Not necessarily, you can be kind but more assertive and stand up for what you believe in.eg at work you can say politely. No it is not possible for me to work late tonight as I have a previous appointment. In personal relationships, you can say, 'I don't like the way you speak to me etc.'

I don't think so . It depends on how you are being kind. Kindness without thinking are always subjected to get bullied by others. You can be a kind person only when you have a thinking capability apart from your emotions . In case your kindness is only due to your emotions , then it is very likely that you will be bullied and eventually after a time you would stop believing in being kind. You must learn to adapt to the situation and people . You must try to understand and analyse how the person in concern is thinking and how his/her reaction will be to your efforts. You don't need to be rude to anyone , but at same time you must understand that you cannot be polite to every one in same way. For some people you need to be clever and smart , even if your motivation is to help them. There are people who do love to be good and love to receive something good but their life often makes them go against their own heart . For such people you cannot expect that your kindness will be accepted the way you show it. You might have to show kindness in a way which appears to them that you are not a good person , somebody like them etc. But slowly they will realize the beautiful way of being kind . In short be kind, not a fool .