--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are those who do not hold that…" description: "\"There are those who do not hold that there is any innate goodness to mankind. To them I say, had you lived my life, you would not believe it. I have kn..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/jacqueline-carey-1938_believe_there-are-those-who-do-not-hold-that-the_270754.jpg" --- # There are those who do not hold that there is any innate… ![“There are those who do not hold that there is any innate goodness to mankind. To them I say, had you lived my life, you would not believe it. I have known the depths to which mortals are capable of descending, and I have seen the heights. I have seen how kindness and compassion may grow in the…” quote by Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/jacqueline-carey-1938_believe_there-are-those-who-do-not-hold-that-the_270754.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/jacqueline-carey-1938_believe_there-are-those-who-do-not-hold-that-the_270754.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/49f/jacqueline-carey-1938_believe_there-are-those-who-do-not-hold-that-the_270754.jpg) > “There are those who do not hold that there is any innate goodness to mankind. To them I say, had you lived my life, you would not believe it. I have known the depths to which mortals are capable of descending, and I have seen the heights. I have seen how kindness and compassion may grow in the unlikeliest of places, as the mountain flower forces its way through the stern rock.” [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even in darkness, kindness can emerge unexpectedly, like a flower breaking through rock. **In simple terms:** Compassion appears in unlikely places. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy. Themes goodness compassion resilience Mood hopeful inspirational Type narrative philosophical When to use this quote - personal crises - community service - mental health support Key Concepts humanism nature metaphor Questions to Reflect On - What experiences have shown you unexpected kindness? - How can you nurture compassion in tough times? A Different Perspective Kindness may be rare in harsh environments. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Depth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/depth/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goodness/) [Innate goodness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innate-goodness/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness and compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-and-compassion/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mankind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mankind/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Rocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rocks/) ## Related quotes > [“She'd seen the kindness in him that he hid from the world, and she'd glimpsed some of the pain that he kept to himself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/she-d-seen-the-kindness-in-him-that-he-hid-from-the-world-and-she-d/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“He has written about equality, the perfectibility of human nature, and the essential goodness of mankind for many years -- he judges others by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-o-brian/he-has-written-about-equality-the-perfectibility-of-human-nature-and/) [Patrick O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-o-brian/) > [“Do I believe in an old man in the clouds with a white beard judging us mortals with a moral code from one to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-winman/do-i-believe-in-an-old-man-in-the-clouds-with-a-white-beard-judging/) [Sarah Winman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-winman/) > [If you are motivated by loving kindness and compassion, there are many ways to bring happiness to others right now, starting with kind speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-motivated-by-loving-kindness-and-compassion-there-are-many/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [“A daughter’s decree to Lewy body It was then that you carried me, throughout the whole of my life, keeping me safe and away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-haslegrave/a-daughter-s-decree-to-lewy-body-it-was-then-that-you-carried-me/) Emma Haslegrave > [“Don’t let the modern love change you too much that you forget what it is to live with kindness and compassion. From (The Awakening)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jyoti-patel/don-t-let-the-modern-love-change-you-too-much-that-you-forget-what-it/) [Jyoti Patel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jyoti-patel/) > [I believe in continuing to put love and kindness and compassion and art into the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-kidman/i-believe-in-continuing-to-put-love-and-kindness-and-compassion-and/) [Nicole Kidman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-kidman/) > [I admire the fact that the central core of Buddhist teaching involves mindfulness and loving kindness and compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-reagan/i-admire-the-fact-that-the-central-core-of-buddhist-teaching-involves/) [Ron Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-reagan/) > [Loving-kindness and compassion are the basis for wise, powerful, sometimes gentle, and sometimes fierce actions that can really make a difference - in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/loving-kindness-and-compassion-are-the-basis-for-wise-powerful/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [I think we need more love in the world. We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to contribute…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-degeneres/i-think-we-need-more-love-in-the-world-we-need-more-kindness-more/) [Ellen DeGeneres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-degeneres/) > [May I never get too busy in my own affairs that I fail to respond to the needs of others with kindness and compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/may-i-never-get-too-busy-in-my-own-affairs-that-i-fail-to-respond-to/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [No one is more worthy of your kindness and compassion than you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/no-one-is-more-worthy-of-your-kindness-and-compassion-than-you-are/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Kindness and compassion towards all living things is a mark of a civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against human beings or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/kindness-and-compassion-towards-all-living-things-is-a-mark-of-a/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [Every act of kindness and compassion toward others gets multiplied when they, in turn, pass it on. One by one the world becomes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-z-borysenko/every-act-of-kindness-and-compassion-toward-others-gets-multiplied/) [Joan