Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Kindness and compassion: favorite quotations

Having recently written about compassion and how it is linked to our great human potential, I wanted to share some of my favorite quotes about kindness and compassion. I hope you enjoy this collection, please feel free to post some of your favorite quotations in the comments. I very much look forward to reading them!

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"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." ~ Plato

"Our task must be to free ourselves . . . by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and its beauty." ~ Albert Einstein 

"As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others" ~ Audrey Hepburn 

"Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace." ~ Albert Schweitzer

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." ~ Aesop

"No one has ever become poor by giving." ~ Ann Frank, from Diary of Ann Frank

"If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion." ~ Dalai Lama XIV

"One man practicing kindness in the wilderness is worth all the temples this world pulls." ~ Jack Kerouac, The Dharma Bums

"Kindness is the language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see." ~ Mark Twain

"Only the development of compassion and understanding of others can bring of the tranquility and happiness we all seek." ~ Dalai Lama XIV

"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love." ~ Lao Tzu

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive." ~ Dalai Lama XIV

"Compassion is the basis of morality." ~ Arthur Schopenhauer

"I have just three things to teach, simplicity, patience, compassion. These three are your greatest treasures." ~ Lao Tzu

"Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for kindness." ~ Seneca

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May all beings be happy!

6 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing these beautiful quotes with me!

    I don't have a quote to share with you at this time, but for me, I believe if people would put their differences aside and show love for all beings no matter who they are, that this kind of love would triumph over all. I'm not saying that I love the wrong that people do, but I still love all beings, for I'm one as well.

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    1. I am so glad you liked this post! You are of course welcome to share your favorite quotes with me anytime!

      One of my favorite quotes about loving all is from a loved one's spiritual guru, "Love all, Serve All."

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  2. Great quotes. I want to see world peace. NO ONE suffering. All working toward one common goal...peace. One of my favorite quotes -
    'We can never obtain peace in the outer world until we make peace with ourselves.' - Dalai Lama
    Be happy :)

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    1. Dear quietmind279 (I love your username, btw)

      Thanks so much for sharing this quote from the Dalai Lama XIV. That is one of my favorites as well- I am glad you included it here.

      May you be well!

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  3. Hello Renata, I enjoyed all your quotes. I see some of my favorite quotes on your list. Here is a couple of more that I would like to share:

    "Compassion is the radicalism of our time." Dalai Lama XIV

    "Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving." Kahlil Gibran

    "One who knows how to show and to accept kindness will be a friend better than any possession." Sophocles

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  4. Dear Dan,
    Thank you for your kind comment- I am so glad you enjoyed the quotations in this post. I enjoyed your quotations very much as well!

    I have recently started reading quotations and writings of Khalil Gibran and find many inspiring and/or thought provoking.

    Thanks again, may you be well!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment! If you enjoyed this post, please share with others. -With Metta, Renata