the choices, risks, and effort involved. And that is where kindness begins: understanding others naturally leads to consideration and care. When we empathize, we are less likely to blame, more likely to respect, and more likely to act kindly toward others — even in small ways. Behind every act of empathy lies kindness.
Empathy is key in interpersonal relationships
True empathy often reveals itself in the random acts of kindness. There was a boy who never brought his key home from school. Every day, he would stand outside and call for his father to open the door. One day, his father said to him: “From now on, bring your own key. Don’t call for Dad to open the door.” The boy looked confused and asked: “Why?” His father replied softly: “Because every time you call for Dad, the little boy next door will feel sad.”
Only then did the boy learn that the neighbor’s father had tragically died in the line of duty the day before, leaving the boy and his mother alone. People often say that relationships between individuals are built on empathy. When we understand others more, we blame less; when we are more considerate, we cause less hurt. In this world, one of the simplest and most meaningful forms of kindness costs nothing at all: the ability to empathize with others — to pause, consider their feelings, and put ourselves in their shoes.
Kindness means keeping others in your heart
Truly kind people always carry others in their hearts. They are careful not to make anyone feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Recently, someone asked online: “What is the most important quality a person can cultivate in themselves?” One answer stood out: empathy and mutual understanding.
Truly kind people are naturally mindful of others and consider situations from another person’s perspective. As the poet Bai Juyi (772–846 AD) once wrote: “The way to treat others is to understand them with your own heart and examine yourself with the same heart.”
When kindness is guided by empathy, it quietly weaves the beauty of the world into your own life. This kind of kindness is often quiet and unassuming. Truly kind people act thoughtfully, making sure not to cause embarrassment. Before offering help, they first put themselves in the other person’s shoes.
A story from over a hundred years ago illustrates this beautifully. During a severe drought, countless refugees were left struggling to survive. With no food, some were forced to eat grass and tree bark. At that time, a wealthy merchant from Shanxi donated 30,000 taels of silver to build a theater. At first, people criticized him, thinking he was heartless and indifferent to their suffering. But the merchant had a deeper purpose: he wanted to help those who were too proud to accept charity. He announced that anyone who worked on building the theater would receive three meals a day. Through this arrangement, refugees could earn food through their own labor, overcoming hardship while preserving their dignity.
True kindness is not just about giving material support. It is about understanding others’ feelings and dignity. Such empathy requires not only sincerity and compassion, but also the wisdom to see the world through someone else’s eyes.
Even the smallest kindness matters
Let me end with a simple and heartwarming moment. An elderly man once entered a store, and a young woman ahead of him held the heavy door open, waiting until he had safely walked through before letting it close. The old man thanked her. She smiled and said: “My father is about your age. I hope that when he needs help, someone will open the door for him.” Kindness often moves in quiet circles. When you carry others in your heart, the world often responds with kindness.
Translated by Patty Zhang and edited by Tatiana Denning
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