--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You know, when real trouble comes your…" description: "\"You know, when real trouble comes your humanity is awakened. The fundamental human experience is that of compassion.\" — Joseph Campbell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/joseph-campbell-300_awakened_you-know-when-real-trouble-comes-your-hu_1048049.png" --- # You know, when real trouble comes your humanity is… ![“You know, when real trouble comes your humanity is awakened. The fundamental human experience is that of compassion.” quote by Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/joseph-campbell-300_awakened_you-know-when-real-trouble-comes-your-hu_1048049.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/joseph-campbell-300_awakened_you-know-when-real-trouble-comes-your-hu_1048049.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/91a/joseph-campbell-300_awakened_you-know-when-real-trouble-comes-your-hu_1048049.png) > “You know, when real trouble comes your humanity is awakened. The fundamental human experience is that of compassion.” [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When crises arise, they reveal our capacity for compassion and humanity. **In simple terms:** Crises awaken compassion. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to grow empathy. Themes compassion humanity crisis growth awakening Mood reflective inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal loss - natural disaster - social injustice - health emergencies Key Concepts Existentialism empathy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How does adversity reveal your true values? - Can you cultivate compassion before a crisis? A Different Perspective Compassion may be limited by personal bias or burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Human experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-experience/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Spiritual awakening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-awakening/) ## Related quotes > [“The non-believer should still be able to understand the principle and benefit of compassion and human affection. These are basic to the human experience.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-littlejohn/the-non-believer-should-still-be-able-to-understand-the-principle-and/) Darren Littlejohn > [All change in life comes from within. It is what's in humanity's soul, not what's in humanity's wallet, that will purchase our freedom from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/all-change-in-life-comes-from-within-it-is-what-s-in-humanity-s-soul/) [Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/) > [Politics has become beyond acceptable when it comes to humanity. People are just frozen in falsehood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dreyfuss/politics-has-become-beyond-acceptable-when-it-comes-to-humanity/) [Richard Dreyfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dreyfuss/) > [“First, humiliation, then humility, he would have said. And then comes humanity as a matter of course.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-jose-farmer/first-humiliation-then-humility-he-would-have-said-and-then-comes/) [Philip José Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-jose-farmer/) > [“Just as compassion is the wish that all sentient beings be free of suffering, loving-kindness is the wish that all may enjoy happiness. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/his-holiness-the-dalai-lama/just-as-compassion-is-the-wish-that-all-sentient-beings-be-free-of-2/) [His Holiness the Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/his-holiness-the-dalai-lama/) > [ “compassion” derives from the Latin patiri and the Greek pathein, meaning “to suffer, undergo, or experience.” So “compassion” means “to endure \[something\] with another… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/compassion-derives-from-the-latin-patiri-and-the-greek-pathein/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Without an awareness of our feelings we cannot experience compassion. How can we share the sufferings and the joys of others if we cannot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-zukav/without-an-awareness-of-our-feelings-we-cannot-experience-compassion/) [Gary Zukav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-zukav/) > [Only choices made in love are compassionate. There are no exceptions. 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Political theory is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/oh-my-god-does-art-engender-humanity-it-awakens-your-humanity-but/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [For people who are really alive to have life awakened is more important than to get a sandwich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/for-people-who-are-really-alive-to-have-life-awakened-is-more/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [“The ultimate, unqualified mystery is beyond Human experience”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-ultimate-unqualified-mystery-is-beyond-human-experience/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [I feel there is a great spiritual awakening on the planet right now. More than any previous time, people are drawn to meditation, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agapi-stassinopoulos/i-feel-there-is-a-great-spiritual-awakening-on-the-planet-right-now/) [Agapi Stassinopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agapi-stassinopoulos/) > [I think religion is a gateway for spiritual awakening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-bernstein/i-think-religion-is-a-gateway-for-spiritual-awakening/) [Gabrielle Bernstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-bernstein/) > [During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-coltrane/during-the-year-1957-i-experienced-by-the-grace-of-god-a-spiritual/) [John Coltrane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-coltrane/) ## More by Joseph Campbell > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The last act in the biography of the hero is that of the death or departure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-last-act-in-the-biography-of-the-hero-is-that-of-the-death-or/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-privilege-of-a-lifetime-is-being-who-you-are/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The eternal principle, which never was born, never will die: it is in all things: it is in you now. You are the wave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-eternal-principle-which-never-was-born-never-will-die-it-is-in/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [How do you find the divine power in yourself? The word enthusiasm means 'filled with a god,' so what makes you enthusiastic? Follow it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/how-do-you-find-the-divine-power-in-yourself-the-word-enthusiasm/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [What we're learning in our schools is not the wisdom of life. We're learning technologies, we're getting information. There's a curious reluctance on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/what-we-re-learning-in-our-schools-is-not-the-wisdom-of-life-we-re/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [ The fall \[of your soul\] from perfection into duality...was naturally followed by the discovery of the duality of good and evil...This is the Biblical… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-fall-of-your-soul-from-perfection-into-duality-was-naturally/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [So that's what destiny is: simply the fulfillment of the potentialites of the energies in your own system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/so-that-s-what-destiny-is-simply-the-fulfillment-of-the-potentialites/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Your ego is your embodiment and your self is your potentiality and that's what you listen to when you listen for the voice of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/your-ego-is-your-embodiment-and-your-self-is-your-potentiality-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [When you follow your bliss a kind of track opens up, that's always been there, waiting for you. And the life that you should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/when-you-follow-your-bliss-a-kind-of-track-opens-up-that-s-always/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [The best we can do is lean towards the light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/the-best-we-can-do-is-lean-towards-the-light/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [I think of mythology as the homeland of the muses, the inspirers of art, the inspirers of poetry. To see life as a poem…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/i-think-of-mythology-as-the-homeland-of-the-muses-the-inspirers-of/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [When you are falling --- Dive!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/when-you-are-falling-dive/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [We're all seeking...the rapture of being alive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/we-re-all-seeking-the-rapture-of-being-alive/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) > [Both the artist and the lover know that perfection is not loveable. It is the clumsiness of a fault that makes a person lovable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/both-the-artist-and-the-lover-know-that-perfection-is-not-loveable-it/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) [Explore all 711 Joseph Campbell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) ## More Awakened quotes > [An enlightened awareness is within each one of us, right at this moment. This enlightened awareness is truly unborn and marvellously illuminating; and everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bankei-yotaku/an-enlightened-awareness-is-within-each-one-of-us-right-at-this/) [Bankei Yotaku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bankei-yotaku/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [There’s been a problem, a problem eating away at me from the inside out. I’ve become weak, I’ve shown human compassion, and it has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane/there-s-been-a-problem-a-problem-eating-away-at-me-from-the-inside/) [Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane/) > [Although all men are born free, slavery has been the general lot of the human race. Ignorant--they have been cheated; asleep--they have been surprised;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/although-all-men-are-born-free-slavery-has-been-the-general-lot-of/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION is a manual and a call to action for awakened patriots who are too intelligent to believe the leftist media lies and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-palin/righteous-indignation-is-a-manual-and-a-call-to-action-for-awakened/) [Sarah Palin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-palin/) > [Don Quixote followed nature, and being satisfied with his first sleep, did not solicit more. As for Sancho, he never wanted a second, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miguel-de-cervantes/don-quixote-followed-nature-and-being-satisfied-with-his-first-sleep/) [Miguel de Cervantes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miguel-de-cervantes/) > [When I write about "realizations," I am describing a state in which a practitioner has wisdom of who she or he is, and has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-targ/when-i-write-about-realizations-i-am-describing-a-state-in-which-a/) Russell Targ > [To live a present and awakened life, simply be responsive to the moment. It is very simple. If you are hungry, eat. If you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-jacobson/to-live-a-present-and-awakened-life-simply-be-responsive-to-the/) [Leonard Jacobson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-jacobson/) > [I believe that it is truly important for everyone to confront in dialogue the historical reality of the Reformation, its consequences and the responses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/i-believe-that-it-is-truly-important-for-everyone-to-confront-in/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“The truth is: while it may have been rough getting here, I’ve awakened to a dream. The most incredible man in the world came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tessa-dawn/the-truth-is-while-it-may-have-been-rough-getting-here-i-ve-awakened/) [Tessa Dawn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tessa-dawn/) > [In our true blissful essence of mind is known that everything is alright forever and forever and forever...listen to the silence inside the illusion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/in-our-true-blissful-essence-of-mind-is-known-that-everything-is/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [At certain times, a silent mind is very important, but 'silent' does not mean closed. The silent mind is an alert, awakened mind; a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thubten-yeshe/at-certain-times-a-silent-mind-is-very-important-but-silent-does-not/) [Thubten Yeshe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thubten-yeshe/) > [In Buddhism, there are three gems: Buddha, the awakened one; Dharma, the way of understanding and loving; and Sangha, the community that lives in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/in-buddhism-there-are-three-gems-buddha-the-awakened-one-dharma-the/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [What portion in the world can the artist have, Who has awakened from the common dream, But dissipation and despair?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-butler-yeats/what-portion-in-the-world-can-the-artist-have-who-has-awakened-from/) [William Butler Yeats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-butler-yeats/) > [The living word awakened my soul, gave it light, hope, joy, set it free!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-keller/the-living-word-awakened-my-soul-gave-it-light-hope-joy-set-it-free/) [Helen Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-keller/) Browse all 330 Awakened quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You know, when real trouble comes your humanity is awakened. 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