Is it harder to be kind or clever?

[Cod]

In the long run I think you only cause more harm by lying. And it's not like I have a choice anyway. I'd also harm myself if I lied. I have no memory of lying about anything.

Failing to spare someone's feelings is a small price to pay when they get far more hurt when they discover you lied to them and they can't trust you anymore. And lying does more harm to oneself than anyone else. I also think that the easier it is to lie to others the easier it is to lie to yourself and then that allows you to buy into fallacies more easily and makes it more difficult for you to be a consistently logical person.

I don't agree.
I've been asked on numerous occasions questions like "Does my bum look big in this" or "Should I dress more age appropriate" Those sorts of questions can be answered with the persons feelings being taken into account.

I know what you are saying, but I reserve the right to practice the level of honesty that you are talking about for things that matter.

[energizer bunny]

Neither. I don't care to be kind or clever.

Sometimes honesty is not the best policy, 

It rarely is.

[brewer]

All things being equal, I'd rather be a kind of cleaver. 

RAK's are easy. On clever, I'm definitely subject dependent.

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

Obviously honesty is good but we have to figure out when and where it is acceptable. Like Cod said above when someone asks "does my bum look big in this" they're not expecting for us to do a detailed analysis of their bum and arrive at a scientific conclusion, there is more meaning there because when someone asks that not only are they letting you know they're insecure about it leaving them in a very vulnerable position but they're also hoping you will somehow take that insecurity away(or at least minimize it with KIND words).

There's a time and place for everything, a doctor can't lie about the cholesterol levels because it might hurt a patient, you can't say "oh she was a ___ anyway" in a funeral, you can't call a black person the n word, it's a thin line between honesty and asshole and sometimes kindness can mean telling a little white lie.

Like for example we have a little girl in our family she's loves to perform in the stage, singing and dancing and stuff. Every year our church arrange a little program for the kids where they are given opportunities to you know perform in front of hundreds and get some confidence. Anyway, the little girl in our family did a piece, singing or dancing or idk, I didn't see it tbh, but when I saw her I was like "you WERE SO awesome", "if you didn't do that piece I wouldn't have liked the whole of the program" and the sweet little thing was sooo happy with it, of course I could've instead opted to just go "meh, I bet your performance was just average, do you know how talented people around the world are? You'll probably never even go close to their level, you might as well drop this", now while that MAY be honest we still can't know but what we can know is someone that will say that will be a grade a asshole deserving of some proper ass kicking.

[paulpablo]

Surely no woman is still asking "Does my bum look big in this?"  I thought that was just an early 90s joke.

I'm not talking about being flabby or obese but these days girls wear gym style yoga pants where their ass sticks out anyway.

I'd hope I'd always answer "Yes you're ass looks slightly disproportionately large in that, just the way I like it" to that question each time.  It's better than "No, it looks like you have a tight compact masculine ass in that thing you're wearing."

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Dr. Watson was kind, Sherlock Holmes was clever.  Holmes was more useful than Watson, and had a much greater positive impact on society.

That being said, and given the option, I'd sooner have a cuppa with Watson than Holmes any day of the week.

Boru

[The Industrial Atheist]

When I'm clever, that seems like something that just happens once in a blue moon. I can't seem to do it on purpose.

When I'm kind it's often with people I care about, and obviously, trying makes a difference.

I would say it'd easier(for me) to be kind because I have more control over it.

[Little lunch]

I don't really understand the question, but I know I'm a kind person.

[ErGingerbreadMandude]

I don't really understand the question, but I know I'm a kind person.

Just trying to understand what you (general you) value more kindness or Cleverness...

Edit: I think you're kind too, you're a good person.

---

Dr. Watson was kind, Sherlock Holmes was clever.  Holmes was more useful than Watson, and had a much greater positive impact on society.

That being said, and given the option, I'd sooner have a cuppa with Watson than Holmes any day of the week.

Boru

I see your point, sherlock Holmes was definitely "better"(with his job) but Watson was more likeable.

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When I'm clever, that seems like something that just happens once in a blue moon. I can't seem to do it on purpose.

When I'm kind it's often with people I care about, and obviously, trying makes a difference.

I would say it'd easier(for me) to be kind because I have more control over it.

You're just being modest, most intelligent people actually consider themselves just ordinary. I think the difference between clever and kindness is big because being kind is hard imo and it's much easier to just be unkind, if someone is kind it means they're more selfless and a more caring person.

[Jackalope]

Whatever cleverness I possess doesn't bring as much meaning to my life as does kindness.