Quotes About Compassion

Compassion occurs when we open our feelings to the feelings of another person, without judgement, pity, or a need to fix. It is an act of holding the fullness of feelings of another in our awareness and feeling suffering or joy with him or her; without becoming lost in the feeling.

When people are suffering, they're not open to hearing horror stories about others with similar maladies. There is less capacity for compassion at such moments.

Tranquility, compassion, and wisdom are the components of fearlessness, not power, control, and remaining unaffected.

real fearlessness is the product of tenderness. It comes from letting the world tickle your heart, your raw and beautiful heart. You are willing to open up, without resistance or shyness, and face the world

If you've ever wished for a friend who would love you as you are, appreciate your genius, and make space for your foibles, welcome you when you're funny and shiny and when you're a complete mess—well, I can introduce you to this person. Rather, your meditation practice can. He or she has been there the whole time. You are the one you've been waiting for, as they say.

When I think my actions will benefit others and not just myself, I find courage where I thought I had none. Holding others in my heart brings an uplifted quality to my actions, and I feel that I am being wise.

Let "I intend to find happiness" become "I intend to find happiness to benefit myself and the others in my life." Let "I set the intention to feel no more misery" become "I set the intention to help all beings escape from misery, beginning with myself." You can convert any poison into medicine by applying the proper wisdom.

It starts with the realization that a broken heart is nothing to be ashamed of. It is an altered state, an experience of sacred openness.

Leadership Wisdom refers to authenticity, compassion, insight, discernment, selflessness, purpose-driven behavior, and making decisions for the greater good over the advancement of the self. We can only develop wisdom as we learn to let go of our defenses and act out of choice rather than defensiveness. Robertson, Susan . Real Leadership: Waken To Wisdom . The Books Factory. Kindle Edition.

That is really the direction in spiritual direction, as I understand it. As gently as possible, I try to say, It seems as though the light is coming from over there," and I point to it, hoping that I don't point in such a way that I block the person's view.

When you start to develop your powers of empathy and imagination, the whole world opens up to you.

I think I'm an actor because I have very strong imagination and empathy. I never studied acting, but those two qualities are exactly the qualities that make for an activist.

The mother needs mothering too.

I sobbed for the girl, me, the other girl, the other me, and how he was hurting her - me..."the other girl," I said to her. "It's the other girl, Caroline. Don't let her be alone." (154)

10 percent of any population is cruel, no matter what, and 10 percent is merciful, no matter what, and the remaining 80 percent can be moved in either direction.

Compassion is an unstable emotion. It needs to be translated into action, or it withers. The question of what to do with the feelings that have been aroused, the knowledge that has been communicated. If one feels that there is nothing 'we' can do -- but who is that 'we'? -- and nothing 'they' can do either -- and who are 'they' -- then one starts to get bored, cynical, apathetic.

It's not a punishment. It's the place where mercy and justice meet.

The Bodhisattva says he will do wrong to stop wrongdoing. . . . He will kill to stop killing. As an exception. He calls it 'doing surgery, not violence.' You remove the one killer to stop many killings.

There is nothing like a grocery list to remind us how human we are.

I'm sorry," I said. "You didn't do nothing," he said in surprise. "I can be sorry even if it's not my fault." He looked at me as if this were a new idea for him.

when people suffer terrible losses they need to have an opportunity to talk about them. Being isolated with your sorrow is such a lonely place to be.

For three or four days the men fought the fire, saving the property and effects of the people, yet these white men and women could not tolerate our black Union soldiers, for many of them had formerly been their slaves; and although these brave men risked life and limb to assist them in their distress, men and even women would sneer and molest them whenever they met them.

Two Questions Every Caregiver Needs to Hear: How can I help? Want to talk about it? Ask. Listen. Then listen some more..."- Stress relief author, Susie Mantell

Two questions every caregiver needs to hear: How can I help? Want to talk about it? Ask. Listen. Then listen some more...