---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He hasn't earned your your mercy.\" Nessy…"
description: "\"“He hasn't earned your your mercy.\" Nessy replied, \"Mercy isn't earned. It's given.”\" — A. Lee Martinez"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/a-lee-martinez-11831_compassion_he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-r_986913.png"
---

#  He hasn't earned your your mercy." Nessy replied, "Mercy…

![“He hasn't earned your your mercy.&quot; Nessy replied, &quot;Mercy isn't earned. It's given.” quote by A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/a-lee-martinez-11831_compassion_he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-r_986913.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/a-lee-martinez-11831_compassion_he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-r_986913.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/a-lee-martinez-11831_compassion_he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-r_986913.png)

> ““He hasn't earned your your mercy." Nessy replied, "Mercy isn't earned. It's given.””

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

## About This Quote

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

Mercy is a gift given freely, not something earned through deeds.

**In simple terms:** Mercy is given, not earned.

Key Takeaway

Offer compassion without expecting merit.

Themes

compassion forgiveness generosity

Mood

empathetic reflective

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal relationships
- conflict resolution
- spiritual practice

Key Concepts

ethics humanity

Questions to Reflect On

- When have you given mercy without expecting anything?
- What limits should compassion have?

A Different Perspective

Some may view unconditional mercy as enabling negative behavior.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Mercy of god](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-of-god/) [Mercy-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-quotes/)

## Related quotes

> [“I stand condemned before the court of human justice. The odds are not in my favor. The judge is about to give its verdict…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abiodun-fijabi/i-stand-condemned-before-the-court-of-human-justice-the-odds-are-not/)

[Abiodun Fijabi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abiodun-fijabi/)

> [“Don’t mourn over the past; it has no pity for you. Don’t cry over the present; it has no sympathy for you; and don’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/don-t-mourn-over-the-past-it-has-no-pity-for-you-don-t-cry-over-the/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“The world won’t show you mercy when you need it most.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/logan-egle/the-world-won-t-show-you-mercy-when-you-need-it-most/)

Logan Egle

> [“Anyone can love a rose, but only a saint can love its thorns.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/anyone-can-love-a-rose-but-only-a-saint-can-love-its-thorns/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Be kind. We never know what people are going through. Give grace and mercy because one day your circumstance could change and you may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/be-kind-we-never-know-what-people-are-going-through-give-grace-and/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [“Vengeance is primitive; which is why only two species in the universe practice it: humans and animals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/vengeance-is-primitive-which-is-why-only-two-species-in-the-universe/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“It is easier to forgive yourself of a thousand misdeeds than to forgive your enemy of one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-easier-to-forgive-yourself-of-a-thousand-misdeeds-than-to/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“I hope you remember that you always have a place to hide, away from the noise of the world, away from all that dares…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jocelyn-soriano/i-hope-you-remember-that-you-always-have-a-place-to-hide-away-from/)

[Jocelyn Soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jocelyn-soriano/)

> [“It is better to help an enemy than to harm a friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-better-to-help-an-enemy-than-to-harm-a-friend/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Forgive those who hurt you yesterday. Reward those who help you today. Remember those who help you tomorrow.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/forgive-those-who-hurt-you-yesterday-reward-those-who-help-you-today/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Supplication is to implore God for mercy and compassion, to have pity upon you or to grant you the request given and expect that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-bertram/supplication-is-to-implore-god-for-mercy-and-compassion-to-have-pity/)

[Robin Bertram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-bertram/)

> [“If our eyes could see everything, every man would see his own faults.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/if-our-eyes-could-see-everything-every-man-would-see-his-own-faults/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“It is possible to continue turning the other cheek when one has stopped counting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/it-is-possible-to-continue-turning-the-other-cheek-when-one-has/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“Don't wound someone's eye trying to remove the twig from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/don-t-wound-someone-s-eye-trying-to-remove-the-twig-from-it/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

> [“The weak forgive none, the strong forgive some, the great forgive many, but the enlightened forgive all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matshona-dhliwayo/the-weak-forgive-none-the-strong-forgive-some-the-great-forgive-many-2/)

[Matshona Dhliwayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matshona-dhliwayo/)

