Compassion is a powerful emotion that can help us connect with others on a deeper level. Whether we are expressing sympathy for a friend going through a difficult time or offering support to a stranger in need, words of compassion can provide comfort and solace when it is needed most. Here are 20 quotes on sympathy to inspire you to offer words of kindness and understanding to those around you.
“The greatest gift you can give someone is your own personal development.”
Jim Rohn
This quote suggests that offering support to others can be a valuable learning opportunity for ourselves. By working on our own personal development, we can become better equipped to help others in meaningful and compassionate ways.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Gandhi’s quote suggests that helping others can be a path to self-discovery and fulfillment. When we take the time to serve others with compassion and understanding, we can learn more about ourselves and our place in the world.
“Compassion is the basis of morality.”
Arthur Schopenhauer
This quote suggests that compassion should be the foundation of how we treat others. When we approach situations with empathy and kindness, we are more likely to make ethical and moral decisions that benefit everyone involved.
“I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet, strange, I am ungrateful to these teachers.”
Khalil Gibran
Gibran’s quote suggests that even those who are unkind or intolerant can teach us valuable lessons about compassion and understanding. Though we may not always be grateful for these lessons, we can use them to become more empathetic and kindhearted in our own lives.
“The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.”
Peter Drucker
This quote suggests that true communication requires more than just listening to words. When we take the time to pay attention to what is left unsaid, we can better understand the emotions and needs of those around us.
“When words are inadequate, have a ritual.”
Unknown
This quote suggests that sometimes words are not enough to express our sympathy and support. In these instances, we can create rituals or gestures that offer comfort and show that we care.
“We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.”
Randy Pausch
This quote suggests that even when we are faced with difficult circumstances, we can choose to approach them with compassion and understanding. By focusing on how we respond to challenges, we can find strength and resilience in even the toughest of situations.
“The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen. Perhaps the most important thing we ever give each other is our attention.”
Rachel Naomi Remen
This quote suggests that listening is one of the most important gifts we can give to others. When we take the time to truly listen to someone, we can show that we care and offer support in a meaningful way.
“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.”
Albert Schweitzer
This quote suggests that serving others with compassion and kindness can give our lives a sense of purpose and meaning. When we prioritize helping others, we can find fulfillment and a sense of connection with the world around us.
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
Nelson Mandela
This quote suggests that resilience and determination are key to overcoming challenges and setbacks in life. When we approach difficult situations with compassion and a determination to rise above them, we can find strength and courage to keep moving forward.
“Our human compassion binds us the one to the other – not in pity or patronizingly, but as human beings who have learnt how to turn our common suffering into hope for the future.”
Nelson Mandela
This quote suggests that compassion can connect us with others on a fundamental level. When we acknowledge our shared experiences of suffering and turn them into a source of hope and connection, we can find meaning and purpose in our lives.
“Act with kindness, but do not expect gratitude.”
Confucius
This quote suggests that kindness should be offered without expectation of reward or recognition. When we act with compassion and understanding, we are doing so because it is the right thing to do, not because we expect anything in return.
“If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.”
Dalai Lama
This quote suggests that compassion can bring happiness and fulfillment to both ourselves and those around us. When we prioritize empathy and kindness in our interactions with others, we can create a more positive and fulfilling life for ourselves and those we care about.
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.”
Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
This quote suggests that those who have faced difficult challenges and setbacks in life are often the most compassionate and understanding. When we emerge from these struggles, we can gain a deeper appreciation for life and a desire to help others who may be experiencing similar challenges.
“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.”
Mary Davis
This quote suggests that even small acts of compassion and kindness can make a difference in the world. When we approach others with empathy and understanding, we can create a ripple effect of positivity that can spread beyond our immediate interactions.
“Empathy is seeing with the eyes of another, listening with the ears of another, and feeling with the heart of another.”
Unknown
This quote suggests that empathy requires us to step outside of our own experiences and truly see the world from another person’s perspective. When we approach others with this level of understanding and compassion, we can create a deeper sense of connection and understanding.
“The most important trip you may take in life is meeting people halfway.”
Henry Boye
This quote suggests that meeting others with empathy and understanding can be a journey that is just as important as any physical journey we may take. When we make the effort to meet others halfway, we can create meaningful connections and relationships that can enrich our lives in countless ways.
“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.”
Mother Teresa
This quote suggests that creating a more compassionate and understanding world begins with the relationships we have with those closest to us. When we approach our family and loved ones with kindness and empathy, we create a foundation of love and connection that can extend far beyond our immediate circle.
These quotes on sympathy offer a powerful reminder of the importance of compassion and understanding in our lives. Whether we are offering support to a friend in need or simply trying to live more empathetic lives, these words can inspire us to approach the world with kindness and understanding.
