--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is compassion rather than the…" description: "\"It is compassion rather than the principle of justice which can guard us against being unjust to our fellow men.\" — Bruce Lee" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/bruce-lee-430_compassion_it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-princip_242466.jpg" --- # It is compassion rather than the principle of justice… ![“It is compassion rather than the principle of justice which can guard us against being unjust to our fellow men.” quote by Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/bruce-lee-430_compassion_it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-princip_242466.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/bruce-lee-430_compassion_it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-princip_242466.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/bruce-lee-430_compassion_it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-princip_242466.jpg) > “It is compassion rather than the principle of justice which can guard us against being unjust to our fellow men.” [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion, not justice alone, protects us from unjust behavior toward others. **In simple terms:** Compassion guards against injustice more than law. Key Takeaway Cultivate compassion to act fairly. Themes ethics compassion justice humanity philosophy Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - community building - leadership training - personal reflection Key Concepts moral psychology interpersonal ethics social harmony Questions to Reflect On - How does compassion differ from legal justice? - Can compassion alone ensure societal fairness? A Different Perspective Relying solely on compassion may lack enforceable standards. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Principle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-principle-2427787/) [Fellow man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-man/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Principle Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principle-justice-332693/) [Principles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/principles/) [Unjust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unjust/) [Unjust Fellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unjust-fellow-2427788/) ## Related quotes > [God's irony, that in order to fight and defeat the threat of terrorism, we shall have to be clear about the principle of justice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/god-s-irony-that-in-order-to-fight-and-defeat-the-threat-of-terrorism/) [Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/) > [A bedrock principle of our justice system is ensuring a fair day in court, something that is especially important for children who cannot advocate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-leahy/a-bedrock-principle-of-our-justice-system-is-ensuring-a-fair-day-in/) [Patrick Leahy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-leahy/) > [An evident principleis the principle of justice to all peoples and nationalities, and their right to live on equal terms of liberty and safety…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/an-evident-principleis-the-principle-of-justice-to-all-peoples-and/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [No legal plunder: This is the principle of justice, peace, order, stability, harmony, and logic. Until the day of my death, I shall proclaim…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/no-legal-plunder-this-is-the-principle-of-justice-peace-order/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) > [Two things, Christian reader, particularly excite the will of man to good. A principle of justice is one, the other the profit we may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-of-granada/two-things-christian-reader-particularly-excite-the-will-of-man-to/) [Louis of Granada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-of-granada/) > [I will restore a government based on principle and justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moon-jae-in/i-will-restore-a-government-based-on-principle-and-justice/) [Moon Jae-in](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moon-jae-in/) > [“A person who stands in the principle of justice even under person is a just person”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bro-eli-soriano/a-person-who-stands-in-the-principle-of-justice-even-under-person-is/) [bro. eli soriano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bro-eli-soriano/) > [An evident principle ... is the principle of justice to all peoples and nationalities, andtheir right to live on equal terms of liberty and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/an-evident-principle-is-the-principle-of-justice-to-all-peoples-and/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“During the era of the rightly-guided Khaleefahs, the Muslim Nation was built on the principle of justice. This is mainly why Muslims were so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abdul-malik-mujahid/during-the-era-of-the-rightly-guided-khaleefahs-the-muslim-nation-was/) [Abdul Malik Mujahid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abdul-malik-mujahid/) > [Everywhere there is one principle of justice, which is the interest of the stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/everywhere-there-is-one-principle-of-justice-which-is-the-interest-of/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [The great principle of Justice: prevent crime rather than punish it. All that is needed to execute a guilty man is a firing squad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusto-roa-bastos/the-great-principle-of-justice-prevent-crime-rather-than-punish-it/) [Augusto Roa Bastos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusto-roa-bastos/) > [There is no sphere in which a human being can be supposed to act where one mode of reasoning will not, in every given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-godwin/there-is-no-sphere-in-which-a-human-being-can-be-supposed-to-act/) [William Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-godwin/) > [ Our search for such \[moral\] principles can start with . . . the unconditional imperative to acknowledge every person as a person. If we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-tillich/our-search-for-such-moral-principles-can-start-with-the-unconditional/) [Paul Tillich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-tillich/) > [My guiding principle will be justice and complete impartiality, and I am sure that with your support and co-operation, I can look forward to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muhammad-ali-jinnah/my-guiding-principle-will-be-justice-and-complete-impartiality-and-i/) [Muhammad Ali Jinnah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muhammad-ali-jinnah/) > [No legal plunder: This is the principle of justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederic-bastiat/no-legal-plunder-this-is-the-principle-of-justice/) [Frederic Bastiat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederic-bastiat/) ## More by Bruce Lee > [Do not like, do not dislike; all will then be clear. Make a hairbreadth difference and heaven and earth are set apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/do-not-like-do-not-dislike-all-will-then-be-clear-make-a-hairbreadth/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The great mistake is to anticipate the outcome of the engagement; you ought not to be thinking of whether it ends in victory or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-great-mistake-is-to-anticipate-the-outcome-of-the-engagement-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The more aware you become, the more you shed from day to day what you have learned so that your mind is always fresh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-more-aware-you-become-the-more-you-shed-from-day-to-day-what-you/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The usefulness of the cup is its emptiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-usefulness-of-the-cup-is-its-emptiness/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [My style? You can call it the art of fighting without fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/my-style-you-can-call-it-the-art-of-fighting-without-fighting/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The founder of any branch must be more ingenious than the common man. However, if his achievement is not carried on by disciples of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-founder-of-any-branch-must-be-more-ingenious-than-the-common-man/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I don't believe in different ways of fighting now. I mean, unless human beings have 3 arms and 3 legs, then we will have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-don-t-believe-in-different-ways-of-fighting-now-i-mean-unless-human/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Be a practical dreamer backed by action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/be-a-practical-dreamer-backed-by-action/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [In order to taste my cup of water you must first empty your cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/in-order-to-taste-my-cup-of-water-you-must-first-empty-your-cup/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Truth comes when your mind and heart are purged of all sense of striving and you are no longer trying to become somebody; it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/truth-comes-when-your-mind-and-heart-are-purged-of-all-sense-of/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [A person cannot forget someone who is good to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/a-person-cannot-forget-someone-who-is-good-to-them/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [The highest art is no art. The highest form is no form](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/the-highest-art-is-no-art-the-highest-form-is-no-form/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [To live is a constant process of relating, so come on out of that shell of isolation and conclusion, and relate DIRECTLY to what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/to-live-is-a-constant-process-of-relating-so-come-on-out-of-that/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [I hope martial artists are more interested in the root of martial arts and not the different decorative branches, flowers or leaves. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/i-hope-martial-artists-are-more-interested-in-the-root-of-martial/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [Art lives where absolute freedom is, because where it is not, there can be no creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/art-lives-where-absolute-freedom-is-because-where-it-is-not-there-can/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) [Explore all 562 Bruce Lee quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "It is compassion rather than the principle of justice which can guard us against being unjust to our fellow men.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Bruce Lee" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-principle-of-justice-which-can-guard/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-principle-of-justice-which-can-guard/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/bruce-lee-430_compassion_it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-princip_242466.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/bruce-lee-430_compassion_it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-princip_242466.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3c6/bruce-lee-430_compassion_it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-princip_242466.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It is compassion rather than the principle of justice which can guard us against being unjust to our fellow…” — Bruce Lee", "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": "Bruce Lee", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It is compassion rather than the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-principle-of-justice-which-can-guard/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/it-is-compassion-rather-than-the-principle-of-justice-which-can-guard/#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 } } ] } ```