The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
I wonder why it is that we are not all kinder to each other… How much the world needs it! How easily it is done.
—Henry Drummond
Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
Get it into your head once and for all, my simple and very fainthearted fellow, that what fools call humanness is nothing but a weakness born of fear and egoism; that this chimerical virtue, enslaving only weak men, is unknown to those whose character is formed by stoicism, courage, and philosophy.
—Marquis de Sade (1740–1814) French Political leader, Revolutionary, Novelist, Poet, Critic
Out of compassion I destroy the darkness of their ignorance. From within them I light the lamp of wisdom and dispel all darkness from their lives.
—The Bhagavad Gita Hindu Scripture
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
Compassion is the antitoxin of the soul: where there is compassion even the most poisonous impulses remain relatively harmless.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
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
My feeling is that there is nothing in life but refraining from hurting others, and comforting those that are sad.
—Olive Schreiner (1855–1920) South African Writer, Feminist
Human it is to have compassion on the unhappy.
—Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375) Italian Writer, Poet
Compassionate action involves working with ourselves as much as working with others.
—Pema Chodron (b.1936) American Buddhist Nun
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
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
Kindness is in our power, even when fondness is not.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.
—Jackie Joyner-Kersee (b.1962) American Athlete
Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each has their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.
—Buddhist Teaching
Compassion automatically brings happiness and calmness. Then, even if you receive disturbing news, it will be easier to take, as your mind is still.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never will.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn 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
In prayer it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.
—John Bunyan (1628–88) English Puritan Writer, Preacher
Without justice, courage is weak.
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
The True happiness that Man has searched for since the dawn of humanity, that is the inner gold that awaits any person who holds compassionately the key of anonymous generosity. Do something for your fellow man, not for the gold, but for the love of Man, and you shall truly have the gold
—Unknown
The dew of compassion is a tear.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence or lawlessness; but love and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or they be black.
—Robert F. Kennedy (1925–68) American Politician, Civil Rights Activist
Knowing sorrow well, I learn to succor the distressed.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
We hand folks over to God’s mercy, and show none ourselves.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
Where there is love there is life.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
If you can’t find it in your own heart to be compassionate look in someone else’s before giving up on love altogether.
—Indian Proverb
A human being is a part of the whole, called by us “Universe,” a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty. Nobody is able to achieve this completely, but the striving for such achievement is in itself a part of the liberation and a foundation for inner security.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
A woman should always challenge our respect, and never move our compassion.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
True benevolence, or compassion, extends itself through the whole of existence and sympathizes with the distress of every creature capable of sensation.
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719) English Essayist, Poet, Playwright, Politician
Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
If you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
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
We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
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
Today I bent the truth to be kind, and I have no regret, for I am far surer of what is kind than I am of what is true.
—Robert Brault
No ceremony that to great ones ‘longs,
Not the king’s crown, nor the deputed sword,
The marshal’s truncheon, nor the judge’s robe,
Become them with the one half so good a grace
As mercy does.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Compassion is the basis of all morality.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
Christian soldiers armed with virtue- hearts afire with blind obsession, cannot see the difference ‘twixt compassion and oppression
—Indian Proverb
Make no judgments where you have no compassion.
—Anne Mccaffrey (1926–2011) American-born Irish Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer
It is easy to be swept away by some overwhelming feeling, so it’s helpful to remember that any stressful feeling is like a compassionate alarm clock that says, “You’re caught in the dream”.
—Byron Katie (b.1942) American Speaker, Author
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
In seperateness lies the world’s great misery, in compassion lies the world’s true strength
—Buddhist Teaching
I believe we are still so innocent. The species are still so innocent that a person who is apt to be murdered believes that the murderer, just before he puts the final wrench on his throat, will have enough compassion to give him one sweet cup of water.
—Maya Angelou (1928–2014) American Poet
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
What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
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
Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human “brain” with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human “heart” with compassion. This is what the real role of religion is.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author