Nice is a very nice word. It can be used for a variety of things, from the finer points of a sexy new dress to a well-designed software program. However, its true meaning is often elusive.
It is difficult to define a specific thing, but the words you choose will be your best bet. The most obvious definition is “kind.” A nice person is someone who is willing to go out of his or her way to help another, even in situations that don’t call for it. If you are nice to others, you will likely see the same in return.
The more you understand nice, the more you will appreciate its meaning. There are many ways to be kind, but it takes a certain amount of resilience to show true kindness. Some people believe that being nice to others is a sign of weakness, but if you really want to make a difference in the world, you need to be humble, not self-serving.
Nice is a highly polysemous word, combining many etymologies with several other adverbs and adjectives. It is also a bit ambiguous, and may have more than one semantic meaning, as with a sexy dress.
It is not surprising that people with power tend to be nice, as they can easily gain it by association. They are also more inclined to display the proper etiquette. One of the perks of being in power is being able to use it for good or ill. In a positive sense, being nice makes you a better person, but it’s not always easy to be nice to people who don’t like you.
It’s not surprising, then, that some people are a bit wary of the word. While it’s a useful adjective, it’s often overused. For example, a friend of mine was a great friend until he started making a few nutty decisions. Fortunately, he was nice to me in spite of all that.
One of the most important things you can do to be nice is to recognize and accept your own shortcomings. Admitting mistakes will get you out of a sticky situation, and it will serve you well in the long run. You might also want to take responsibility for those shortcomings.
A good way to do that is to be proactive, and to do so in a way that is not insensitive. For instance, be more tolerant of differences, if you don’t want to offend anyone, or be more considerate of the needs of your family. This is the best way to show someone that you are not just a good friend, but a good human being.
Finally, the most effective way to be nice is to take responsibility for your actions, and to apologize when you’ve done something wrong. As with all things in life, you can’t do everything right, but you can do your best.
While the name “nice” is not the most elegant of naming conventions, it does make a nice sounding and impressive claim.