Compassion

Quotes on Compassion

Each time I think of the word "compassion" comes to mind the parable told by Jesus Christ about the Good Samaritan. To me it stands as the perfect model of compassion for the good Samaritan treated the fallen robbery victim with care, and engaged him as a human being. He could have simply turned away; instead, he extended a much more "difficult" task of providing the need of the other person, and took care of him. (Luke 10:34 NIV)

Having the Good Samaritan in perspective, I'd like to share quotations about compassion I've chosen from the wisdom of famous thinkers and celebrities:

.  "One's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion." 

.  "The dew of compassion is a tear." 

. “I have no idea what's awaiting me, or what will happen when this all ends. For the moment I know this: there are sick people and they need curing.” 

. "Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men." ~ Confucius, Teacher and Philosopher

. "Man may dismiss compassion from his heart, but God never will." ~ William Cowper, Poet

. "Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty." ~ Albert Einstein, Scientist

. “On the one hand maybe I’ve remained infantile, while on the other I matured quickly, because at a young age I was very aware of suffering and fear.” ~ Audrey Hepburn, Actress

. "Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism." 

. "I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, human liberty as the source of national action, the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas." ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy 

. "I have just three things to teach: simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures." ~ Lao Tzu, Philosopher

. “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ~ Mother Teresa

. "Our human compassion binds us the one to the other - not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future." ~ Nelson Mandela

. “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.” ~ Plato, Philosopher

. "Compassion is the basis of all morality." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer 

. "The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others." ~ Albert Schweitzer, 

. "And as I've gotten older, I've had more of a tendency to look for people who live by kindness, tolerance, compassion, a gentler way of looking at things." ~ Martin Scorsese, Film Director and Producer

. “And when I came in with tears in my eyes, you always knew whether I needed you to hold me or just let me be. I don't know how you knew, but you did, and you made it easier for me.” ~ Nicholas Sparks, Novelist

. Learning to have more compassion greatly involves working out the best in others. At times it can be challenging and “inconvenient,” and it is rarely simple. But I can't think of any other way to make compassion effective than to follow that great teacher I know who in relation to the Parable of the Good Samaritan, commanded: “Go and do likewise.”