Too much kindness can sometimes be a bad thing. Too much strictness isn't too pleasant either - just ask schoolchildren of a particular bygone age. When Hashem created the world, He created it with a perfect balance or synthesis, between benevolence and self-discipline.
This can be translated into our everyday practice of real kindness - not just the one that allows us to give ourselves a jingoistic slap on the back, but is rather for the benefit of the recipient.
Beware the subtle line between serving the self and the other...
