Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world.
—Francis Schaeffer (1912–84) American Presbyterian Religious Leader, Theologian, Philosopher
The media have just buried the last yuppie, a pathetic creature who had not heard the news that the great pendulum of public consciousness has just swung from Greed to Compassion and from Tex-Mex to meatballs
—Barbara Ehrenreich (b.1941) American Social Critic, Essayist
Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else’s skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.
—Frederick Buechner (b.1926) American Presbyterian Clergyman, Novelist, Short Story Writer, Essayist, Theologian
It is the crown of justice and the glory, where it may kill with right, to save with pity.
—Francis Beaumont (1584–1616) English Dramatist
A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.
—Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907–72) American Jewish Rabbi
He who allows his day to pass by without practicing generosity and enjoying life’s pleasures is like a blacksmith’s bellows; he breathes, but does not live.
—Indian Proverb
Real compassion does not arise from an over-emotional gut blocking the brain, but from a clean clear mind melting into the heart.
—Hans Taeger
I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer not neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
—Unknown
As great scientists have said and as all children know, it is above all by the imagination that we achieve perception, and compassion, and hope.
—Ursula K. Le Guin (b.1929) American Science fiction and fantasy writer
I pick the hair from her eyes and watch her misery with compassion.
—William Carlos Williams (1883–1963) American Poet, Novelist, Cultural Historian
Compassionate action involves working with ourselves as much as working with others.
—Pema Chodron (b.1936) American Buddhist Nun
Compassion is an emotion of which we ought never to be ashamed. Graceful, particularly in youth, is the tear of sympathy, and the heart that melts at the tale of woe. We should not permit ease and indulgence to contract our affections, and wrap us up in a selfish enjoyment; but we should accustom ourselves to think of the distresses of human, life, of the solitary cottage; the dying parent, and the weeping orphan. Nor ought we ever to sport with pain and distress in any of our amusements, or treat even the meanest insect with wanton cruelty.
—Hugh Blair (1718–1800) Scottish Preacher, Scholar, Critic
I would rather feel compassion than know the meaning of it.
—Thomas Aquinas (1225–74) Italian Catholic Priest, Philosopher, Theologian
Always be a little kinder than necessary.
—J. M. Barrie (1860–1937) Scottish Novelist, Dramatist
Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Kindness is a language which the blind can see and the deaf can hear.
—Anonymous
Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
Kindness, I’ve discovered, is everything in life.
—Isaac Bashevis Singer (1902–91) Polish-born American Children’s Books Writer, Novelist, Short Story Writer
When you rise in the morning, form a resolution to make the day a happy one for a fellow creature.
—Sydney Smith (1771–1845) English Clergyman, Essayist, Wit
Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together.
—Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749–1832) German Poet
In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
Good humor is a tonic for mind and body. It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression. It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends. It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment.
—Grenville Kleiser (1868–1935) Canadian Author
There is nothing heavier than compassion. Not even one’s own pain weighs so heavy as the pain one feels with someone, for someone, a pain intensified by the imagination and prolonged by a hundred echoes.
—Milan Kundera (b.1929) Czech Novelist
Power is of two kinds. One is obtained by the fear of punishment and the other by acts of love. Power based on love is a thousand times more effective and permanent then the one derived from fear of punishment.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
What do we live for, if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men.
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
For those who may not find happiness to exercise religious faith, it’s okay to remain a radical atheist, it’s absolutely an individual right, but the important thing is with a compassionate heart—then no problem.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
Kindness causes us to learn, and to forget, many things.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
Lincoln’s appeal to ‘the better angels of our nature’ failed to avert a fratricidal war. But the compassionate wisdom of Lincoln’s first and second inaugurals bequeathed to the Union, cemented with blood, a moral heritage which, when drawn upon in times of stress and strife, is sure to find specific ways and means to surmount difficulties that may appear to be insurmountable.
—Felix Frankfurter (1882–1965) American Judge
Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
There is a sufficiency in the world for man’s need but not for man’s greed.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
One’s life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation, compassion.
—Simone de Beauvoir (1908–86) French Philosopher, Writer, Feminist
The sense that some one else cares always helps because it is the sense of love.
—George Edward Woodberry (1855–1930) American Literary Critic, Poet
The golden rule is of no use whatsoever unless you realize that it is your move.
—Frank Hall Crane (1873–1948) American Stage and Film Actor, Director
When we come into contact with the other person, our thoughts and actions should express our mind of compassion, even if that person says and does things that are not easy to accept. We practice in this way until we see clearly that our love is not contingent upon the other person being lovable.
—Thich Nhat Hanh (b.1926) Vietnamese Buddhist Religious Leader, Teacher, Author, Peace Activist
Human it is to have compassion on the unhappy.
—Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375) Italian Writer, Poet
A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve.
—Joseph Joubert (1754–1824) French Writer, Moralist
People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents.
—Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) Scottish-American Industrialist
Care is a state in which something does matter; it is the source of human tenderness.
—Rollo May (1909–94) American Philosopher
Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) English Dramatist, Essayist
He gives twice who gives promptly.
—Publilius Syrus (fl.85–43 BCE) Syrian-born Roman Latin Writer
Life is short. Time is fleeting. Realize the Self.
Purity of the heart is the gateway to God.
Aspire. Renounce. Meditate.
Be good; do good.
Be kind; be compassionate.
Inquire, know Thyself.
—Sivananda Saraswati (1887–1963) Indian Hindu Spiritual Teacher
You are goodness and mercy and compassion and understanding. You are peace and joy and light. You are forgiveness and patience, strength and courage, a helper in time of need, a comforter in time of sorrow, a healer in time of injury, a teacher in times of confusion. You are the deepest wisdom and the highest truth; the greatest peace and the grandest love. You are these things. And in moments of your life you have known yourself to be these things. Choose now to know yourself as these things always.
—Neale Donald Walsch (b.1943) American Spiritual Writer
By compassion we make others’ misery our own, and so, by relieving them, we relieve ourselves also.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
Difficult as it is really to listen to someone in affliction, it is just as difficult for him to know that compassion is listening to him.
—Simone Weil (1909–1943) French Philosopher, Political Activist
Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.
—Theodore Isaac Rubin (1923–2019) American Psychiatrist, Author
Compassion is the desire that moves the individual self to widen the scope of its self-concern to embrace the whole of the universal self.
—Arnold J. Toynbee (1889–1975) British Historian
The purpose of human life is to serve and show compassion and the will to help others.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
I can feel guilty about the past, apprehensive about the future, but only in the present can I act. The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.
—Abraham Maslow (1908–70) American Psychologist, Academic, Humanist
What’s the use of doing a kindness, if you do it a day too late.
—Charles Kingsley (1819–75) English Clergyman, Academic, Historian, Novelist
I know the compassion of others is a relief at first. I don’t despise it. But it can’t quench pain, it slips through your soul as through a sieve. And when our suffering has been dragged from one pity to another, as from one mouth to another, we can no longer respect or love it.
—Georges Bernanos (1888–1948) French Author
Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
Don’t wait around for other people to be happy for you. Any happiness you get you’ve got to make yourself.
—Alice Walker (b.1944) American Novelist, Activist