Ah, the fine balance of loving too much! The phrase “to overwhelm with benevolence” gives a disconcerting, yet oddly humorous vision—and for good reason! Its origins lie in the more vivid “to kill with kindness as fond apes do their young,” painting the picture of an enthusiastic ape inadvertently squishing its baby to smithereens with affectionate zeal. Shakespeare’s contemporaries found this all too appropriate, making its first appearance in proverbs from the mid-1500s.
Dating back even further, Thomas Heywood’s unforgettable 1607 play, A Woman Kilde with Kindnesse, tells a poignant tale with this somber phenomenon at its heart. Fast forward to Byron’s time, and the expression gained some classy updates, “Don’t let them kill you with claret and kindness,” he warned in Letters and Journals (1815). Cheers to that!
Synonyms
- Overwhelmed by goodwill
- Burdened by benevolence
- Killed with Kindness
- Smothered in affection
Antonyms
- Neglected
- Ignored
- Shunned
Related Expressions & Idioms
- Too much of a good thing
- Snowed under with compliments
- Love to death
- Drowned in favors
Similar Proverbs
- “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
- “Too much honey cloys the stomach.”
Quotes about Kindness
- “Beware of loving too much.” — Jean Paul Sartre
- “Too much kindness can be a dangerous thing.” — Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
- “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.” — Mother Teresa
Recommended Literature, Books, Songs, Poetry, and Movies
- Book: A Woman Kilde with Kindnesse by Thomas Heywood
- Song: “You Give Love a Bad Name” by Bon Jovi
- Movie: As Good as It Gets (1997)
- Poem: “Love’s Usury” by John Donne
Intriguing Quiz
Alright word lovers, let’s find that kindly balance, speak our truths, and share our benevolence… in measured doses! Because, of course, too much love might just overload your precious heart.
Fair winds and meaningful phrases, E. L. Expressionista
