Quotes About Compassion

What touched me the most about the Dalai Lama was his definition of the purpose of life. It was, he said, "to be happy." How does one accomplish that? I asked. "I think warm-heartedness and compassion," he replied. "Compassion give you inner strength, more self-confidence. That can really change your attitude.

He says not to list the patients we save but the ones we don't kill.

Forgiveness is not simply the absolving of an enemy, or one who has done us wrong. Forgiveness must encompass all those things which disturb the tranquility of our soul: the barking dog that robs you of sleep, the heat of summer, the cold of winter. Forgive the ingrown toenail, the flea that bites; forgive the cranky child, wrinkles, a forgotten birthday.

In this country, land of the 24-hour news channels, it's easy to "suffer" from news exhaustion, but for me there's something in me that cries out when I hear about the suffering of others in these ultimately meaningless conflicts. How can I declare them meaningless when people are dying?

Love is the rule of rules, the key to all mysteries.

We must educate the public. The average person has no idea of what's going on in factory farms, in laboratories, circuses, roadside zoos or rodeos.

If you have something to give -- throw it out of the window; The one who needs it will come along with eyes bent on the ground.

Even a cricket knows the difference between a man and an angel; For a man looks not at the ground whereon he walks, he crushes many a life; While the passing of an angel leaves all the world a-thrill.

You can do so much for me by lending me your hand occasionally, that I wonder why you shrink from it.

Never assume the motives of others are, to them, less noble than yours are to you.

He that is without sin among you, let him be first to stone her.

Instead he'd "send his songs out there... tell 'em to stick together and look out for their brothers".

the highest form of repentence is self-acceptance.

The moment one takes to bed he gets sympathy. He may be suffering from a tearing headache or a tooth that makes him cry out; but if he goes about his business, or even flops in a chair, true sympathy is denied him.

there is no thought in the Bible that poor people would become permanent recipients of gifts of money, year after year, or would become dependent on such gifts. The only exceptions were people who were completely unable to work due to permanent disabilities,

A young woman is having a physical examination and is very embarrassed about her weight. As she removes her last bit of clothing, she blushes. "I'm so ashamed, Doctor." she says. "I guess I let myself go." The physician is checking her eyes and ears. "Don't feel ashamed, Miss. You look just fine." "Do you really think so, Doctor?" "Of course," he says, brandishing a tongue depressor. "Now open wide and say

Beware that, when fighting monsters, you yourself do not become a monster.

I have no patience for anyone who enjoys meat but moans about slaughterhouses, who wears cheap clothes but deplores sweatshops, who weeps about climate change from behind the wheel of an SUV or from the window seat of an airplane.

worship had been divorced from justice, and the fatherless and the widow had become the chief victims

The world is nothing but a school of love. Our relationships with our husband or wife, with our children and parents, with our friends and relatives are the university in which we are meant to learn what love and devotion truly are. —Swami Muktananda

If the time ever comes when there is no longer poverty in the world, there will be a wonderful freedom for the higher qualities of the human race.

being "right" is the easy part. Finding the "rightness" within the opposite point of view is the challenge.

How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one finds darkness not only in one's culture but within oneself? There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.

Everything is held together with stories. That is all that is holding us together, stories and compassion.