Compassion Quote by John Dryden
“The gods, (if gods to goodness are inclined If acts of mercy touch their heavenly mind), And, more than all the gods, your generous heart, Conscious of worth, requite its own desert!”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Conquest of Granada, 1672
A plea that divine mercy is limited, urging humans to act generously and reward merit themselves.
In simple terms: Human kindness should match divine mercy.
Key Takeaway
Be generous and reward merit.
Themes
generosity
justice
human agency
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- community service
- personal relationships
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
moral philosophy
reciprocity
theology
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you embody generosity when feeling unappreciated?
- What does “desert” mean in this context?
A Different Perspective
Divine favor may be unreliable, so reliance on human compassion is essential.
![“The whole of the Sermon [Matt 5-7] is framed within Jesus's announcement that what his fellow Jews had longed for over many generations was now at last coming to pass - but that new kingdom didn't look like they had thought it would. Indeed, in some ways it went in exactly the other direction. No…” quote by N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2e3/n-t-wright-1173_creator-god_the-whole-of-the-sermon-matt-5-7-is-fram_511367.jpg)
