Quotes About Empathy

You must let suffering speak, if you want to hear the truth

what is cruelty but the giving of pain in the taking of pleasure?

You'd be surprised how difficult it is to ask alms of a stranger when you've never done it before, what a psychological barrier separates the honest man from the panhandler. ("Dusk To Dawn")

Love is larger than the walls which shut it in.

Mama's love had always been the kind that acted itself out with soup pot and sewing basket. But now that these things were taken away, the love seemed as whole as before. She sat in her chair at the window and loved us. She loved the people she saw in the street-- and beyond: her love took in the city, the land of Holland, the world. And so I learned that love is larger than the walls which shut it in.

And for all these people alike, the key to healing turned out to be the same. Each had a hurt he had to forgive.

All through the short afternoon they kept coming, the people who counted themselves Father's friends. Young and old, poor and rich, scholarly gentlemen and illiterate servant girls—only to Father did it seem that they were all alike. That was Father's secret: not that he overlooked the differences in people; that he didn't know they were there.

Surely there is no more wretched sight that the human body unloved and uncared for.

Corrie, if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love! We must find the way, you and I, no matter how long it takes.

Your love in me is stronger than the hatred.

The Gestapo chief leaned forward. I'd like to send you home, old fellow," he said. "I'll take your word that you won't cause any more trouble." I could not see father's face, only the erect carriage of his shoulders and the halo of white hair above them. But I heard his answer. "If I go home today," he said evenly and clearly, "tomorrow I will open my door again to any man in need who knocks.

Young and old, poor and rich, scholarly gentlemen and illiterate servant girls—only to Father did it seem that they were all alike. That was Father's secret: not that he overlooked the differences in people; that he didn't know they were there.

I prayed to dispel my fear, until suddenly, and I do not know how the idea came to me, I began to pray for others. I prayed for everyone who came into my thoughts - - people with whom I had traveled, those who had been in prison with me, my school friends of years ago. I do not know how long I continued my prayer, but this I do know - - my fear was gone! Interceding for others had released me!

Willem didn't try to change people, just to serve them.

if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love!

Betsie,' I whispered, "what can we do for these people? Afterward I mean. Can't we make a home for them and care for them and love them?' 'Corrie, I pray every day that we will be allowed to do this! To show them that love is greater!' And it wasn't until I was gathering twigs later in the morning that I realized that I had been thinking of the feeble-minded, and Betsie of their persecutors.

if people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love! We must find the way, you and I, no matter how long it takes. . . .

To whomever she speaks, African students on the shores of Lake Victoria, farmers in a Cuban sugar field, prisoners in an English penitentiary or factory workers in Uzbekistan, she brings the truth they learned in Ravensbruck: Jesus can turn loss into glory.

Love is the strongest force in the world, and when it is blocked that means pain.

Lord Jesus, I offer myself for Your people. In any way. Any place. Any time.

Surely there is no more wretched sight than the human body unloved

love is larger than the walls that shut it in. M

How rich is anyone who can simply see human faces!

Mama's love had always been the kind that acted itself out with soup pot and sewing basket. But now that these things were taken away, the love seemed as whole as before. She sat in her chair at the window and loved us. She loved the people she saw in the street—and beyond: her love took in the city, the land of Holland, the world. And so I learned that love is larger than the walls that shut it in.