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
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
His morality is all sympathy, just what morality should be
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
Love and death are the two great hinges on which all human sympathies turn.
—Benjamin Haydon (1786–1846) English Painter, Writer
Next to love, sympathy is the divinest passion of the human heart.
—Edmund Burke (1729–97) British Philosopher, Statesman
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
If tears could build a stairway,
And memories a lane,
I’d walk right up to Heaven
And bring you home again.
—Unknown
Pity is treason.
—Maximilien Robespierre (1758–94) French Revolutionary
Sympathy is the first condition of criticism.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word, but in the night of death hope sees a star and listening love can hear the rustle of a wing.
—Robert G. Ingersoll (1833–99) American Lawyer, Orator, Agnostic
Pity those who nature abuses; never those who abuse nature.
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816) Irish-born British Playwright, Poet, Elected Rep
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
He kept at true good humour’s mark
The social flow of pleasure’s tide:
He never made a brow look dark,
Nor caused a tear, but when he died.
—Thomas Love Peacock (1785–1866) English Satirist, Novelist, Author
Sympathy is a supporting atmosphere, and in it we unfold easily and well.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
Is there anything more dangerous than sympathetic understanding?
—Pablo Picasso (1881–1973) Spanish Painter, Sculptor, Artist
Let us cherish sympathy. It prepares the mind for receiving the impressions of virtue; and without it there can be no true politeness. Nothing is more odious than that insensibility which wraps a man up in himself and his own concerns, and prevents his being moved with either the joys or the sorrows of another.
—James Beattie
Soft pity enters an iron gate.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616) British Playwright
For some moments in life there are no words.
—David Seltzer (b.1940) American Screenwriter, Film Producer, Film Director
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
One cannot weep for the entire world, it is beyond human strength. One must choose.
—Jean Anouilh (1910–87) French Dramatist
The only true knowledge of our fellowman is that which enables us to feel with him—which gives us a fine ear for the heart-pulses that are beating under the mere clothes of circumstance and opinion.
—George Eliot (Mary Anne Evans) (1819–80) English Novelist
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
Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow,
May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.
—Unknown
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
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
Can I see another’s woe, and not be in sorrow too? Can I see another’s grief, and not seek for kind relief?
—William Blake (1757–1827) English Poet, Painter, Printmaker
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
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
Sympathy is two hearts tugging at one load.
—Charles Henry Parkhurst (1842–1933) American Clergyman, Civic Reformer
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