---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we're looking for compassion, we…"
description: "\"When we're looking for compassion, we need someone who is deeply rooted, is able to bend and, most of all, embraces us for our strengths and struggles...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/bren-brown-280_able_when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-nee_2369059.jpg"
---

#  When we're looking for compassion, we need someone who is…

![“When we're looking for compassion, we need someone who is deeply rooted, is able to bend and, most of all, embraces us for our strengths and struggles.” quote by Brene Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/bren-brown-280_able_when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-nee_2369059.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/bren-brown-280_able_when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-nee_2369059.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/bren-brown-280_able_when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-nee_2369059.jpg)

> “When we're looking for compassion, we need someone who is deeply rooted, is able to bend and, most of all, embraces us for our strengths and struggles.”

[Brene 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.

Compassion requires someone grounded, flexible, and accepting of both strengths and struggles, emphasizing deep, authentic empathy.

**In simple terms:** Compassion needs a rooted, adaptable, accepting person.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate grounded, flexible empathy.

Themes

compassion empathy acceptance

Mood

empathetic supportive

Type

personal psychological

When to use this quote

- counseling
- leadership
- friendship

Key Concepts

vulnerability resilience

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you maintain empathy without burnout?
- What qualities make you feel truly seen?

A Different Perspective

Compassion can be draining without self‑care.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Bend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bend/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-need-1554489/) [Deeply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeply/) [Deeply Rooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deeply-rooted-828360/) [Embraces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embraces/) [Embraces Strengths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/embraces-strengths-5827609/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Looking Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking-compassion-5827610/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Need](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need/) [Our](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/our/) [Rooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rooted/) [Someone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/someone/) [Strengths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strengths/) [Struggles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggles/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/)

## Related quotes

> [“Go out and heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out demons and preach the kingdom. But do it for only one reason. Your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/praying-medic/go-out-and-heal-the-sick-raise-the-dead-cast-out-demons-and-preach/)

[Praying Medic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/praying-medic/)

> [I believe that at every level of society the key to a happier world is the growth of compassion. We do not need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/i-believe-that-at-every-level-of-society-the-key-to-a-happier-world/)

[Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/)

> [“Where is your compassion when i need it most? Open your eyes, love, and see what is right before you: that I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-donaldson/where-is-your-compassion-when-i-need-it-most-open-your-eyes-love-and/)

[Julianne Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-donaldson/)

> [We gotta learn to see the beauty in each moment of life everyone has different paths and were seeking the light the world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/micheal-larsen/we-gotta-learn-to-see-the-beauty-in-each-moment-of-life-everyone-has/)

[Micheal Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/micheal-larsen/)

> [My own feeling is we need more compassion, we need more empathy, we need more togetherness, in terms of working together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-mccain/my-own-feeling-is-we-need-more-compassion-we-need-more-empathy-we/)

[Cindy McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cindy-mccain/)

> [“‎"When you lose your compassion for those in need, when you cast aside your capacity to care, when you ignore the plight of your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-paquette/when-you-lose-your-compassion-for-those-in-need-when-you-cast-aside/)

[F. Paquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-paquette/)

> [We are all a people in need. We are not perfect. We are not machines. We make mistakes. We need grace. We need compassion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-tworkowski/we-are-all-a-people-in-need-we-are-not-perfect-we-are-not-machines-we/)

[Jamie Tworkowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-tworkowski/)

> [We need to see kindness and we need to see empathy and compassion. That's something we need to see in leadership as well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dunster/we-need-to-see-kindness-and-we-need-to-see-empathy-and-compassion/)

[Phil Dunster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dunster/)

> [Its a basic truth that if you want to have compassion for others, you need to first have compassion for yourself. Its like when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/its-a-basic-truth-that-if-you-want-to-have-compassion-for-others-you/)

[Kemmy Nola Http://wwwamoreloveforlifecom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kemmy-nola-http-wwwamoreloveforlifecom/)

> [“All that has happened to me fuels the compassion I need to do my work, for in my interactions with the women I treat,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-parker/all-that-has-happened-to-me-fuels-the-compassion-i-need-to-do-my-work/)

[Willie Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-parker/)

> [What I strive to do through my work, is to teach compassion. You need to have a lot of it, in this day and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamel-shabazz/what-i-strive-to-do-through-my-work-is-to-teach-compassion-you-need/)

[Jamel Shabazz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamel-shabazz/)

> [Have a great compassion for people. To be able to have a heart full of compassion, we need to pray. Especially be kind, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/have-a-great-compassion-for-people-to-be-able-to-have-a-heart-full-of/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [Relationships are like trees, they're deeply rooted and not shaken by life's storms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ocean-kusher/relationships-are-like-trees-they-re-deeply-rooted-and-not-shaken-by/)

[Ocean Kusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ocean-kusher/)

> [Love resembles a tree: it bends under its own weight, deeply rooted in our being and sometimes turns green in the ruins of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/love-resembles-a-tree-it-bends-under-its-own-weight-deeply-rooted-in/)

[Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/)

> [I take great pleasure, every day, in seeing my work deeply rooted in our native soil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-heidegger/i-take-great-pleasure-every-day-in-seeing-my-work-deeply-rooted-in/)

[Martin Heidegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-heidegger/)

## More by Brene 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 Brene Brown quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/)

## More Able quotes

> [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/)

[Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/)

> [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/)

[Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/)

[Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/)

> [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/)

[Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-perry/)

> [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/)

[Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/)

> [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/)

[Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/)

> [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/)

[Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/)

> [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/)

[Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/)

> [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/)

[Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/)

> [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/)

[Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/)

[Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When we're looking for compassion, we need someone who is deeply rooted, is able to bend and, most of all, embraces us for our strengths and struggles.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Brene Brown"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-need-someone-who-is-deeply/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Able"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-need-someone-who-is-deeply/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/bren-brown-280_able_when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-nee_2369059.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/bren-brown-280_able_when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-nee_2369059.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/957/bren-brown-280_able_when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-nee_2369059.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When we're looking for compassion, we need someone who is deeply rooted, is able to bend and, most of all…” — Brene 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": "Brene Brown",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When we're looking for compassion, we...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-need-someone-who-is-deeply/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/when-we-re-looking-for-compassion-we-need-someone-who-is-deeply/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
