Cat Quote by John le Carre
“I have a theory which I suspect is rather immoral,' Smiley went on, more lightly. 'Each of us has only a quantum of compassion. That if we lavish our concern on every stray cat, we never get to the centre of things.”
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, 1963
Compassion is limited; spreading concern too thin prevents focusing on core priorities.
In simple terms: Too much compassion dilutes focus.
Key Takeaway
Prioritize core concerns.
Themes
ethics
focus
compassion
Mood
thoughtful
serious
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- charity work
- personal relationships
- policy making
Key Concepts
resource allocation
emotional bandwidth
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance broad empathy with deep focus?
- When is selective compassion justified?
A Different Perspective
Excessive focus on core can neglect marginalized needs.
![“George Smiley: [quoting an old letter from Bill Haydon about Jim Prideaux] He has that heavy quiet that commands. He's my other half. Between us we'd make one marvelous man. He asks nothing better than to be in my company or that of my wicked, divine friends, and I'm vastly tickled by the…” quote by John le Carre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d52/john-le-carre-651_bills_george-smiley-quoting-an-old-letter-from_1812849.jpg)
