--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: She had wild eyes, slightly insane. She…" description: "\"“She had wild eyes, slightly insane. She also carried an overload of compassion that was real enough and which obviously cost her something.”\" — Charle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/charles-bukowski-73_compassion_she-had-wild-eyes-slightly-insane-she-al_908333.jpg" --- # She had wild eyes, slightly insane. She also carried an… ![“She had wild eyes, slightly insane. She also carried an overload of compassion that was real enough and which obviously cost her something.” quote by Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/charles-bukowski-73_compassion_she-had-wild-eyes-slightly-insane-she-al_908333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/charles-bukowski-73_compassion_she-had-wild-eyes-slightly-insane-she-al_908333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e26/charles-bukowski-73_compassion_she-had-wild-eyes-slightly-insane-she-al_908333.jpg) > ““She had wild eyes, slightly insane. She also carried an overload of compassion that was real enough and which obviously cost her something.”” [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## 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 coexist with instability, but it often exact a personal cost. **In simple terms:** Compassion may be costly. Key Takeaway Balance compassion with self‑care. Themes compassion instability empathy personal cost Mood somber introspective Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - caring relationships - mental health work - artistic creation - social activism Key Concepts emotional labor psychological resilience humanity Questions to Reflect On - What price do you pay for your empathy? - How can you protect yourself while staying compassionate? A Different Perspective Excessive compassion can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-real-293454/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Insane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/insane/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Overload Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overload-compassion-1307485/) [Slightly Insane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/slightly-insane-1307486/) [Wild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild/) [Wild eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-eyes/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [ \[Andrea\] Leadsom has compassion ... a real steel and a real determination and that velvet glove of compassion that she really cares about people. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-duncan-smith/andrea-leadsom-has-compassion-a-real-steel-and-a-real-determination/) [Iain Duncan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-duncan-smith/) > [Because we are limited in our knowledge, even the sanest of us are slightly insane. Our limitations are a kind of madness, and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-longenecker/because-we-are-limited-in-our-knowledge-even-the-sanest-of-us-are/) [Dwight Longenecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-longenecker/) > [“The wild, incorrigible, irreverent, and slightly insane woman had poured her essence around him when life threatened to break him apart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kris-michaels/the-wild-incorrigible-irreverent-and-slightly-insane-woman-had-poured/) [Kris Michaels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kris-michaels/) > [But you can't always tell - with somebody's mother, I mean. Mothers are all slightly insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/but-you-can-t-always-tell-with-somebody-s-mother-i-mean-mothers-are/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [“In either case, she would learn to unhate me, as I had learned to accept my mate was a flight risk and perhaps slightly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milana-jacks/in-either-case-she-would-learn-to-unhate-me-as-i-had-learned-to/) [Milana Jacks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milana-jacks/) > [Mothers are all slightly insane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/mothers-are-all-slightly-insane/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/compassion-becomes-real-when-we-recognize-our-shared-humanity/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/compassion-is-not-a-relationship-between-the-healer-and-the-wounded-3/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [I may be crazy, funny,random, and slightly insane.. but u gotta love me :D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-emmanuel/i-may-be-crazy-funny-random-and-slightly-insane-but-u-gotta-love-me-d/) [Paul Emmanuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-emmanuel/) > [There are two types of compassion. One - is faint-hearted and sentimental. Actually, it is nothing more than impatience of the heart, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/there-are-two-types-of-compassion-one-is-faint-hearted-and/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [“Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/only-when-we-know-our-own-darkness-well-can-we-be-present-with-the/) [Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [“She'd been questioning Jenni's sanity for a while now, but then again, they were all slightly insane now, weren't they?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhiannon-frater/she-d-been-questioning-jenni-s-sanity-for-a-while-now-but-then-again/) [Rhiannon Frater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhiannon-frater/) > [Try to develop some genuine love and compassion, some real caring for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tenzin-palmo/try-to-develop-some-genuine-love-and-compassion-some-real-caring-for/) [Tenzin Palmo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tenzin-palmo/) > [“others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bren-brown/others-compassion-becomes-real-when-we-recognize/) [Brené Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bren-brown/) > [All mothers are slightly insane...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/all-mothers-are-slightly-insane/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) ## More by Charles Bukowski > [“sometimes when everything seems at its worst when all conspires and gnaws and the hours, days, weeks years seem wasted – stretched there upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/sometimes-when-everything-seems-at-its-worst-when-all-conspires-and/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [well, death says, as he walks by, I'm going to get you anyhow no matter what you've been: writer, cab-driver, pimp, butcher, sky-diver, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/well-death-says-as-he-walks-by-i-m-going-to-get-you-anyhow-no-matter/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“There is only one place to write and that is alone at a typewriter. A writer who has to go into the streets is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/there-is-only-one-place-to-write-and-that-is-alone-at-a-typewriter-a/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [Even the stove and the refrigerator looked human, I mean good human - they seemed to have arms and voices and they said, hang…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/even-the-stove-and-the-refrigerator-looked-human-i-mean-good-human/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“nerves twitching in the sheets -- to face the sunlight again, that's clearly trouble. I like the city better when the neon lights are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/nerves-twitching-in-the-sheets-to-face-the-sunlight-again-that-s/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Their Love Is Average, Seeks Average But There Is Genius In Their Hatred”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/their-love-is-average-seeks-average-but-there-is-genius-in-their/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I climbed the stairway (there was no elevator) and put the key in. The door swung open. Somebody had changed all the furniture around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-climbed-the-stairway-there-was-no-elevator-and-put-the-key-in-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“Strangers when you meet, strangers when you part -a gymnasium of bodies namelessly masturbating each other. People with no morals often considered themselves more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/strangers-when-you-meet-strangers-when-you-part-a-gymnasium-of-bodies/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I like to change liquor stores frequently because the clerks got to know your habits if you went in night and day and bought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-like-to-change-liquor-stores-frequently-because-the-clerks-got-to/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I was like a turd that drew flies instead of like a flower that butterflies and bees desired. I wanted to live alone,I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-was-like-a-turd-that-drew-flies-instead-of-like-a-flower-that/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [It's 4:30 in the morning, it's always 4:30 in the morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/it-s-4-30-in-the-morning-it-s-always-4-30-in-the-morning/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I had no feeling for the things so many others needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-had-no-feeling-for-the-things-so-many-others-needed/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“I am sick with caring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-am-sick-with-caring/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [I went home each night dizzy and sick. He was murdering me with the sound of his voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-went-home-each-night-dizzy-and-sick-he-was-murdering-me-with-the/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [“the nights you fight best are when all the weapons are pointed at you, when all the voices hurl their insults while the dream…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/the-nights-you-fight-best-are-when-all-the-weapons-are-pointed-at-you/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Explore all 1,492 Charles Bukowski quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) ## 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": "“She had wild eyes, slightly insane. 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