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Shorter Rules
St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925
Rule 214: What is the Difference Between Kindness and Goodness?
David said in one place: The Lord is kind to all ’2 and “A kind man is merciful and lendeth”3; in another place: “Do good, O Lord, to the good”’4; and Jeremiah says: “The Lord is good to those who wait for him.”5 So I think that kindness is wider and applies to benefits done to those who need it in any way whatever; whereas goodness is narrower and applies considerations of justice in conferring benefits.6
Notes
- See Gal. v. 22 χρηστότης, ἀγαθωσύνη.
- Ps. cxlv. 9 Bas. omits ὑπομένουσι of Sw.’s (B) text with ℵca RT.
- Ps. cxii. 5.
- Ps. cxxv. 4.
- Lam. iii. 25.
- Lightfoot, Galatians in loc. “χρηστότης, neutral, ‘a kindly disposition toward one’s neighbours’ not necessarily taking a practical form; ἀγαθωσύνη active, ‘goodness, beneficence’ as an energetic principle.” B.’s explanation seems based not so much on his knowledge of his own language as upon the implications of a few texts.