Z. Borysenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-z-borysenko/) > [When we practice loving kindness and compassion we are the first ones to profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-we-practice-loving-kindness-and-compassion-we-are-the-first-ones/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Jacqueline Carey > [“A pretty sight; it would have surprised me, if my capacity for surprise wasn't flattened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/a-pretty-sight-it-would-have-surprised-me-if-my-capacity-for-surprise/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [“Never before had I used my service to escape any woes that troubled me, but I did that day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/never-before-had-i-used-my-service-to-escape-any-woes-that-troubled/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [“Young men," Melisande murmured after they had left, smiling faintly. "Such a sense of honor. Is he a little bit in love with you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/young-men-melisande-murmured-after-they-had-left-smiling-faintly-such/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [For this too I learned, that a storyteller's tale may end, but history goes on always. These events, so distant in legend, play a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/for-this-too-i-learned-that-a-storyteller-s-tale-may-end-but-history/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [“for the keeping of secrets from adults is oft the only power a child may hope to possess.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/for-the-keeping-of-secrets-from-adults-is-oft-the-only-power-a-child/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [Happiness is the highest form of wisdom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/happiness-is-the-highest-form-of-wisdom/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [“If I have one pride in my calling, it is that I have never judged a patron wrongly - and I have never failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/if-i-have-one-pride-in-my-calling-it-is-that-i-have-never-judged-a/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [A little truth seasons a lie like salt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/a-little-truth-seasons-a-lie-like-salt/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [I had begun to think my ripening body would wither untasted on the vine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/i-had-begun-to-think-my-ripening-body-would-wither-untasted-on-the/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [Garner knowledge, by any means possible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/garner-knowledge-by-any-means-possible/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [Pain obliterates everything else. In pain, there is only the eternal present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/pain-obliterates-everything-else-in-pain-there-is-only-the-eternal/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [I would that I could have stopped time and preserved that day forever. It was a perfect day. There was the shadow of sorrow,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/i-would-that-i-could-have-stopped-time-and-preserved-that-day-forever/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [To recongnize that the treachery of one member of a house does not taint all born within it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/to-recongnize-that-the-treachery-of-one-member-of-a-house-does-not/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [Grief heals ... unshed tears fester like a canker in the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/grief-heals-unshed-tears-fester-like-a-canker-in-the-soul/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) > [Are you a minor character in my tale, or am I a lesser figure in yours?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-carey/are-you-a-minor-character-in-my-tale-or-am-i-a-lesser-figure-in-yours/) [Jacqueline Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) [Explore all 188 Jacqueline Carey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-carey/) ## More Believe quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. It makes a mockery of freedom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-robison/some-people-still-believe-you-should-just-fall-in-line-with-what-s/) [Emily Robison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-robison/) > [The truth seems to be that propaganda on its own cannot force its way into unwilling minds; neither can it inculcate something wholly new;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/the-truth-seems-to-be-that-propaganda-on-its-own-cannot-force-its-way/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [There is no such word as item girl in the dictionary. People have created this word and I don't believe that I am an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-zariwala/there-is-no-such-word-as-item-girl-in-the-dictionary-people-have/) [Shefali Zariwala](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-zariwala/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. He said today he believes life begins at conception and ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/bush-reiterated-his-stand-to-conservatives-opposing-his-decision-on/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [Never underestimate the power of the human mind to believe what it wants to believe, no matter the conflicting evidence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-herbert/never-underestimate-the-power-of-the-human-mind-to-believe-what-it/) [Brian Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-herbert/) > [To believe in love, to be ready to give up anything for it, to be willing to risk your life for it, is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/to-believe-in-love-to-be-ready-to-give-up-anything-for-it-to-be/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [That's why I don't generally talk about endorsements because I don't believe we have to tell people who to vote for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther-king-iii/that-s-why-i-don-t-generally-talk-about-endorsements-because-i-don-t/) [Martin Luther King III](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther-king-iii/) > [Mankind have been slow to believe that order reigns in the universe-that the world is a cosmos and a chaos.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-a-garfield/mankind-have-been-slow-to-believe-that-order-reigns-in-the-universe/) [James A. Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There are those who do not hold that there is any innate goodness to mankind. To them I say, had you lived my life, you would not believe it. I have known the depths to which mortals are capable of descending, and I have seen the heights. 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