--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I adore him,\" she said. \"I feel…" description: "\"“I adore him,\" she said. \"I feel compassion for him because he's totally fucked up.”\" — Candace Bushnell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/candace-bushnell-1562_compassion_i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-f_2108551.png" --- # I adore him," she said. "I feel compassion for him because… ![“I adore him," she said. "I feel compassion for him because he's totally fucked up.” quote by Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/candace-bushnell-1562_compassion_i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-f_2108551.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/candace-bushnell-1562_compassion_i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-f_2108551.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/candace-bushnell-1562_compassion_i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-f_2108551.png) > ““I adore him," she said. "I feel compassion for him because he's totally fucked up.”” [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion can exist even for those who are deeply flawed. **In simple terms:** Feel empathy for imperfect people. Key Takeaway Practice unconditional empathy. Themes compassion flaws humanity Mood empathetic complex Type literary psychological When to use this quote - therapy - relationships - social work - conflict resolution Key Concepts psychology ethics Questions to Reflect On - Why do we feel compassion for the damaged? - Can empathy enable change? A Different Perspective Empathy may be challenged by harmful behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ## Related quotes > [“Even the strongest and bravest must sometimes weep. 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Do not be sad or gloomy - foster virtue, feel compassion, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zen-arrow-awa-kenzo-zen-bow/if-you-are-upset-or-nervous-that-is-proof-you-lack-something-do-not/) Zen Arrow Awa Kenzo - Zen Bow > [At least once a year, I imagine that I am about to die. Looking back as truthfully as I can at my entire life,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/at-least-once-a-year-i-imagine-that-i-am-about-to-die-looking-back-as/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Even the strongest and bravest must sometimes weep. It shows they have a great heart, one that can feel compassion for others." —Cornflower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-jacques/even-the-strongest-and-bravest-must-sometimes-weep-it-shows-they-have-2/) [Brian Jacques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-jacques/) > [I no longer become angry. I not only do not say angry words, I do not even think angry thoughts! If someone does an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/i-no-longer-become-angry-i-not-only-do-not-say-angry-words-i-do-not/) [Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/) > [We cannot ignore our pain and feel compassion for it at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/we-cannot-ignore-our-pain-and-feel-compassion-for-it-at-the-same-time/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [“You may find that your God is strong enough to handle your anger, strong enough to feel compassion and love for you, even in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/you-may-find-that-your-god-is-strong-enough-to-handle-your-anger/) [Elisabeth Kübler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [“Mindfulness: Taking a balanced approach to negative emotions so that feelings are neither suppressed nor exaggerated. 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I feel compassion can help us overcome these disturbances and let us return to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/hatred-jealousy-and-excessive-attachment-cause-suffering-and/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [ Some people have become \[in U.S\] a lot more conservative but I can't really speak about that because I wasn't there. I feel compassion… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nan-goldin/some-people-have-become-in-u-s-a-lot-more-conservative-but-i-can-t/) [Nan Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nan-goldin/) > [“When you love people, you are curious about who they are, what they think, and how they feel. You watch them closely, wondering about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vironika-tugaleva/when-you-love-people-you-are-curious-about-who-they-are-what-they/) [Vironika Tugaleva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vironika-tugaleva/) > [Some people think that without that spark of empathy we would do nothing, but that's just flat-out wrong. You could feel compassion for somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/some-people-think-that-without-that-spark-of-empathy-we-would-do/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) ## More by Candace Bushnell > [“I’ve had boyfriends before, and frankly, each one was a disappointment. There was nothing horribly wrong with these boys. It was my fault. I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-ve-had-boyfriends-before-and-frankly-each-one-was-a-disappointment/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Some secrets are better left at that -as secrets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/some-secrets-are-better-left-at-that-as-secrets/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [We hate guys who date more than one woman at a time. I've always believed that what's unacceptable in one sex should, by definition,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/we-hate-guys-who-date-more-than-one-woman-at-a-time-i-ve-always/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“The car was on the FDR drive now and, turning her head, she glanced out at the bleak brown buildings of the projects that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-car-was-on-the-fdr-drive-now-and-turning-her-head-she-glanced-out/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“The monute you get engaged, you become public property.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-monute-you-get-engaged-you-become-public-property/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Women with money and women in power are two uncomfortable ideas in our society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/women-with-money-and-women-in-power-are-two-uncomfortable-ideas-in/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [The heart wants what the heart wants," she says, somewhat cryptically. I purse my lips in disapproval. "You'd think the heart would know better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-heart-wants-what-the-heart-wants-she-says-somewhat-cryptically-i/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Growing up, nobody I knew even knew a writer. So it was a big adventure and something that I've wrestled with my whole life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/growing-up-nobody-i-knew-even-knew-a-writer-so-it-was-a-big-adventure/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“The city was different back then--poor and crumbling--kept alive only by the gritty determination and steely cynicism of its occupants. But underneath the dirt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-city-was-different-back-then-poor-and-crumbling-kept-alive-only/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [All those men who end up disappointing you. After a while, you don't even want to have feelings anymore. You just want to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/all-those-men-who-end-up-disappointing-you-after-a-while-you-don-t/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [I do not pick the wrong guys. They pick me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-do-not-pick-the-wrong-guys-they-pick-me/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [I'm not ashamed of anything I've done. Shame is a useless emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-m-not-ashamed-of-anything-i-ve-done-shame-is-a-useless-emotion/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [“I will not listen to you, or anybody else. Because you know what? Everyone think they know so goddamned much about everything and no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-will-not-listen-to-you-or-anybody-else-because-you-know-what/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [Rule number one: Why is it that the one time a cute guy talks to you, you have a friend who's in crisis?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/rule-number-one-why-is-it-that-the-one-time-a-cute-guy-talks-to-you/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) > [The fact that a man is open to being with an older woman suggests that he doesn't give a hang what other people think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/the-fact-that-a-man-is-open-to-being-with-an-older-woman-suggests/) [Candace Bushnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) [Explore all 226 Candace Bushnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/) ## 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": "“I adore him,\" she said. \"I feel compassion for him because he's totally fucked up.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Candace Bushnell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-for-him-because-he-s-totally/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-for-him-because-he-s-totally/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/candace-bushnell-1562_compassion_i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-f_2108551.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/candace-bushnell-1562_compassion_i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-f_2108551.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e4/candace-bushnell-1562_compassion_i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-f_2108551.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I adore him,\" she said. \"I feel compassion for him because he's totally fucked up.” — Candace Bushnell", "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": "Candace Bushnell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-bushnell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“I adore him,\" she said. \"I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-for-him-because-he-s-totally/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-bushnell/i-adore-him-she-said-i-feel-compassion-for-him-because-he-s-totally/#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 } } ] } ```