Quotes About Compassion

I didn't realize what a—comfortless thing respect is.

It was odd how happiness unshared was only half as great, and yet any kind of misfortune alone was doubled.

He was one of the vast numbers of people who cannot imagine themselves into the class or gender, least of all the emotions, of a different person. That is lack of vision or sensitivity, even compassion, but it is not stupidity.

without honor and kindness there are no rituals in the world that make any difference

Nothing at all, except that he is human, and by hanging him we diminish ourselves as well.

It is a uniquely distressing experience to see yourself only through the eyes of others, too often those you have injured in some way, to know irrefutably what you have done but not why you did it, not the mitigating circumstances, the beliefs you held at the time which made your actions seem reasonable then.

She needed to believe in a power greater than her own, one with a higher justice, and a kinder mercy.

She had a certain pity for people who wavered, she entirely understood fear. . . .

take a great deal closer look at others, and then decide with whom you would, or could, change places, and what sacrifice of your nature you would be prepared to make in order to do so.

there was something extraordinarily sweet and comfortable about a friend who knows you and accepts you at your worst, your most bitter, or defeated, who sees your emotional ugliness naked and is not afraid to call it by name, and yet does not turn from you or allow you to cease to struggle, who wills your survival as precious.

We can become so cruel and so selfish when we are afraid.

That without honor and kindness there are no rituals in the world that make any difference," he replied. "The rest is detail. Do whatever seems beautiful or of comfort to you.

Oi didn't loike that bloke, Captain. Bastard, 'e were, but Oi s'pose rules is for them yer don't loike. Yer won't 'urt them as yer do. In't that what God's about, been fair to them as rubs your coat all the wrong way?

How do you forgive someone for not being what you wanted them to be, or what you thought they were? Especially when they are not sorry—perhaps they don't even understand?" "Or again, perhaps they do?" Hester suggested. "And how do they forgive us for having expected too much of them, instead of looking to see what they really were, and loving that?

If she protected him from this one, then how would he be armed or prepared for the next, or the one after that? Without pain, how would he learn compassion? If it were easy, of what value was it?

But when they get old we can't be bothered. We say they're going to die soon anyway. Wot's the point in spending time and money on them?

Love does forgive, but can it forgive everything? Should it? Which loyalties came first—family, or belief in right and wrong?

It was embarrassing to be obliged to watch grief one cannot help.

Crime must be paid for, but not all sins or mistakes need be made public and explained for everyone to examine and remember. And sometimes victims were punished doubly, once by the offense itself, and then a second and more enduring time when others heard of it, pored over it, and imagined every intimate detail.

Every one of them had been somebody's son, somebody's friend. Grant rubbed his hands over his face and drew in a long breath, letting it out in a sigh. "Perhaps Tallis did go mad, poor bastard. I hate this more

Before you pity yourself, take a great deal closer look at others, and then decide with whom you would, or could, change places, and what sacrifice of your nature you would be prepared to make in order to do so. Knowing you as I do, I think precious little.

The very ill have little privacy, even for the most intimate of things.

I have seen my share of cruelty, injustice, and grief. I do not need to be treated like some flower that will bruise if you touch it.

That it's easy to forgive those you like? That is the test, isn't it…forgiving those you don't like? Especially those who have hurt someone you love. Anyone can do the easy things.