Character Quotables: Compassion
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“The nature of humanity, its essence, is to feel another’s pain as one’s own, and to act to take that pain away. There is a nobility in compassion, a beauty in empathy, a grace in forgiveness.”
“Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike.”
“Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be wanted. Like a lamp, it needs to be fed out of the oil of another’s heart, or its flame burns low.”
“Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism.”
“A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.”
“Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.”
“If your compassion does not include yourself it is incomplete.”
“True compassion means not only feeling another’s pain but also being moved to help relieve it.”
“Compassion is not just feeling with someone, but seeking to change the situation… if you are going to be compassionate, be prepared for action!”
“Let our hearts be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path.”
“If it is not tempered by compassion, and empathy, reason can lead men and women into a moral void.”
“There is no small act of kindness. Every compassionate act makes large the world.”
“Empathy is simply listening, holding space, withholding judgment, emotionally connecting, and communicating that incredibly healing message of you’re not alone.”
“The super power that I would choose would be compassion. Because that’s what I think it takes to make it through life – an understanding, a give and take. It saves an awful lot of resentment.”
“What actually sustains us, what is fundamentally beautiful, is compassion – for yourself and for those around you. That kind of beauty inflames the heart and enchants the soul.”
“Every time you express gratitude or compassion for any aspect of yourself or someone else, you breathe life in.”
“Fear grows out of the things we think; it lives in our minds. Compassion grows out of the things we are, and lives in our hearts.”
“Empathy is the gateway; compassion is the way.”
“Love is not only something you feel, it is something you do.”
“Learning to stand in somebody else’s shoes, to see through their eyes, that’s how peace begins. And it’s up to you to make that happen. Empathy is a quality of character that can change the world.”
“Sometimes all a person wants is an empathetic ear; all he or she needs is to talk it out. Just offering a listening ear and an understanding heart for his or her suffering can be a big comfort.”
“Give children at least as many chances to show compassion as they have to be competitive.”
“If you are going to be compassionate, be prepared for action!”
“Compassion is a power that we first bestow on ourselves and then give away through our actions—to people, to our planet. When we recognize this, that is when love becomes our legacy.”
“Our task must be to widen our circle of compassion, to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
“Rest and self-care are so important. When you take time to replenish your spirit, it allows you to serve from the overflow. You cannot serve from an empty vessel.”
“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.”
“Never look down on anybody unless you’re helping him up.”
“May we not succumb to thoughts of violence and revenge today, but rather to thoughts of mercy and compassion. We are to love our enemies that they might be returned to their right minds.”
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.”
“Self-care is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation.”
“Compassion is an action word with no boundaries.”
“Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.”
“Compassion is the keen awareness of the interdependence of all things.”
“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.”
“The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference. He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the latter.”
“What you don’t realize is that the world does not need more perfection. It needs more compassion and empathy.”
“Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
“What do we live for; if it is not to make life less difficult for each other?”
“Compassion is the greatest form of love humans have to offer.”
“Caregiving often calls us to lean into love we didn’t know possible.”
“A simple smile. That’s the start of opening your heart and being compassionate to others.”
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
“Deep listening is the kind of listening that can help relieve the suffering of another person.”
“Compassion is the currency that leads to true wealth.”
“Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves.”
“The love in your heart wasn’t put there to stay. Love isn’t love ’til you give it away.”
“Compassion is the ultimate expression of your highest self.”
“Listening is an attitude of the heart, a genuine desire to be with another which both attracts and heals.”
“We can’t heal the world today. But we can begin with a voice of compassion, a heart of love, and an act of kindness.”
How can you use Quotes?
Start a discussion: Quotes can start a discussion about a character trait at the beginning of a meeting or the dinner table. You can ask questions about what it means, how they have seen the trait demonstrated in their own lives, or how they can develop it themselves.
Provide a model: Quotes can provide a model of good character. When you read a quote from a famous person or historical figure, you show that people they admire also value the same character traits.
Use quotes as writing/journal prompts: Ask them to write a short essay about a quote to help them think more deeply about its implications for their lives.
Post quotes: You can post quotes where they will be seen/heard often – classroom, breakroom, lobby, dining room, email signatures, video bulletin boards, morning announcements, social media, etc.
Read quotes aloud: You can read quotes aloud to your children during mealtimes, bedtime, or any other time you spend together.
Make it fun: You can make it even more fun by incorporating games, activities, or crafts. Let children decorate signs with the quotes to hang in the classroom or a bedroom door. Record children saying it and post it on social media.
