--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Compassion is a Shepherd, Always tending…" description: "\"Compassion is a Shepherd, Always tending his herd.\" — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_compassion_compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending_2339787.png" --- # Compassion is a Shepherd, Always tending his herd. ![“Compassion is a Shepherd, Always tending his herd.” quote by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_compassion_compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending_2339787.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_compassion_compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending_2339787.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_compassion_compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending_2339787.png) > “Compassion is a Shepherd, Always tending his herd.” [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion guides and protects, like a shepherd caring for his flock. **In simple terms:** Compassion leads and protects others. Key Takeaway Practice compassionate leadership. Themes compassion leadership care Mood calm reflective Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - community building - mental health - spiritual practice Key Concepts mindfulness ethical conduct Questions to Reflect On - How can compassion be applied in leadership? - What limits does compassion face? A Different Perspective Compassion alone may not solve systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Shepherd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shepherd/) [Shepherds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shepherds/) ## Related quotes > [It is a fool of a shepherd who culls his dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-smith/it-is-a-fool-of-a-shepherd-who-culls-his-dogs/) [Jefferson Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-smith/) > [If, therefore, the Greeks or others say that they are not committed to Peter and to his successors, they necessarily say that they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-boniface-viii/if-therefore-the-greeks-or-others-say-that-they-are-not-committed-to/) [Pope Boniface VIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-boniface-viii/) > [Quit acting like a wolf, and feel the shepherd's love filling you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/quit-acting-like-a-wolf-and-feel-the-shepherd-s-love-filling-you/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [This is the blessed life-not anxious to see far in front, nor eager to choose the path, but quietly following behind the Shepherd, one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-b-meyer/this-is-the-blessed-life-not-anxious-to-see-far-in-front-nor-eager-to/) [F.B. Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/) > [My role is the shepherd's role. The shepherd is the one who opens the gate and allows the flock to go through and whoever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-cliff/my-role-is-the-shepherd-s-role-the-shepherd-is-the-one-who-opens-the/) [Jimmy Cliff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-cliff/) > [There is one fold and one shepherd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-boniface-viii/there-is-one-fold-and-one-shepherd/) [Pope Boniface VIII](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-boniface-viii/) > [Reason is the shepherd trying to corral life's vast flock of wild irrationalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-eldridge/reason-is-the-shepherd-trying-to-corral-life-s-vast-flock-of-wild/) [Paul Eldridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-eldridge/) > [Sheep are always looking for a new shepherd when the terrain gets rocky.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sheep-are-always-looking-for-a-new-shepherd-when-the-terrain-gets/) [Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/) > [If so many Americans are looking for the government to save them, then it is hard to have a dignified search for a shepherd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/if-so-many-americans-are-looking-for-the-government-to-save-them-then/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [What can I give Him, Poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb. If I were a Wise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-rossetti/what-can-i-give-him-poor-as-i-am-if-i-were-a-shepherd-i-would-bring-a/) [Christina Rossetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-rossetti/) > [Do exactly the opposite of what the sheep are doing in order to become the Shepherd.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-sylver/do-exactly-the-opposite-of-what-the-sheep-are-doing-in-order-to/) [Marshall Sylver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-sylver/) > [To be a good shepherd is to shear the flock, not skin it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiberius/to-be-a-good-shepherd-is-to-shear-the-flock-not-skin-it/) [Tiberius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiberius/) > [“The emerald life of shepherds always reminds us the romantic and humble life we have lost due to living in the cities!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/the-emerald-life-of-shepherds-always-reminds-us-the-romantic-and/) [Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david/the-lord-is-my-shepherd-i-shall-not-want-he-maketh-me-to-lie-down-in/) [David](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david/) > [“What a blessing to be able to leave the cares of life for a brief period and spend time in the outstretched arms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-george/what-a-blessing-to-be-able-to-leave-the-cares-of-life-for-a-brief/) [Elizabeth George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-george/) ## More by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso > [Our mental attitude transforms a situation into either a problem or an opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/our-mental-attitude-transforms-a-situation-into-either-a-problem-or/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Today we can see many different forms of Buddhism, such as Zen and Theravada Buddhism. All these different aspects are practices of Buddha's teachings,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/today-we-can-see-many-different-forms-of-buddhism-such-as-zen-and/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Going for refuge to Buddha,Dharma, and Sangha means that we apply effort to receiving Buddha's blessings, to putting Dharma into practice, and to receiving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/going-for-refuge-to-buddha-dharma-and-sangha-means-that-we-apply/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Enlightenment is the inner light of wisdom that is permanently free from all mistaken appearance, and whose function is to bestow mental peace upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/enlightenment-is-the-inner-light-of-wisdom-that-is-permanently-free/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Anger is one of the most common and destructive delusions, and it afflicts our mind almost every day. To solve the problem of anger,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/anger-is-one-of-the-most-common-and-destructive-delusions-and-it/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Whenever we practise meditation, whether or not our meditation is clear, we are performing a virtuous mental action that is a cause of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/whenever-we-practise-meditation-whether-or-not-our-meditation-is/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Right now we have obtained a human rebirth and have the opportunity to attain enlightenment through Dharma practice, so if we waste this precious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/right-now-we-have-obtained-a-human-rebirth-and-have-the-opportunity/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [Since inner peace is the source of all happiness, we can see how important meditation is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/since-inner-peace-is-the-source-of-all-happiness-we-can-see-how/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [I have not met one living being that has not been the mother of all the rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/i-have-not-met-one-living-being-that-has-not-been-the-mother-of-all/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [All objects whether pleasant, unpleasant or neutral, are mere appearances to the mind just like things experienced in a dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/all-objects-whether-pleasant-unpleasant-or-neutral-are-mere/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [When a jealous person sees signs of other people's success and good fortune, his heart is pierced with envy. But someone who has learned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/when-a-jealous-person-sees-signs-of-other-people-s-success-and-good/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [This impure world that we presently experience exists only in relation to our impure mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/this-impure-world-that-we-presently-experience-exists-only-in/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [The cause of happiness and the solution to our problems do not lie in knowledge of material things. Happiness and suffering are states of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/the-cause-of-happiness-and-the-solution-to-our-problems-do-not-lie-in/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [The more we want certain situations, the more we find ourself stuck in situations we do not want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/the-more-we-want-certain-situations-the-more-we-find-ourself-stuck-in/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) > [“someone places a toy rubber snake in our room, the first time we see it we may believe that it is a real snake…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/someone-places-a-toy-rubber-snake-in-our-room-the-first-time-we-see/) [Geshe Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) [Explore all 92 Geshe Kelsang Gyatso quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/) ## 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": "Compassion is a Shepherd, Always tending his herd.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geshe Kelsang Gyatso" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending-his-herd/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending-his-herd/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_compassion_compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending_2339787.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_compassion_compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending_2339787.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/27a/geshe-kelsang-gyatso-7286_compassion_compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending_2339787.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Compassion is a Shepherd, Always tending his herd.” — Geshe Kelsang Gyatso", "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": "Geshe Kelsang Gyatso", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Compassion is a Shepherd, Always tending...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending-his-herd/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geshe-kelsang-gyatso/compassion-is-a-shepherd-always-tending-his-herd/#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 } } ] } ```