--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What we really need is compassion of the…" description: "\"What we really need is compassion of the mind - compassion for others that is directed intelligently and produces truly compassionate results.\" — Harry..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/harry-browne-3285_compassion_what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the_1332265.jpg" --- # What we really need is compassion of the mind - compassion… ![“What we really need is compassion of the mind - compassion for others that is directed intelligently and produces truly compassionate results.” quote by Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/harry-browne-3285_compassion_what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the_1332265.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/harry-browne-3285_compassion_what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the_1332265.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/harry-browne-3285_compassion_what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the_1332265.jpg) > “What we really need is compassion of the mind - compassion for others that is directed intelligently and produces truly compassionate results.” [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion should be guided by thoughtful understanding, not just feeling, to achieve effective help for others. **In simple terms:** Think before you care to help others effectively. Key Takeaway Apply mindful empathy. Themes compassion intelligence effectiveness Mood thoughtful purposeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - volunteering - conflict resolution - leadership - counseling - policy making Key Concepts ethical reasoning emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your empathy is informed? - What steps make compassion actionable? A Different Perspective Compassion without insight can lead to misguided aid. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Directed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-directed-1531339/) [Compassion for others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-for-others/) [Compassion Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-mind-2151308/) [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mind Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind-compassion-2151309/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Produce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/produce/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Results](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/results/) [Truly Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truly-compassionate-483332/) ## Related quotes > [The beginner's mind is the mind of compassion. When our mind is compassionate, it is boundless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/the-beginner-s-mind-is-the-mind-of-compassion-when-our-mind-is/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [In the beginner's mind there is no thought, "I have attained something." All self-centered thoughts limit our vast mind. When we have no thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shunryu-suzuki/in-the-beginner-s-mind-there-is-no-thought-i-have-attained-something/) [Shunryu Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shunryu-suzuki/) > [Truly compassionate action arises spontaneously without thought and is carried out in real action with no anticipation of reward and, indeed, no concept of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/truly-compassionate-action-arises-spontaneously-without-thought-and/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [“A truly compassionate person touches a chord in us that resonates with some of our deepest yearnings. People flock to such individuals, because they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-truly-compassionate-person-touches-a-chord-in-us-that-resonates/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Compassion directed toward oneself is true humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/compassion-directed-toward-oneself-is-true-humility/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [Compassion directed to oneself is humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-weil/compassion-directed-to-oneself-is-humility/) [Simone Weil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-weil/) > [A truly compassionate attitude toward others does not change even if they behave negatively or hurt you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-truly-compassionate-attitude-toward-others-does-not-change-even-if/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [True compassion is not just an emotional response, but a firm commitment founded on reason. Therefore, a truly compassionate attitude toward others does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/true-compassion-is-not-just-an-emotional-response-but-a-firm-2/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [“A truly compassionate man gives a poor woman a portion of his meal before he eats, not after he has eaten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-truly-compassionate-man-gives-a-poor-woman-a-portion-of-his-meal/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“We nurture our own being by respecting all people and consciously working to mitigate the pain of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/we-nurture-our-own-being-by-respecting-all-people-and-consciously/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [“Compassion is a mind wishing that sentient beings be free from suffering, and loving-kindness is a mind wishing that they meet with happiness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/compassion-is-a-mind-wishing-that-sentient-beings-be-free-from/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) > [If we only practice compassion on the mind level, we run a great risk of our compassion being just talk. As we know, talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gelek-rimpoche/if-we-only-practice-compassion-on-the-mind-level-we-run-a-great-risk/) [Gelek Rimpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gelek-rimpoche/) > [Beneath the sophistication of Buddhist psychology lies the simplicity of compassion. We can touch into this compassion whenever the mind is quiet, whenever we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/beneath-the-sophistication-of-buddhist-psychology-lies-the-simplicity/) [Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/) > [Compassion is a mind that removes the suffering that is present in the other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/compassion-is-a-mind-that-removes-the-suffering-that-is-present-in/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“Compassion is a mind that focuses on the sentient beings that are miserable and wishes them to be free from suffering. Compassion can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv/compassion-is-a-mind-that-focuses-on-the-sentient-beings-that-are/) [Dalai Lama XIV](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv/) ## More by Harry Browne > [If younger people see older people who haven't planned ahead and have to rely on charity, the young will be more likely to provide…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/if-younger-people-see-older-people-who-haven-t-planned-ahead-and-have/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Everything we know about human nature and about government tells us that individuals using their own money will achieve far more good for themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/everything-we-know-about-human-nature-and-about-government-tells-us/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [You don't have to buy from anyone. You don't have to work at any particular job. You don't have to participate in any given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/you-don-t-have-to-buy-from-anyone-you-don-t-have-to-work-at-any/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The American way was for commerce, personal relationships, and religion to be voluntary. No one was forced to participate in something he didn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-american-way-was-for-commerce-personal-relationships-and-religion/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Conservatives say the government can't end poverty by force, but they believe it can use force to make people moral. Liberals say government can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/conservatives-say-the-government-can-t-end-poverty-by-force-but-they/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Everyone will experience the consequences of his own acts. If his act are right, he'll get good consequences; if they're not, he'll suffer for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/everyone-will-experience-the-consequences-of-his-own-acts-if-his-act/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Whatever the price, identify it now. What will you have to go through to get where you want to be? There is a price…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/whatever-the-price-identify-it-now-what-will-you-have-to-go-through/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The first step in freeing yourself from social restrictions is the realization that there is no such thing as a safe code of conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-first-step-in-freeing-yourself-from-social-restrictions-is-the/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Only free people have an incentive to be virtuous. Only people who bear the consequences of their own acts will care about those consequences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/only-free-people-have-an-incentive-to-be-virtuous-only-people-who/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [So what is government?... Very simply, it is an agency of coercion. Of course, there are other agencies of coercion - such as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/so-what-is-government-very-simply-it-is-an-agency-of-coercion-of/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The Constitution isn't written in Chinese, Swahili or Sanskrit. It's in plain English.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-constitution-isn-t-written-in-chinese-swahili-or-sanskrit-it-s-in/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [The press is hostile to the idea of liberty. Most people in the press are for big government. Most people think that the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/the-press-is-hostile-to-the-idea-of-liberty-most-people-in-the-press/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [There's nothing shameful in acknowledging that you don't have the answers to every question about life. Just accept the fact that you know only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/there-s-nothing-shameful-in-acknowledging-that-you-don-t-have-the/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Forcing people to be generous isn't humanitarian, effective, compassionate or moral. Only acts that are truly voluntary for all concerned can be truly compassionate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/forcing-people-to-be-generous-isn-t-humanitarian-effective/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) > [Democratic politicians want to solve the crisis of poor education by taking more of your money and using it to reduce classroom sizes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/democratic-politicians-want-to-solve-the-crisis-of-poor-education-by/) [Harry Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) [Explore all 134 Harry Browne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/) ## 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": "What we really need is compassion of the mind - compassion for others that is directed intelligently and produces truly compassionate results.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Harry Browne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the-mind-compassion-for-others/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the-mind-compassion-for-others/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/harry-browne-3285_compassion_what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the_1332265.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/harry-browne-3285_compassion_what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the_1332265.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/220/harry-browne-3285_compassion_what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the_1332265.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What we really need is compassion of the mind - compassion for others that is directed intelligently and…” — Harry Browne", "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": "Harry Browne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-browne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "What we really need is compassion...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the-mind-compassion-for-others/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-browne/what-we-really-need-is-compassion-of-the-mind-compassion-for-others/#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 } } ] } ```