The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference. He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter.
—Norman Cousins (1912–1990) American Political Journalist
Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away.
—Arthur Helps (1813–75) British Essayist, Historian
Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
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
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) Austrian-Born American Jurist
In democratic ages men rarely sacrifice themselves for another, but they show a general compassion for all the human race. One never sees them inflict pointless suffering, and they are glad to relieve the sorrows of others when they can do so without much trouble to themselves. They are not disinterested, but they are gentle.
—Alexis de Tocqueville (1805–59) French Historian, Political Scientist
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
Knowing sorrow well, I learn to succor the distressed.
—Virgil (70–19 BCE) Roman Poet
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
Compassion for the friend should conceal itself under a hard shell.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
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
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
Compassion has no place in the natural order of the world which operates on the basis of necessity. Compassion opposes this order and is therefore best thought of as being in some way supernatural.
—John Berger (1926–2017) English Art Critic, Novelist
It is much easier to show compassion to animals. They are never wicked.
—Haile Selassie
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 whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.
—Thomas Merton (1915–68) American Trappist Monk
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
We often think of peace as the absence of war; that if the powerful countries would reduce their arsenals, we could have peace. But if we look deeply into the weapons, we see our own minds – our prejudices, fears, and ignorance. Even if we transported all the bombs to the moon, the roots of war and the reasons for bombs would still be here, in our hearts and minds, and sooner or later we would make new bombs. Seek to become more aware of what causes anger and separation, and what overcomes them. Root out the violence in your life, and learn to live compassionately and mindfully.
—Thich Nhat Hanh (1926–2022) Vietnamese Buddhist Leader, Teacher, Peace Activist
What wisdom can you find that is greater than kindness?
—Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–78) Swiss-born French Philosopher
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 Novelist, Polemicist
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
It is lack of love for ourselves that inhibits our compassion toward others. If we make friends with ourselves, then there is no obstacle to opening our hearts and minds to others.
—Unknown
Human it is to have compassion on the unhappy.
—Giovanni Boccaccio (1313–1375) Italian Writer, Poet
Where there is love there is life.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
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 pick the hair from her eyes and watch her misery with compassion.
—William Carlos Williams (1883–1963) American Poet, Novelist, Cultural Historian
Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism.
—Hubert Humphrey (1911–78) American Head of State, Politician
By compassion we make others’ misery our own, and so, by relieving them, we relieve ourselves also.
—Thomas Browne (1605–82) English Author, Physician
God’s Compassion – Eye gives us
Not only one Chance
But countless chances
To change our wrong directions.
—Sri Chinmoy (1931–2007) Indian Yoga Teacher
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