Pity costs nothing and ain’t worth nothing.
—Josh Billings (Henry Wheeler Shaw) (1818–85) American Humorist, Author, Lecturer
To be in one’s own heart in kindly sympathy with all things; this is the nature of righteousness
—Confucius (551–479 BCE) Chinese Philosopher
When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
Sympathizing and selfish people are alike, both given to tears.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
To what is a man likened, who consoles with his neighbor twelve months after his bereavement by death? He is like a surgeon, asking a man who had once broken his leg to let him break it again and heal it, that he may show him what excellent mendicaments he has.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Soft pity enters an iron gate.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Sympathetic people often don’t communicate well, they back reflected images which hide their own depths.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
All sympathy not consistent with acknowledged virtue is but disguised selfishness.
—Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) English Poet, Literary Critic, Philosopher
God put self-pity by the side of despair like the cure by the side of the disease.
—Albert Camus (1913–60) Algerian-born French Philosopher, Dramatist, Essayist, Novelist, Author
If tears could build a stairway,
And memories a lane,
I’d walk right up to Heaven
And bring you home again.
—Unknown
If the secret sorrows of everyone could be read on their forehead, how many who now cause envy would suddenly become the objects of pity.
—Italian Proverb
And with the morn those angel faces smile
Which I have loved long since and lost awhile.
—John Henry Newman (1801–90) British Theologian, Poet
His morality is all sympathy, just what morality should be
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Sympathy wanting, all is wanting.—Personal magnetism is the conductor of the sacred spark that puts us in human communion, and gives us to company, conversation, and ourselves.
—Amos Bronson Alcott (1799–1888) American Teacher, Writer, Philosopher
If a madman were to come into this room with a stick in his hand, no doubt we should pity the state of his mind; but our primary consideration would be to take care of ourselves. We should knock him down first, and pity him afterwards.
—Samuel Johnson (1709–84) British Essayist
Sympathy with joy intensifies the sum of sympathy in the world, sympathy with pain does not really diminish the amount of pain.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat. We must find each other.
—Mother Teresa (1910–97) Roman Catholic Missionary, Nun
The more sympathy you give, the less you need.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
More helpful than all wisdom or counsel is one draught of simple human pity that will not forsake us.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
There is something terribly morbid in the modern sympathy with pain. One should sympathize with the color, the beauty, the joy of life. The less said about life’s sores the better.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
When he shall die
Take him and cut him out in little stars
And he will make the face of heav’n so fine
That all the world will be in love with night
And pay no worship to the garish sun.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
Self-pity comes so naturally to all of us. The most solid happiness can be shaken by the compassion of a fool.
—Andre Maurois (1885–1967) French Novelist, Biographer
It is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life; ’tis rather an embrio state, a preparation for living; a man is not completely born until he be dead: Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals?
—Benjamin Franklin (1706–90) American Political Leader, Inventor, Diplomat
He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
There is a kind of sympathy in souls that fits them for each other; and we may be assured when we see two persons engaged in the warmths of a mutual affection, that there are certain qualities in both their minds which bear a resemblance to one another.
—Richard Steele (1672–1729) Irish Writer, Politician
For some moments in life there are no words.
—David Seltzer (b.1940) American Screenwriter, Film Producer, Film Director
Man’s thoughts and ways shall always be in contact and sympathy with his fellow men.
—The Talmud Sacred Text of the Jewish Faith
Pity may represent little more than the impersonal concern which prompts the mailing of a check, but true sympathy is the personal concern which demands the giving of one’s soul.
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
Pity those who nature abuses; never those who abuse nature.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
We pity in others only the those evils which we ourselves have experienced.
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality.
—Emily Dickinson (1830–86) American Poet
No radiant pearl, which crested fortune wears, no gem, that twinkling hangs from beauty’s ears; not the bright stars, which night’s blue arch adorn; nor rising sun, that gilds the vernal morn; shine with such lustre as the tear that flows down virtue’s manly cheek for others’ woes.
—Charles Darwin (1809–82) English Naturalist
Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow,
May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.
—Unknown
Women have no sympathy and my experience of women is almost as large as Europe.
—Florence Nightingale (1820–1910) English Nurse
To love with the spirit is to pity, and he who pities most loves most.
—Miguel de Unamuno (1864–1936) Spanish Educator, Philosopher, Author
Good-night! good-night! as we so oft have said
Beneath this roof at midnight, in the days
That are no more, and shall no more return.
Thou hast but taken up thy lamp and gone to bed;
I stay a little longer, as one stays
To cover up the embers that still burn.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–82) American Poet, Educator, Academic
Perhaps they are not the stars, but rather openings in Heaven where the love of our lost ones pours through and shines down upon us to let us know they are happy.
—Unknown
The more sympathies we gain or awaken for what is beautiful, by so much deeper will be our sympathy for that which is most beautiful, the human soul.
—James Russell Lowell (1819–91) American Poet, Critic
Love and death are the two great hinges on which all human sympathies turn.
—Benjamin Haydon (1786–1846) English Painter, Writer
When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.
—Unknown
Sympathy is the first condition of criticism.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
He that sympathizes in all the happiness of others, perhaps himself enjoys the safest happiness; and he that is warned by the folly of others has perhaps attained the soundest wisdom.
—Charles Caleb Colton (c.1780–1832) English Clergyman, Aphorist
Sympathy has to be the first and foremost thing in one’s life, sympathy and the feeling of oneness. There cannot be anything greater than the feeling of oneness.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
The world has no sympathy with any but positive griefs; it will pity you for what you lose, but never for what you lack.
—Sophie Swetchine (1782–1857) Russian Mystic, Writer
No man needs sympathy because he has to work. Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
A tear dries quickly when it is shed for troubles of others.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
Oh heart, if one should say to you that the soul perishes like the body, answer that the flower withers, but the seed remains.
—Kahlil Gibran (1883–1931) Lebanese-born American Philosopher, Poet, Painter, Theologian, Sculptor
For death is no more than a turning of us over from time to eternity.
—William Penn (1644–1718) American Entrepreneur, Political leader, Philosopher
Sympathy is two hearts tugging at one load.
—Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842–1933) American Clergyman, Civic Reformer
With a soul that ever felt the sting of sorrow, sorrow is a sacred thing.
—William Cowper (1731–1800) English Anglican Poet, Hymn writer