Skip to content

compassion” derives from the Latin patiri and the Greek…

“compassion” derives from the Latin patiri and the Greek pathein, meaning “to suffer, undergo, or experience.” So “compassion” means “to endure [something] with another person,” to put ourselves in somebody else’s shoes,” quote by Karen Armstrong
Download Open image
““compassion” derives from the Latin patiri and the Greek pathein, meaning “to suffer, undergo, or experience.” So “compassion” means “to endure [something] with another person,” to put ourselves in somebody else’s shoes,””

Karen Armstrong

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Compassion is shared suffering, an empathetic endurance that connects us to others' pain.

In simple terms: Shared suffering creates compassion.

Key Takeaway

Practice empathy.

Themes

compassion empathy shared experience

Mood

compassion reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

  • counseling
  • conflict resolution
  • volunteering

Key Concepts

phenomenology ethical theory

Questions to Reflect On

  • How can you sustain compassion?
  • When does empathy become overwhelming?
A Different Perspective

Compassion may be limited by personal fatigue.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Karen Armstrong

Explore all 296 Karen Armstrong quotes

More Compassion quotes

Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes