--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To become wholly compassionate requires…" description: "\"To become wholly compassionate requires us to open our eyes and hearts, to behold the pain and exploitation our culture obscures, to arouse deadened em..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/joanne-stepaniak-54776_compassion_to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires_1126857.png" --- # To become wholly compassionate requires us to open our… ![“To become wholly compassionate requires us to open our eyes and hearts, to behold the pain and exploitation our culture obscures, to arouse deadened emotions, and to rise above our egos.” quote by Joanne Stepaniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/joanne-stepaniak-54776_compassion_to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires_1126857.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/joanne-stepaniak-54776_compassion_to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires_1126857.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/joanne-stepaniak-54776_compassion_to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires_1126857.png) > “To become wholly compassionate requires us to open our eyes and hearts, to behold the pain and exploitation our culture obscures, to arouse deadened emotions, and to rise above our egos.” [Joanne Stepaniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-stepaniak/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True compassion demands recognizing hidden suffering, awakening empathy, and transcending selfishness. **In simple terms:** Compassion requires seeing pain, feeling empathy, and moving beyond ego. Key Takeaway Open eyes and heart to others’ suffering. Themes compassion empathy ego‑transcendence Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - activism - community service - personal growth - education Key Concepts social justice emotional intelligence activism Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay compassionate without burnout? - What steps help you see hidden suffering? A Different Perspective May be overwhelming without self‑care. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate/) [Compassionate Requires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassionate-requires-3075823/) [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Ego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ego/) [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Exploitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exploitation/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Open eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-eyes/) [Open Our Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-our-eyes/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Pain Exploitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain-exploitation-3075824/) [Rise above](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rise-above/) [Spiritual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual/) [Ur Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ur-eyes/) [Wholly Compassionate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wholly-compassionate-3075822/) ## Related quotes > [“Because of that, he didn't know how to love someone who actually loved him. 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Why? Because they open our eyes, touch us, excite us, extend us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/only-the-best-books-are-special-why-because-they-open-our-eyes-touch/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [If only we can open our eyes, we'll see God's love everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-sanchez/if-only-we-can-open-our-eyes-we-ll-see-god-s-love-everywhere/) [Bo Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-sanchez/) > [We should open our eyes, see what's in front of us, and act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-ayers/we-should-open-our-eyes-see-what-s-in-front-of-us-and-act/) [Bill Ayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-ayers/) > [From the time we open our eyes, we live in a Steadicam form, and the only editing is when we talk about our lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/from-the-time-we-open-our-eyes-we-live-in-a-steadicam-form-and-the/) [Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-gonzalez-inarritu/) > [Life will be wonderful if we close our eyes, we see faith within our soul and if we open our eyes, we see victory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-arora-luthra/life-will-be-wonderful-if-we-close-our-eyes-we-see-faith-within-our/) [Sonam Arora Luthra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-arora-luthra/) > [Many have asked, pointing incredulously toward a sweep of tract homes and billboards, why picture that? The question sounds simple, but it implies a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-adams/many-have-asked-pointing-incredulously-toward-a-sweep-of-tract-homes/) [Robert Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-adams/) > [We must open our eyes to admire God who hides and at the same time reveals himself in things and introduces us into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/we-must-open-our-eyes-to-admire-god-who-hides-and-at-the-same-time/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“O God open our eyes to see the wonders of your holy word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/o-god-open-our-eyes-to-see-the-wonders-of-your-holy-word/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“Faith is blind, if we don’t open our eyes to see the blessings.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-f-glassman/faith-is-blind-if-we-don-t-open-our-eyes-to-see-the-blessings/) [Charles F. Glassman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-f-glassman/) > [Sometimes is best we open our eyes shut our heart and listen to our mind, so we can see and understand when the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-rambharack/sometimes-is-best-we-open-our-eyes-shut-our-heart-and-listen-to-our/) [Glen Rambharack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-rambharack/) > [We only need to open our eyes to see the gifts that abound all around us. These are the simple joys in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-only-need-to-open-our-eyes-to-see-the-gifts-that-abound-all-around/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Joanne Stepaniak > [Vegans and vegetarians are commonly baited by nonvegetarians with "what if" scenarios that typically have no relevance to or bearing on most people's real-life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-stepaniak/vegans-and-vegetarians-are-commonly-baited-by-nonvegetarians-with/) [Joanne Stepaniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-stepaniak/) > [“mad-scientist approach to dairy production has created a monster cow who, according to the USDA national agricultural statistics on milk production, currently yields about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-stepaniak/mad-scientist-approach-to-dairy-production-has-created-a-monster-cow/) [Joanne Stepaniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-stepaniak/) > [In the final analysis, despite our diversity, there is only one type of vegan -- a person who is committed to and practices a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-stepaniak/in-the-final-analysis-despite-our-diversity-there-is-only-one-type-of/) [Joanne Stepaniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-stepaniak/) > [There is no logical basis to support the theory that plants feel pain. 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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": "To become wholly compassionate requires us to open our eyes and hearts, to behold the pain and exploitation our culture obscures, to arouse deadened emotions, and to rise above our egos.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joanne Stepaniak" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-stepaniak/to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires-us-to-open-our-eyes-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-stepaniak/to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires-us-to-open-our-eyes-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/joanne-stepaniak-54776_compassion_to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires_1126857.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/joanne-stepaniak-54776_compassion_to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires_1126857.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2a0/joanne-stepaniak-54776_compassion_to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires_1126857.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To become wholly compassionate requires us to open our eyes and hearts, to behold the pain and exploitation…” — Joanne Stepaniak", "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": "Joanne Stepaniak", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-stepaniak/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To become wholly compassionate requires us...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-stepaniak/to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires-us-to-open-our-eyes-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-stepaniak/to-become-wholly-compassionate-requires-us-to-open-our-eyes-and/#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 } } ] } ```