--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who have suffered are best able to…" description: "\"Those who have suffered are best able to help those who are suffering.\" — Austin O'Malley" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/austin-o-malley-1805_able_those-who-have-suffered-are-best-able-to_542743.jpg" --- # Those who have suffered are best able to help those who… ![“Those who have suffered are best able to help those who are suffering.” quote by Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/austin-o-malley-1805_able_those-who-have-suffered-are-best-able-to_542743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/austin-o-malley-1805_able_those-who-have-suffered-are-best-able-to_542743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/091/austin-o-malley-1805_able_those-who-have-suffered-are-best-able-to_542743.jpg) > “Those who have suffered are best able to help those who are suffering.” [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Those who have endured hardship are uniquely equipped to empathize with and assist others suffering. **In simple terms:** Suffering teaches empathy and helpfulness. Key Takeaway Leverage personal experience to support others. Themes empathy suffering service Mood compassionate thoughtful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - counseling - community volunteering - peer support groups Key Concepts psychology social support compassion Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance empathy with self‑care? - What boundaries protect both helper and recipient? A Different Perspective Personal pain may limit objectivity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) ## Related quotes > [“The times when you are suffering can be those when you are most open, and where you are extremely vulnerable can be where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tibetan-book-of-living-and-dying/the-times-when-you-are-suffering-can-be-those-when-you-are-most-open/) Tibetan Book of Living and Dying > [First of all, do any of you here think it's a crime to help a suffering human end his agony? Any of you think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kevorkian/first-of-all-do-any-of-you-here-think-it-s-a-crime-to-help-a/) [Jack Kevorkian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kevorkian/) > [South Sudan is my home, and I am humbled to be in a position to help those suffering from lack of access to basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luol-deng/south-sudan-is-my-home-and-i-am-humbled-to-be-in-a-position-to-help/) [Luol Deng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luol-deng/) > [It is part of my faith as a Muslim to try to help those who are suffering from poverty or economic or political injustice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cat-stevens/it-is-part-of-my-faith-as-a-muslim-to-try-to-help-those-who-are/) [Cat Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cat-stevens/) > [I know the majority of the British public wants to help when they see suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penny-mordaunt/i-know-the-majority-of-the-british-public-wants-to-help-when-they-see/) [Penny Mordaunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penny-mordaunt/) > [Our friends on the other side decided early on they didn't want to engage with us in a serious way, a serious way to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/our-friends-on-the-other-side-decided-early-on-they-didn-t-want-to/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [We live in this world, not another one that we'd prefer, and sometimes it's necessary to follow painful paths if we hope to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/we-live-in-this-world-not-another-one-that-we-d-prefer-and-sometimes/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [The greatest satisfaction is not the decoration. It is knowing that I am able to help someone who needs help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-page/the-greatest-satisfaction-is-not-the-decoration-it-is-knowing-that-i/) [Jimmy Page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-page/) > [I knew that even if I was able to call for help, I was in a place so remote that it wasn't likely there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-sunderland/i-knew-that-even-if-i-was-able-to-call-for-help-i-was-in-a-place-so/) [Abby Sunderland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-sunderland/) > [There is no point helping some people when, the next day or when the next family comes into your office, you are not able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-lam/there-is-no-point-helping-some-people-when-the-next-day-or-when-the/) [Carrie Lam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-lam/) > [I get true joy out of that, being able to help people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baker-mayfield/i-get-true-joy-out-of-that-being-able-to-help-people/) [Baker Mayfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baker-mayfield/) > [I like meeting people and I like being able to help.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/i-like-meeting-people-and-i-like-being-able-to-help/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The more we learn about dyslexia, the more able we will be to help those with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/the-more-we-learn-about-dyslexia-the-more-able-we-will-be-to-help/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [In some tiny, tiny way I am part of history, but I am also able to help people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huma-abedin/in-some-tiny-tiny-way-i-am-part-of-history-but-i-am-also-able-to-help/) Huma Abedin > [I want to be able to help the coach and team as much as I can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luka-modric/i-want-to-be-able-to-help-the-coach-and-team-as-much-as-i-can/) [Luka Modric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luka-modric/) ## More by Austin O'Malley > [Sermons are like pie-crust, the shorter the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/sermons-are-like-pie-crust-the-shorter-the-better/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [You can swim in life and seawater, but both are hard to swallow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/you-can-swim-in-life-and-seawater-but-both-are-hard-to-swallow/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Law is the rudder of the ship of state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/law-is-the-rudder-of-the-ship-of-state/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [A woman, like a cross-eyed man, looks one way, but goes another--hence her mysteriousness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/a-woman-like-a-cross-eyed-man-looks-one-way-but-goes-another-hence/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Religion often gets credit for curing rascals when old age is the real medicine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/religion-often-gets-credit-for-curing-rascals-when-old-age-is-the/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Charity is the note that resolves the discord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/charity-is-the-note-that-resolves-the-discord/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [We must be laid like a brand in the fire ... if we would gain immortal youth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/we-must-be-laid-like-a-brand-in-the-fire-if-we-would-gain-immortal/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [If you snub Conscience a few times she will cut your acquaintance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/if-you-snub-conscience-a-few-times-she-will-cut-your-acquaintance/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [A hole is nothing at all, but you can break your neck in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/a-hole-is-nothing-at-all-but-you-can-break-your-neck-in-it/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [A drunkard is like a whiskey-bottle, all neck and belly and no head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/a-drunkard-is-like-a-whiskey-bottle-all-neck-and-belly-and-no-head/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Power should answer by action, not by speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/power-should-answer-by-action-not-by-speech/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Charity is the only lubricant that keeps the axle of the world creaking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/charity-is-the-only-lubricant-that-keeps-the-axle-of-the-world/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Reason clears and plants the wilderness of the imagination to harvest the wheat of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/reason-clears-and-plants-the-wilderness-of-the-imagination-to-harvest/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Some men are like a church-organ -- you can play on them for a lifetime and always find new harmonies; others are like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/some-men-are-like-a-church-organ-you-can-play-on-them-for-a-lifetime/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [Laws are made by the old, exceptions by the young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/laws-are-made-by-the-old-exceptions-by-the-young/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) [Explore all 207 Austin O'Malley quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) ## 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To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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