53 Best Quotes On Compassion That Will Open Your Heart

Compassion is all about showing kindness and consideration towards the sufferings of others.

It doesn't only mean caring for your fellow humans. Compassion also means having empathy for the world at large and all living beings in it.

Being compassionate is one of the most selfless things you can be. When you show compassion, you are always helping somebody. Compassion doesn't only benefit the receiver, but also the giver as when you are compassionate you open the door to a fulfilling and happy life.

To celebrate compassion and compassionate people, we have gathered the best quotes on compassion right here! If you like what you read, then check out these empathy quotes and be nice quotes too!
 

These Dalai Lama quotes on compassion and love are absolutely timeless.

1. “Compassion and tolerance are not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength.”

- Dalai Lama.

2. “One can overcome the forces of negative emotions, like anger and hatred, by cultivating their counter forces, like love and compassion.”

- Dalai Lama.

3. “Compassion is the radicalism of our time.”

- Dalai Lama.

4. “Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us the tranquility and happiness we all seek.”

- Dalai Lama.

5. “The whole purpose of religion is to facilitate love and compassion, patience, tolerance, humility, and forgiveness.”

- Dalai Lama.

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

- Dalai Lama.

7. “Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.”

- Dalai Lama.

8. "Whether one believes in a religion or not, and whether one believes in rebirth or not, there isn't anyone who doesn't appreciate kindness and compassion."

- Dalai Lama.

9. "Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive."

- Dalai Lama.

Here are some inspiring compassion quotes to remind you to be kind and to show how compassion makes your life healthier and more fulfilling. These quotes show exactly why compassion is so important.

10. "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.

11. "Make no judgments where you have no compassion."

- Anne McCaffrey.

12. "The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others."

- Albert Schweitzer.

13. "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."

- John F. Kennedy.

14. “Rage — whether in reaction to social injustice, or to our leaders' insanity, or to those who threaten or harm us — is a powerful energy that, with diligent practice, can be transformed into fierce compassion.”

- Bonnie Myotai Treace.

15. “True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.”

- Martin Luther King Jr.

16. “I would rather make mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness.”

- Mother Teresa.

17. "When we focus on ourselves, our world contracts as our problems and preoccupations loom large. But when we focus on others, our world expands. Our own problems drift to the periphery of the mind and so seem smaller, and we increase our capacity for connection - or compassionate action."

- Daniel Goleman.

18. “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”

- John Bunyan.

19. “When we give cheerfully and accept gratefully, everyone is blessed.”

- Maya Angelou.

20. “For me, I am driven by two main philosophies: know more today about the world than I knew yesterday and lessen the suffering of others. You'd be surprised how far that gets you.”

-  Neil deGrasse Tyson.

21. “No one has ever become poor by giving.”

- Anne Frank.

22. “We are all different. Don’t judge, understand instead.”

- Roy T. Bennett.

23. “The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.”

- John Green.

24. "Compassion is the basis of morality."

- Arthur Schopenhauer.

25. “Compassion is an action word with no boundaries.”

- Prince.

26. “Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something.”

- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

27. "Let today be the day… You look for the good in everyone you meet and respect their journey."

- Steve Maraboli.

28. "There never was any heart truly great and generous, that was not also tender and compassionate."

- Robert Frost.

29. "When we give ourselves compassion, we are opening our hearts in a way that can transform our lives."

- Kristin Neff.

30. “Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.”

- Albert Schweitzer.

31. "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.

32. “Compassion will cure more sins than condemnation.”

- Henry Ward Beecher.

33. "Wisdom, compassion, and courage are the three universally recognized moral qualities of men."

- Confucius.

34. "That is what compassion does. It challenges our assumptions, our sense of self-limitation, worthlessness, of not having a place in the world. As we develop compassion, our hearts open."

- Sharon Salzberg.

35. “A kind gesture can reach a wound that only compassion can heal.”

- Steve Maraboli.

36. “Let our hearts be stretched out in compassion toward others, for everyone is walking his or her own difficult path.”

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf.

37. “Our task must be to free ourselves… by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

- Albert Einstein.

These famous Buddhist quotes on compassion will tell you how important it is to practice empathy and kindness. Which of these compassion quotes will inspire you?

38. “Radiate boundless love towards the entire world — above, below, and across — unhindered, without ill will, without enmity.”

- Gautama Buddha.

39. “In whom there is no sympathy for living beings: know him as an outcast.”

- Gautama Buddha.

40. “One is not called noble who harms living beings. By not harming living beings one is called noble.”

- Gautama Buddha.

41. "Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity."

- Pema Chödrön.

42. "When we come into contact with the other person, our thoughts and actions should express our mind of compassion, even if that person says and does things that are not easy to accept."

- Thich Nhat Hanh.

43. “True compassion does not come from wanting to help out those less fortunate than ourselves but from realizing our kinship with all beings.”

- Pema Chödrön.

44. “Look at flowers, butterflies, trees, and children with the eyes of compassion. Compassion will change your life and make it wonderful.”

- Thich Nhat Hanh.

45. “When you have learned compassion for yourself, compassion for others is automatic.”

- Henepola Gunaratana.

46. “Compassion for others begins with kindness to ourselves.”

- Pema Chödrön.

Here are some inspirational compassion quotes from songs that can heal every soul.

47. "Heal the world

Make it a better place

For you and for me, and the entire human race..."

- Michael Jackson, 'Heal The World,' 1991.

48. "When the shadows are closing in

And your spirit diminishing

Just remember you're not alone

And love will be there

To guide you home..."

- Mariah Carey, 'Anytime You Need A Friend,' 1993.

49. "Oh, when times get rough

And friends just can't be found

Like a bridge over troubled water

I will lay me down..."

- Simon & Garfunkel, 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' 1970.

50. "Well, I can't change the world

But I can live with open hands

And I can't change the world

But I can give all that I can

And I can pray and I can love..."

- Andrew Witt, 'Compassion,' 2009.

51. "You could be a hero - heroes do what's right

You could be a hero - you might save a life

You could be a hero- you could join the fight

For what's right..."

- Superchick, 'Hero,' 2002.

52. "When the night falls on you

You don't know what to do

Nothing you confess

Could make me love you less

I'll stand by you..."

- The Pretenders, 'I'll Stand By You,' 1994.

53. "And nothing you could do

Could make me turn my back on you

When you're looking for a fight I'm your man

When you need a friend you got my hand..."

- Brandi Carlile, 'If There Was No You,' 2009.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly quotes for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for compassion quotes then why not take a look at these [quotes on sacrifices] or quotes about maturity too?