Quotes About Compassion

But Clara knew why she wept. Not for Julia, not for Mrs. Morrow. She wept for all the Morrows, but mostly for parents who gave gifts and wrote "from." For parents who never lost children because they never had them.

in her Montreal office the day a batch of rejection letters arrived, ripping them into pieces and dropping them on the floor for the hired help to clean up. 'This world is messed up, I tell you. People are cruel and insensitive, they're out to screw each other. There's no love or compassion. This', she sliced her book violently in the air like an ancient mythical hammer, heading for an unforgiving anvil, 'will teach

Louise Penny

my experience people who have been hurt either pass it on and become abusive themselves or they develop a great kindness. You're

It became okay to stop the swaggering, to cease the bullying that was excused as an appropriate way to treat the populace.

Be careful," Gamache whispered. "You're making hurting a habit. Spreading it around won't lessen your pain, you know. Just the opposite.

Besides, while Gamache wanted very much to solve the crime, he didn't want to lose his soul in the process. He suspected there were enough lost souls already.

He'd once heard a judge say the most humane way to execute a prisoner was to tell him he was free. Then kill him. Gamache had struggled against that, argued against it, railed against it. Then finally, exhausted, had come to believe it.

Armand Gamache had no stomach to breach someone else's boundaries just because he could.

I said I was only going to recite them once, and he could do with them as he wished." Armand Gamache lowered his fork to his plate and listened. "I don't know. I was wrong. I'm sorry." Lacoste recited them slowly, lifting a finger to count them off. "I need help," the Chief said, completing the statements.

could be so much deliberate cruelty and so much kindness in one species.

The dead woman's name is Jane Neal,' Gamache knew it was a false kindness to cushion a blow like this.

I'm sorry, I don't know, I need help, I forget.

Yes. Armand Gamache hated guns.

the essential goodness of people, it's failing to see it.

What Three Pines had wasn't immunity but a rare ability to heal.

Anyone could be clever. Anyone could be smart. Anyone could be taught. But not everyone was kind.

Gamache in anger. "He knew that's

If one hadn't died with a hole in her heart,' said Nichol. Clara winced.

Did you ever suspect us?' Gamache looked at the two men, one huge and buoyant, the other slim and self-contained. 'No. I think you've both been hurt too much in your lives by the cruelty of others to ever be cruel yourselves. In my experience people who have been hurt either pass it on and become abusive themselves or they develop a great kindness. You're not the types to do murder. I wish I could say the same for everyone here.

the four sentences that lead to wisdom. He'd said them only once, never repeating them. But once had been enough for Gamache. I'm sorry. I was wrong. I need help. I don't know.

Armand Gamache had always held unfashionable beliefs. He believed that light would banish the shadows. That kindness was more powerful than cruelty, and that goodness existed, even in the most desperate places. He believed that evil had its limits.

Instead the wiry, self-contained man had stared at him for a few seconds then invited him to sit and told him the four sentences that lead to wisdom. He'd said them only once, never repeating them. But once had been enough for Gamache. I'm sorry. I was wrong. I need help. I don't know.

There are three couplings,' said Myrna, herself leaning forward now, and whispering though she didn't know why. 'Attachment masquerades as Love, Pity as Compassion and Indifference as Equanimity.