## More by A. Lee Martinez

> [“Humans... You want a nice warm hug from a cold, indifferent universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/humans-you-want-a-nice-warm-hug-from-a-cold-indifferent-universe/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [In the middle of nowhere, along a quiet stretch of road, the diner dreamt of the hungry dead. And of two men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/in-the-middle-of-nowhere-along-a-quiet-stretch-of-road-the-diner/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“All things exist in as simple a form as necessity dictates. When a thing is labeled 'complex,' that's just a roundabout way of saying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/all-things-exist-in-as-simple-a-form-as-necessity-dictates-when-a/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“She stopped shrieking after a moment. It wasn't the crazy looks she drew from the other pedestrians that made her stop. And her damaged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/she-stopped-shrieking-after-a-moment-it-wasn-t-the-crazy-looks-she/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“You’re unlikely to find death anywhere near a tomb.  Everyone there is already dead. Death’s business is among the living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/you-re-unlikely-to-find-death-anywhere-near-a-tomb-everyone-there-is/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“Quiet fell upon the pickup and lasted for a little over nineteen minutes. Is that why you hang around with him?", Loretta asked. "Cuz…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/quiet-fell-upon-the-pickup-and-lasted-for-a-little-over-nineteen/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [Quiet descended, a silence so consuming that even the drafty corridors ceased whistling. Bog wasn't certain where to look, so he solved the problem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/quiet-descended-a-silence-so-consuming-that-even-the-drafty-corridors/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“Vance shook his head. "Philly, I love you, buddy. I do. But you're not my type." "I'm not?" "What? Are you insulted?" Philip was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/vance-shook-his-head-philly-i-love-you-buddy-i-do-but-you-re-not-my/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“He’d discovered that most of the terrors that stalked the night weren’t really terrors at all. They were mostly like regular folks, just trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/he-d-discovered-that-most-of-the-terrors-that-stalked-the-night-weren/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“Do these robots looked armed? And I was talking to the dinosaur. Were you worried he would discuss me to death?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/do-these-robots-looked-armed-and-i-was-talking-to-the-dinosaur-were/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“The universe was filled with secrets, and he understood now that one of the biggest was that no one needed to know them all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/the-universe-was-filled-with-secrets-and-he-understood-now-that-one/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“Music has always been the greatest expression of mortal philosophy," continued Lucky. "The path to enlightenment is found in the lyrics of Spinal Tap.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/music-has-always-been-the-greatest-expression-of-mortal-philosophy/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“Vance took the news of their "big-city fellows" status better than Philip. Probably because it turned out that he was actually gay. "You're what?"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/vance-took-the-news-of-their-big-city-fellows-status-better-than/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [“When you cross over into the weird stuff, there's no going back. Hector has a theory on it. Calls it the law of 'Anomalous…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/when-you-cross-over-into-the-weird-stuff-there-s-no-going-back-hector/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

> [To worry is to acknowledge that the world is unpredictable, and there is power in understanding one's own powerlessness at times. But too often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/to-worry-is-to-acknowledge-that-the-world-is-unpredictable-and-there/)

[A. Lee Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

[Explore all 57 A. Lee Martinez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/)

## 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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

[Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/)

> [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/)

[Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/)

[Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/)

> [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/)

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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/)

[Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/)

> [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/)

[R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/)

> [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/)

[Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/)

[Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/)

[Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/)

> [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/)

Talib al Habib

> [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/)

[Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/)

[Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“He hasn't earned your your mercy.\" Nessy replied, \"Mercy isn't earned. It's given.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "A. Lee Martinez"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-replied-mercy-isn-t-earned-it/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Compassion"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-replied-mercy-isn-t-earned-it/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/a-lee-martinez-11831_compassion_he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-r_986913.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/a-lee-martinez-11831_compassion_he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-r_986913.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/a-lee-martinez-11831_compassion_he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-r_986913.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“He hasn't earned your your mercy.\" Nessy replied, \"Mercy isn't earned. It's given.” — A. Lee Martinez",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "A. Lee Martinez",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-lee-martinez/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“He hasn't earned your your mercy.\"...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-replied-mercy-isn-t-earned-it/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-lee-martinez/he-hasn-t-earned-your-your-mercy-nessy-replied-mercy-isn-t-earned-it/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
