What we hate in ourselves, we’ll hate in others. To the…

““What we hate in ourselves, we’ll hate in others. To the degree that we have compassion for ourselves, we will also have compassion for others.””

Pema Chödrön

About This Quote

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

Compassion toward oneself creates the capacity to feel compassion for others.

In simple terms: Self‑compassion leads to compassion for others.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate kindness toward yourself.

Themes

compassion self‑kindness empathy interconnectedness

Mood

calm reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

therapy sessions
conflict resolution
personal growth

Key Concepts

Buddhist psychology mindfulness ethical behavior

Questions to Reflect On

How can you practice self‑compassion without ego?
What barriers stop you from feeling empathy?

A Different Perspective

Self‑compassion can be mistaken for selfishness.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet

More by Pema Chödrön

“LIFE’S work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.…

Pema Chödrön

Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?

Pema Chodron

Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…

Pema Chodron

The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.

Pema Chodron

“If the object of meditation were something concrete, something solid and graspable - an image or a statue or a dot on the floor…

Pema Chödrön

It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately fill up the space. By waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as…

Pema Chodron

“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…

Pema Chödrön

If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we…

Pema Chodron

“But in this meditation technique, we are with the out-breath; there's no particular instruction about what to do until the next out-breath.”

Pema Chödrön

“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps…

Pema Chödrön

So even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we sit with that restlessness when yesterday we couldn't sit for even…

Pema Chodron

If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other people and…

Pema Chodron

“When we realize that the path is the goal, there’s a sense of workability. Trungpa Rinpoche said, “Whatever occurs in the confused mind is…

Pema Chödrön

Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment.

Pema Chodron

If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…

Pema Chodron

Explore all 664 Pema Chödrön quotes

More Compassion quotes

Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…

Joseph Addison

“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”

Debasish Mridha

I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…

Max Lucado

“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”

Segun Magbagbeola

For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…

Geneen Roth

I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.

Abraham Lincoln

We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…

R. C. Sproul

“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”

Abhijit Naskar

There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…

Dalai Lama

May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…

Sherrilyn Kenyon

When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.

Marshall B. Rosenberg

But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…

Dean Koontz