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There are many reasons for kindness, and religion is just one of them.

Kindliness and sympathy, fellowship and understanding, are always good, but best when they come from a distant corner of the world.

Some people mistakenly think nature is very nice and benevolent and never betrays.

Sympathy is one of the principles most widely rooted in our nature: we rejoice to see ourselves reflected in another; and, perversely enough, we sometimes have a secret pleasure in seeing the sin which dwells in ourselves existing under a deformed and monstrous aspect in another.

But is it not the fact that religion emanates from the nature, from the moral state of the individual? Is it not therefore true that unless the nature be completely exercised, the moral state harmonized, the religion cannot be healthy?

You don't need a religious background to strive for something good, for genuine compassion and love for others.

The problem is that religion tends to give people bad reasons to be good.

Being with nature opens us up to divine experience.

Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion.

Humans are vulnerable and rely on the kindnesses of the earth and the sun; we exist together in a sacred field of meaning.