Brokenness Quote by Bryan Stevenson
““After working for more than twenty-five years, I understood that I don’t do what I do because it’s required or necessary or important. I don’t do it because I have no choice. I do what I do because I’m broken, too. My years of struggling against inequality, abusive power, poverty, oppression, and injustice had finally revealed something to me about myself. Being close to suffering, death, executions, and cruel punishments didn’t just illuminate the brokenness of others; in a moment of anguish and heartbreak, it also exposed my own brokenness. You can’t effectively fight abusive power, poverty, inequality, illness, oppression, or injustice and not be broken by it. We are all broken by something. We have all hurt someone and have been hurt. We all share the condition of brokenness even if our brokenness is not equivalent.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Just Mercy, 2014
Witnessing suffering exposes our own brokenness; confronting injustice requires acknowledging personal flaws.
In simple terms: Suffering reveals our own brokenness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize shared brokenness to foster compassion.
Themes
justice
inequality
humanity
self‑reflection
Mood
somber
hopeful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- law
- education
- community work
- mental health
Key Concepts
ethics
social activism
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing your own brokenness affect your activism?
- What steps can you take to heal while fighting injustice?
A Different Perspective
Acknowledging brokenness can cause despair.
