--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Until he extends the circle of his…" description: "\"“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.”\" — Albert Schweitzer" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_until-he-extends-the-circle-of-his-compa_3008360.jpg" --- # Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all… ![“Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.” quote by Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_until-he-extends-the-circle-of-his-compa_3008360.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_until-he-extends-the-circle-of-his-compa_3008360.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/albert-schweitzer-701_compassion_until-he-extends-the-circle-of-his-compa_3008360.jpg) > ““Until he extends the circle of his compassion to all living things, man will not himself find peace.”” [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. Peace comes only when compassion extends to all living beings. **In simple terms:** Universal compassion yields peace. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy. Themes peace compassion interconnectedness Mood reflective hopeful Type inspirational ethical When to use this quote - activism - education - personal growth Key Concepts ethical philosophy environmentalism Questions to Reflect On - How can you broaden your circle of compassion? - What actions foster universal empathy? A Different Perspective Human nature often limits empathy to close circles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Ethics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ethics/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-things/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Vegetarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegetarianism/) ## Related quotes > [Until he extends his circle of compassion to include all living things, man will not himself find peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/until-he-extends-his-circle-of-compassion-to-include-all-living/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Certain beliefs must accompany every action: One should act without selfishness, cultivate compassion for all living things, and develop respect for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/certain-beliefs-must-accompany-every-action-one-should-act-without/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [Like a mother who protects her child, her only child, with her own life, one should cultivate a heart of unlimited love and compassion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/like-a-mother-who-protects-her-child-her-only-child-with-her-own-life/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [To feel overflowing love and almost unbearable compassion for all living creatures is the best way to fulfil the wishes of all the Buddhas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dilgo-khyentse-rinpoche/to-feel-overflowing-love-and-almost-unbearable-compassion-for-all/) [Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dilgo-khyentse-rinpoche/) > [Let us fill our hearts with our own compassion - towards ourselves and towards all living beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-us-fill-our-hearts-with-our-own-compassion-towards-ourselves-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Compassion is a living, breathing, organic emotion that vibrates through you and links you to those around you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/compassion-is-a-living-breathing-organic-emotion-that-vibrates/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [If we begin to get in touch with whatever we feel with some kind of kindness, our protective shells will melt, and we'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-begin-to-get-in-touch-with-whatever-we-feel-with-some-kind-of/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [As we learn to have compassion for ourselves, the circle of compassion for others - what and whom we can work with, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/as-we-learn-to-have-compassion-for-ourselves-the-circle-of-compassion/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“...human progress has depended on enlarging the circle of compassion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-safina/human-progress-has-depended-on-enlarging-the-circle-of-compassion/) [Carl Safina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-safina/) > [Our task must be to free ourselves by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/our-task-must-be-to-free-ourselves-by-widening-our-circle-of-2/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“No daylight to separate us. Only kinship. Inching ourselves closer to creating a community of kinship such that God might recognize it. Soon we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-boyle/no-daylight-to-separate-us-only-kinship-inching-ourselves-closer-to/) [Gregory Boyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-boyle/) > [The greatest force of personal liberation is the decision to widen our circle of compassion, moving from focus on self to focus on service.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/the-greatest-force-of-personal-liberation-is-the-decision-to-widen/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [Our task is to widen our circle of compassion to include all living beings and all of nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/our-task-is-to-widen-our-circle-of-compassion-to-include-all-living/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“Our task must be to free ourselves... by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/our-task-must-be-to-free-ourselves-by-widening-our-circle-of/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [“The circle of indifference has the self at its centre. The circle of compassion has others at the centre. The former leads to apathy;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shubha-vilas/the-circle-of-indifference-has-the-self-at-its-centre-the-circle-of/) [Shubha Vilas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shubha-vilas/) ## 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. 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