Compassion Quote by Joseph Addison
““When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of envy dies in me; when I read the epitaphs of the beautiful, every inordinate desire goes out; when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone, my heart melts with compassion; when I see the tombs of the parents themselves, I consider the vanity of grieving for those whom we must quickly follow; when I see kings lying by those who deposed them, when I consider rival wits placed side by side, or the men that divided the world with their contests and disputes, I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind. When I read the several dates of the tombs, of some that died yesterday, and some six hundred years ago, I consider that great Day when we shall all of us be contemporaries, and make our appearance together””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Spectator, 1712
Contemplates mortality, envy, compassion, and the fleeting nature of human achievements, urging humility.
In simple terms: Life’s vanities fade; we share the same fate.
Key Takeaway
Embrace humility and compassion.
Themes
mortality
humility
compassion
Mood
somber
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
reflective
When to use this quote
- historical reflection
- personal loss
- philosophical discourse
- teaching ethics
Key Concepts
ephemeral fame
human equality
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing shared mortality affect your actions?
- What can we learn from past lives?
A Different Perspective
May lead to fatalism if not balanced with hope.
![“René of Anjou [(1409-80)] painted a picture of his mistress's corpse as he found it eaten by worms on having it [her tomb] openedon his return from a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This [is] another instance of the strange mixture of religion and gallantry in those ages.” quote by Horace Walpole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/aba/horace-walpole-3357_age_ren-of-anjou-1409-80-painted-a-picture-o_33917.jpg)
