I would like to explain the meaning of compassion, which is often misunderstood. Genuine compassion is based not on our own projections and expectations, but rather on the rights of the other: irrespective of whether another person is a close friend or an enemy, as long as that person wishes for peace and happiness and wishes to overcome suffering, then on that basis we develop genuine concern for his or her problem. This is genuine compassion. Usually when we are concerned about a close friend, we call this compassion. This is not compassion; it is attachment. Even in marriage, those marriages that last only a short time do so because of attachment—although it is generally present—but because there is also compassion. Marriages that last only a short time do so because of a lack of compassion; there is only emotional attachment based on projection and expectation. When the only bond between close friends is attachment, then even a minor issue may cause one’s projections to change. As soon as our projections change, the attachment disappears—because that attachment was based solely on projection and expectation. It is possible to have compassion without attachment—and similarly, to have anger without hatred. Therefore we need to clarify the distinctions between compassion and attachment, and between anger and hatred. Such clarity is useful in our daily life and in our efforts towards world peace. I consider these to be basic spiritual values for the happiness of all human beings, regardless of whether one is a believer or a nonbeliever.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Leader, Civil Rights Advocate, Author
The true value of a human being can be found in the degree to which he has attained liberation from the self.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
And it is time for those who talk about family values to start valuing families.
—John Kerry (b.1943) American Attorney, Politician, Diplomat
Try not to become a man of success, but rather to become a man of value. He is considered successful in our day who gets more out of life than he puts in. But a man of value will give more than he receives.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
It has yet to be proven that intelligence has any survival value.
—Arthur C. Clarke (1917–2008) British Scientist, Science-fiction Writer
Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.
—Anton Chekhov (1860–1904) Russian Short-Story Writer
Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.
—Malcolm S. Forbes (1919–1990) American Publisher, Businessperson
Our American values are not luxuries but necessities, not the salt in our bread, but the bread itself. Our common vision of a free and just society is our greatest source of cohesion at home and strength abroad, greater than the bounty of our material blessings.
—Jimmy Carter (b.1924) American Head of State, Military Leader
A sentimentalist is a man who sees an absurd value in everything and doesn’t know the market price of a single thing.
—Oscar Wilde (1854–1900) Irish Poet, Playwright
All decision-making is a values-clarifying exercise.
—Tony Robbins (b.1960) American Self-Help Author, Entrepreneur
The word courage comes from the same stem as the French word Coeur, meaning “heart”. Thus just as one’s heart, by pumping blood to one’s arms, legs, and brain enables all the other physical organs to function, so courage makes possible all the psychological virtues. Without courage other values wither away into mere facsimiles of virtue.
—Rollo May (1909–94) American Philosopher
Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.
—Warren Buffett (b.1930) American Investor
That which costs little is less valued.
—Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616) Spanish Novelist
If we aren’t willing to pay a price for our values, then we should ask ourselves whether we truly believe in them at all.
—Barack Obama (b.1961) American Head of State, Academic, Politician, Author
The greatest gains and values are farthest from being appreciated. We easily come to doubt if they exist. We soon forget them. They are the highest reality.
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–62) American Philosopher
Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make a man a more clever devil.
—C. S. Lewis (1898–1963) Irish-British Academic, Author, Literary Scholar
You will be as much value to others as you have been to yourself.
—Cicero (106BCE–43BCE) Roman Philosopher, Orator, Politician, Lawyer
I believe the ultimate goal of living and refining your values is to identify and achieve congruence with universal principles.
—Steve Pavlina (b.1971) American Motivational Speaker
The value of achievement lies in the achieving.
—Albert Einstein (1879–1955) German-born Physicist
We live in a culture that discourages empathy. A culture that too often tells us our principle goal in life is to be rich, thin, young, famous, safe, and entertained.
—Barack Obama (b.1961) American Head of State, Academic, Politician, Author
Money is central to our lives. Yet money is not of central importance. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the lasting values that make life worth living.
—Kent Nerburn (b.1946) American Cultural Writer
Look beneath the surface; let not the several quality of a thing nor its worth escape thee.
—Marcus Aurelius (121–180) Emperor of Rome, Stoic Philosopher
That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only which gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price on its goods.
—Thomas Paine (1737–1809) American Nationalist, Author, Pamphleteer, Inventor
A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value.
—Isaac Asimov (1920–92) Russian-born American Writer, Scientist
A leader will find it difficult to articulate a coherent vision unless it expresses his core values, his basic identity…one must first embark on the formidable journey of self-discovery in order to create a vision with authentic soul.
—Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1934–2021) Hungarian-American Psychologist
There is no such thing as absolute value in this world. You can only estimate what a thing is worth to you.
—Charles Dudley Warner (1829–1900) American Essayist, Novelist
The stuff that’s most important to me in life can’t be bought—it can only be earned.
—Steve Pavlina (b.1971) American Motivational Speaker
The function of values is to give us the illusion of purpose in life.
—Dero A. Saunders (1914–2002) American Business Editor
Values are not just words, values are what we live by. They’re about the causes that we champion and the people we fight for.
—John Kerry (b.1943) American Attorney, Politician, Diplomat
Nothing can have value without being an object of utility.
—Karl Marx (1818–1883) German Philosopher, Economist
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