Timely Quotes on Compassion

Sometimes I like to read what other people have said on the topic of compassion, think about the context and meaning of these quotes, and reflect on the history in which these statements were made and how they apply to us today.

         “Compassion is the basis of all morality.”

Arthur Schopenhauer (German Philosopher, 1788-1860)

   Schopenhauer, seen as one of the “founding fathers” of modern philosophy on morality and compassion, summed up the relationship between living a moral life and how compassion plays an integral role in that life.

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“Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism.”

Hubert H. Humphrey (American 38th US Vice President under Lyndon B. Johnson (1965-69) and US Senator from Minnesota (1949-64, 1971-78). 1911-1978)

   This quote from Humphrey is particularly timely in today’s political climate with the battles between the economic classes playing out in the media, the halls of Congress, and the financial district of New York City.

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“Compassion is the desire that moves the individual self to widen the scope of its self-concern to embrace the whole of the universal self.”

Arnold Toynbee (English Economic Historian and social reformer, 1889-1975)

   Also relevant to the current political climate, Toynbee’s sentiments also illustrate the metaphysical aspect of practicing compassion.

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         “I believe in human dignity as the source of national purpose, human liberty as the source of national action, the human heart as the source of national compassion, and in the human mind as the source of our invention and our ideas”

 John Fitzgerald Kennedy (American 35th US President (1961-63), 1917-1963)

   No comment required.

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         “Compassion alone stands apart from the continuous traffic between good and evil proceeding within us.”

Eric Hoffer (American Writer, 1902-1983)

   Hoffer points out the compassion can be an unaffiliated meeting place where humanity can place itself, in relation to itself, and in spite of itself.

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         “I came upon a doctor who appeared in quite poor health. I said, 'There's nothing that I can do for you that you can't do for yourself.' He said, 'Oh yes you can. Just hold my hand. I think that that would help.' So I sat with him a while then I asked him how he felt. He said, 'I think I'm cured.'”

Conor Oberst (American Singer and Song Writer.)

   Oberst highlights the concept of Compassion Space that healers from all disciplines identify as the unique and curative aspects of compassion as a shared endeavor.

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         “Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too.”

Frederick Buechner (American Author, b.1926)

   Pointing to the necessity of compassion, Buechner stresses the interrelatedness of humanity, and the importance of recognizing that interrelatedness – because to feel better ourselves, it is necessary to help each other.

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         “Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.”

Henry Ward Beecher (Liberal US Congregational minister, 1813-1887)

   This faith-based perspective, I feel, would be well applied to politics as well.

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         “The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.”

Thomas Merton (American and Trappist Monk to Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey in Trappist, Kentucky, 1915-1968)

   Another faith-based perspective that illustrates the metaphysical and spiritual aspects (i.e. necessity) of practicing compassion.

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         “A religious man is a person who holds God and man in one thought at one time, at all times, who suffers harm done to others, whose greatest passion is compassion, whose greatest strength is love and defiance of despair.”

Abraham J. Heschel (Jewish theologian and philosopher, 1907-1972)

   From our Jewish brethren, another timely reminder during these tumultuous times in which we live.

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         “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”

Dalai Lama (Head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Tibetan Buddhists, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, b.1935)

   One of the most simple reasons I have come across for practicing compassion.

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         “Compassion is not religious business, it is human business, it is not luxury, it is essential for our own peace and mental stability, it is essential for human survival.”

Dalai Lama (Head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Tibetan Buddhists, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, b.1935)

   Explaining the human necessity of compassion as a global concern, the Dalai Lama is perhaps the strongest voice of compassion alive today.

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         “Each of us in our own way can try to spread compassion into people’s hearts. Western civilizations these days place great importance on filling the human 'brain' with knowledge, but no one seems to care about filling the human 'heart' with compassion. This is what the real role of religion is.”

Dalai Lama (Head of the Dge-lugs-pa order of Tibetan Buddhists, 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, b.1935)

   Compassion is possible for all of us …

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            “In separateness lies the world's great misery, in compassion lies the world's true strength.”

 Buddha (Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

   … but only if we remember to practice compassion with one another.

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   Today’s quotes on compassion were gleaned from: http://thinkexist.com/quotations/compassion/.

   For in-depth discussion, research, and links on compassion, go to: www.CompassionSpace.com.