In this beautiful quote by Robert G. Ingersoll, the author draws a vivid example in between generosity and sunlight, recommending that kindness is the supporting force that allows virtue to flourish. Just as plants need sunlight to grow, virtue requires the warmth and brightness of kindness to grow. It highlights how acts of kindness have the power to positively transform people and society. Ingersoll emphasizes the value of spreading compassion, as it cultivates virtues such as compassion, empathy, and generosity. By corresponding generosity to sunshine, he highlights its essential function in cultivating a virtuous and harmonious world.
"His heart was like a sensitive plant, that opens for a moment in the sunshine, but curls up and shrinks into itself at the slightest touch of the finger, or the lightest breath of wind"
"What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life's pathway, the good they do is inconceivable"
"But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine"
"Like a plant that starts up in showers and sunshine and does not know which has best helped it to grow, it is difficult to say whether the hard things or the pleasant things did me the most good"
