--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We can’t practice compassion with other…" description: "\"We can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.\" — Brené Brown" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/bren-brown-280_compassion_we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other_2824025.jpg" --- # We can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t… ![“We can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.” quote by Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/bren-brown-280_compassion_we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other_2824025.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/bren-brown-280_compassion_we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other_2824025.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/bren-brown-280_compassion_we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other_2824025.jpg) > “We can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.” [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑compassion is prerequisite to extending compassion toward others. **In simple terms:** Be kind to yourself first. Key Takeaway Practice self‑kindness daily. Themes self‑compassion empathy psychology Mood encouraging reflective Type psychological self‑help When to use this quote - personal development - relationships - mental health - leadership Key Concepts kindness self‑care Questions to Reflect On - How do you nurture self‑kindness? - What stops you from being compassionate? A Different Perspective Self‑criticism can block compassion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Practice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/practice/) ## Related quotes > [“But here’s the tricky part about compassion and connecting: We can’t call just anyone. It’s not that simple. I have a lot of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/but-here-s-the-tricky-part-about-compassion-and-connecting-we-can-t/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“Treat yourself kindly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/treat-yourself-kindly/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“You have a unique gift to offer this world. Be true to yourself, be kind to yourself, read and learn about everything that interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-maraboli/you-have-a-unique-gift-to-offer-this-world-be-true-to-yourself-be/) [Steve Maraboli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-maraboli/) > [And, if you believe, in very simple terms, that people mean you well, and will treat you kindly, they will. And, if you believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/and-if-you-believe-in-very-simple-terms-that-people-mean-you-well-and/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [Today is ours; what do we fear? Today is ours: we have it here. Let's treat it kindly, that it may Wish at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anacreon/today-is-ours-what-do-we-fear-today-is-ours-we-have-it-here-let-s/) [Anacreon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anacreon/) > [We consider a prisoner unfortunate. He is unfortunate in two ways-because he has done something wrong and because he is deprived of his liberty.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-frank-baum/we-consider-a-prisoner-unfortunate-he-is-unfortunate-in-two-ways/) [L. Frank Baum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-frank-baum/) > [Love may treat you kindly, but trust may not give you such joyful thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/some-old-guy/love-may-treat-you-kindly-but-trust-may-not-give-you-such-joyful/) Some Old Guy > [Treat kindly every miserable truth that knocks begging at your door, otherwise you will some day fail to recognize Truth Himself when He comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/treat-kindly-every-miserable-truth-that-knocks-begging-at-your-door/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [As to your families my counsel is, never lay down your authority to a wife or child, but treat them so kindly they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brigham-young/as-to-your-families-my-counsel-is-never-lay-down-your-authority-to-a/) [Brigham Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brigham-young/) > [“May the surprises in your lives always be good ones. And may the people in your lives treat you kindly and fairly. Any may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-steel/may-the-surprises-in-your-lives-always-be-good-ones-and-may-the/) [Danielle Steel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-steel/) > [If you treat others kindly then they will treat you kindly back . You should never talk to others back in bad language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shagufta-fareed/if-you-treat-others-kindly-then-they-will-treat-you-kindly-back-you/) Shagufta Fareed > [“For whatever reason, there are people we like and people we don't like. It's hard to say why, and often a difficult opinion to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/for-whatever-reason-there-are-people-we-like-and-people-we-don-t-like/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [When you treat people well, those same people might not treat you the same way. But if you pay attention, you'll notice that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-treat-people-well-those-same-people-might-not-treat-you-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You can't change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicky-gumbel/you-can-t-change-how-people-treat-you-or-what-they-say-about-you-all/) [Nicky Gumbel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicky-gumbel/) > [Many people treat their bodies as if they were rented from Hertz - something they are using to get around in but nothing they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chungliang-al-huang/many-people-treat-their-bodies-as-if-they-were-rented-from-hertz/) [Chungliang Al Huang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chungliang-al-huang/) ## More by Brené Brown > [We're raising children who have little tolerance for disappointment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-re-raising-children-who-have-little-tolerance-for-disappointment/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“always put off writing by reorganizing my entire house and spending way too much time and money buying office supplies and organizing systems. Every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/always-put-off-writing-by-reorganizing-my-entire-house-and-spending/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [When you ask people about love, they tell you about heartbreak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-you-ask-people-about-love-they-tell-you-about-heartbreak/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I can recognize shame when it’s happening.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-can-recognize-shame-when-it-s-happening/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [I carry a small sheet of paper in my wallet that has written on it the names of people whose opinions of me matter.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-carry-a-small-sheet-of-paper-in-my-wallet-that-has-written-on-it/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/courage-starts-with-showing-up-and-letting-ourselves-be-seen/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Waking up every day and loving someone who may or may not love us back, whose safety we can't ensure, who may stay in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/waking-up-every-day-and-loving-someone-who-may-or-may-not-love-us/) [Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“No matter how separated we are by what we think and believe, we are part of the same spiritual story.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/no-matter-how-separated-we-are-by-what-we-think-and-believe-we-are/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Perfectionism is self-destructive simply because there is no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal. Additionally, perfectionism is more about perception -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/perfectionism-is-self-destructive-simply-because-there-is-no-such/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Shame corrodes the very part of us that believes we are capable of change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/shame-corrodes-the-very-part-of-us-that-believes-we-are-capable-of/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [If you're also in the arena and you're putting your ideas out and you're owning them and you're saying "I disagree with you about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/if-you-re-also-in-the-arena-and-you-re-putting-your-ideas-out-and-you/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“I found that men and women with high levels of shame resilience share these four elements: They understand shame and recognize what messages and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/i-found-that-men-and-women-with-high-levels-of-shame-resilience-share/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [Connection gives purpose and meaning to our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/connection-gives-purpose-and-meaning-to-our-lives/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“But here’s the tricky part about compassion and connecting: We can’t call just anyone. It’s not that simple. I have a lot of good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/but-here-s-the-tricky-part-about-compassion-and-connecting-we-can-t/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“It turns out to be the place of true belonging, and it's the bravest and most sacred place you'll stand.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/it-turns-out-to-be-the-place-of-true-belonging-and-it-s-the-bravest/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) [Explore all 759 Brené Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) ## 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": "We can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Brené Brown" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other-people-if-we-can-t-treat/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other-people-if-we-can-t-treat/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/bren-brown-280_compassion_we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other_2824025.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/bren-brown-280_compassion_we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other_2824025.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/610/bren-brown-280_compassion_we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other_2824025.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We can’t practice compassion with other people if we can’t treat ourselves kindly.” — Brené Brown", "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": "Brené Brown", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "We can’t practice compassion with other...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other-people-if-we-can-t-treat/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-can-t-practice-compassion-with-other-people-if-we-can-t-treat/#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 } } ] } ```