--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the extension of your compassion does…" description: "\"If the extension of your compassion does not include all living beings, then you will be unable to find peace by yourself.\" — Albert Schweitzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does_2700722.jpg" --- # If the extension of your compassion does not include all… ![“If the extension of your compassion does not include all living beings, then you will be unable to find peace by yourself.” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does_2700722.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does_2700722.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does_2700722.jpg) > “If the extension of your compassion does not include all living beings, then you will be unable to find peace by yourself.” [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion must extend to all living beings to achieve inner peace. **In simple terms:** Peace comes from universal compassion. Key Takeaway Cultivate compassion for all life. Themes ethics peace compassion environment spirituality Mood thoughtful inspirational Type ethical spiritual When to use this quote - animal welfare activism - environmental stewardship - personal meditation - conflict resolution Key Concepts Universalism interconnectedness nonviolence Questions to Reflect On - Can you practice compassion toward non‑human life today? - What barriers prevent universal empathy? A Different Perspective Human bias often limits compassion to humans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Finding peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finding-peace/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) ## Related quotes > [Human beings seem unable to live without war, but they are also unable to live without love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arundhati-roy/human-beings-seem-unable-to-live-without-war-but-they-are-also-unable/) [Arundhati Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arundhati-roy/) > [Human beings are unable to be honest with themselves about themselves. They cannot talk about themselves without embellishing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/human-beings-are-unable-to-be-honest-with-themselves-about-themselves/) [Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/) > [We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/we-must-fight-against-the-spirit-of-unconscious-cruelty-with-which-we/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [We need a boundless ethic, one which will include the animals, too. Until we extend the circle of his compassions to all living things,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/we-need-a-boundless-ethic-one-which-will-include-the-animals-too/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“The path of compassion does not obligate you to love people regardless of how they act or who they are. It is a path…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanaya-roman/the-path-of-compassion-does-not-obligate-you-to-love-people/) [Sanaya Roman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanaya-roman/) > [“True compassion does not stem from the pleasure of feeling close to one person or another, but from the conviction that other people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/true-compassion-does-not-stem-from-the-pleasure-of-feeling-close-to/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [All meditation must begin with arousing deep compassion. Whatever one does must emerge from an attitude of love and benefitting others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milarepa/all-meditation-must-begin-with-arousing-deep-compassion-whatever-one/) [Milarepa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milarepa/) > [An attitude of compassion does not mean looking down on someone, pitying them in their misery. Compassion is based on respect. We discuss life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daisaku-ikeda/an-attitude-of-compassion-does-not-mean-looking-down-on-someone/) [Daisaku Ikeda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daisaku-ikeda/) > [Compassion is for the very strong. Compassion does not come to the weak. People who are unkind, bullies, use rude language, are not strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh-yogi/compassion-is-for-the-very-strong-compassion-does-not-come-to-the/) [Harbhajan Singh Yogi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh-yogi/) > [“Justice doesn’t necessarily make the world a better place. Compassion always does.’” I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/justice-doesn-t-necessarily-make-the-world-a-better-place-compassion/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [True compassion does not come from wanting to help out those less fortunate than ourselves but from realizing our kinship with all beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/true-compassion-does-not-come-from-wanting-to-help-out-those-less/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Compassion does not just happen. Pity does, but compassion is not pity. It's not a feeling. Compassion is a viewpoint, a way of life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-doyle-melton/compassion-does-not-just-happen-pity-does-but-compassion-is-not-pity/) [Glennon Doyle Melton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-doyle-melton/) > [What value has compassion that does not take its object in its arms?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/what-value-has-compassion-that-does-not-take-its-object-in-its-arms/) [Antoine de Saint-Exupery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antoine-de-saint-exup-ry/) > [One who practices self compassion does not drag their feet when it comes time to perform a task. People with self compassion keep going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-anil-kumar-sinha/one-who-practices-self-compassion-does-not-drag-their-feet-when-it/) [Dr Anil Kumar Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dr-anil-kumar-sinha/) > [“Compassion does not need any special preparation, place or time. You can start it anywhere and anytime. Try it at home, work, school —or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-ray/compassion-does-not-need-any-special-preparation-place-or-time-you/) [Amit Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-ray/) ## More by Albert Schweitzer > [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is the activity of man directed to secure the inner perfection of his own personality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-the-activity-of-man-directed-to-secure-the-inner-perfection/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Because I have confidence in the power of truth, and of the spirit, I have confidence in the future of mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/because-i-have-confidence-in-the-power-of-truth-and-of-the-spirit-i/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Man's ethics must not end with man, but should extend to the universe. He must regain the consciousness of the great Chain of Life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/man-s-ethics-must-not-end-with-man-but-should-extend-to-the-universe/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Sincerity is the foundation of the spiritual life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/sincerity-is-the-foundation-of-the-spiritual-life/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I am life that wants to live, in the midst of life that wants to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-am-life-that-wants-to-live-in-the-midst-of-life-that-wants-to-live/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [“ Bauer 's 'Criticism of the Gospel History' is worth a good dozen Lives of Jesus, because his work, as we are only now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/bauer-s-criticism-of-the-gospel-history-is-worth-a-good-dozen-lives/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Ethics is in its unqualified form extended responsibility to everything that has life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/ethics-is-in-its-unqualified-form-extended-responsibility-to/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The only way out of today's misery is for people to become worthy of each other's trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-only-way-out-of-today-s-misery-is-for-people-to-become-worthy-of/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [When we observe contemporary society one thing strikes us. We debate but make no progress. Why? Because as peoples we do not yet trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/when-we-observe-contemporary-society-one-thing-strikes-us-we-debate/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [For those who sincerely seek the truth should not fear the outcome.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/for-those-who-sincerely-seek-the-truth-should-not-fear-the-outcome/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [The ethic of Reverence for Life is the ethic of Love widened into universality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/the-ethic-of-reverence-for-life-is-the-ethic-of-love-widened-into/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [I still remain convinced that truth, love, peaceableness, meekness, and kindness are the violence which can master all other violence. The world will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/i-still-remain-convinced-that-truth-love-peaceableness-meekness-and/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Whatever you have received more than others-in health, in talents, in ability, in success, in a pleasant childhood, in harmonious conditions of home life-all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/whatever-you-have-received-more-than-others-in-health-in-talents-in/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Every start on an untrodden path is a venture which only in unusual circumstances looks sensible and likely to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-start-on-an-untrodden-path-is-a-venture-which-only-in-unusual/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) [Explore all 400 Albert Schweitzer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) ## 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": "If the extension of your compassion does not include all living beings, then you will be unable to find peace by yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Albert Schweitzer" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does-not-include-all-living/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does-not-include-all-living/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does_2700722.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does_2700722.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/452/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does_2700722.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If the extension of your compassion does not include all living beings, then you will be unable to find…” — Albert Schweitzer", "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": "Albert Schweitzer", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If the extension of your compassion...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does-not-include-all-living/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/if-the-extension-of-your-compassion-does-not-include-all-living/#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 } } ] } ```