Have you an educated heart?

"Have you an educated heart?" by Gelett Burgess is a philosophical treatise exploring the nuances of kindness and emotional intelligence, written in the early 20th century. Through a mixture of narrative and reflection, the book seeks to define and illustrate the concept of the "Educated Heart," a metaphor for those who possess a refined sensibility in their interactions with others. The text examines the importance of thoughtfulness, consideration, and genuine kindness in human relationships. In the book, the protagonist shares poignant anecdotes involving friends and acquaintances who exemplify or lack the qualities of the Educated Heart. Through dialogues, personal observations, and humorous critiques, Burgess elucidates how true kindness involves not merely the act of giving or acknowledging gifts but also understanding the recipient's feelings and needs. The narrative emphasizes the significance of style in kindness—how the manner and intention behind our actions can mark the difference between simple politeness and the deeper connection fostered by an Educated Heart. Ultimately, it prompts readers to reflect on their own emotional capabilities while advocating for a more compassionate and perceptive approach to interpersonal relationships. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Frank Gelett Burgess was an American artist, art critic, poet, author and humorist. An important figure in the San Francisco Bay Area literary renaissance of the 1890s, particularly through his iconoclastic little magazine, The Lark, and association with The Crowd literary group. He is best known as a writer of nonsense verse, such as "The Purple Cow," and for introducing French modern art to the United States in an essay titled "The Wild Men of Paris." He was the illustrator of the Goops murals, in Coppa's restaurant, in the Montgomery Block and author of the popular Goops books. Burgess coined the term "blurb."