--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If the people who hurt us have anger or…" description: "\"If the people who hurt us have anger or desperation within them then they suffer. When you see that someone suffers, you might be motivated by a desire..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/nhat-hanh-515_anger_if-the-people-who-hurt-us-have-anger-or_1520941.jpg" --- # If the people who hurt us have anger or desperation within… ![“If the people who hurt us have anger or desperation within them then they suffer. When you see that someone suffers, you might be motivated by a desire to help him not to suffer anymore.” quote by Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/nhat-hanh-515_anger_if-the-people-who-hurt-us-have-anger-or_1520941.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/nhat-hanh-515_anger_if-the-people-who-hurt-us-have-anger-or_1520941.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/894/nhat-hanh-515_anger_if-the-people-who-hurt-us-have-anger-or_1520941.jpg) > “If the people who hurt us have anger or desperation within them then they suffer. When you see that someone suffers, you might be motivated by a desire to help him not to suffer anymore.” [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing others' suffering can inspire compassionate action, as empathy transforms pain into a motive to alleviate suffering. **In simple terms:** Empathy drives help. Key Takeaway Respond to others' pain with compassion. Themes compassion empathy helping mindfulness Mood gentle hopeful Type spiritual ethical When to use this quote - volunteering - counseling - conflict resolution - personal relationships Key Concepts interconnectedness ethical response psychological motivation Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑care with helping others? - What prevents you from acting on empathy? A Different Perspective Compassion may be limited by personal boundaries. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) [Anger Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger-desperation-5103227/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Desperation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperation/) [Help Suffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-suffer-1440185/) [Helping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Hurt Anger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-anger-1016606/) [Hurt U](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt-u/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Might](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/might/) [Motivated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivated/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Suffer Suffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffer-suffers-1399617/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffers Motivated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffers-motivated-5621858/) ## Related quotes > [“No, if your life is without pain and anger and desperation then you are living it all wrong. You are not living at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-hick/no-if-your-life-is-without-pain-and-anger-and-desperation-then-you/) [Shaun Hick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-hick/) > [Everyone suffers some injustice in life, and what better motivation than to help others not suffer in the same way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-thorne/everyone-suffers-some-injustice-in-life-and-what-better-motivation/) [Bella Thorne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-thorne/) > [you can do something. You can, even for one person Don't turn away; help. Because those who suffer, often suffer not because of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/you-can-do-something-you-can-even-for-one-person-don-t-turn-away-help/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Nothing does so much to help those who suffer as to know that somebody cares.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-miller/nothing-does-so-much-to-help-those-who-suffer-as-to-know-that/) [J.R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-miller/) > [Is there anything more true than human pain? Is there anything more sincere than the cry for help from those who suffer? Only a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignacy-jan-paderewski/is-there-anything-more-true-than-human-pain-is-there-anything-more/) [Ignacy Jan Paderewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignacy-jan-paderewski/) > [“I wonder that all things seem to be from hell these days: dates, jobs, parties, weather…Could the situation be that we no longer believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-coupland/i-wonder-that-all-things-seem-to-be-from-hell-these-days-dates-jobs/) [Douglas Coupland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-coupland/) > [Will you tell Him frankly, that you cannot carry your load, and that you need help? Will you suffer Him to help you in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-gladden/will-you-tell-him-frankly-that-you-cannot-carry-your-load-and-that/) [Washington Gladden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-gladden/) > [“When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-sadleir/when-another-person-makes-you-suffer-it-is-because-he-suffers-deeply-3/) [Emma Sadleir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-sadleir/) > [“He who fears he will suffer, already suffers because of his fear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-eyquem-de-montaigne/he-who-fears-he-will-suffer-already-suffers-because-of-his-fear/) [Michel Eyquem de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-eyquem-de-montaigne/) > [He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/he-who-fears-he-shall-suffer-already-suffers-what-he-fears/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [He who fears he will suffer, already suffers from his fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/he-who-fears-he-will-suffer-already-suffers-from-his-fear/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“I mean, you may cause others a spot of bother by your weaknesses, perhaps, but coping with you may possibly increase their strength and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/i-mean-you-may-cause-others-a-spot-of-bother-by-your-weaknesses/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [“ Qui craint de souffrir, il souffre deja de ce qu'il craint." "Who fears to suffer, already suffers what he fears. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jensen/qui-craint-de-souffrir-il-souffre-deja-de-ce-qu-il-craint-who-fears/) [Melissa Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jensen/) > [When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-another-person-makes-you-suffer-it-is-because-he-suffers-deeply-2/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When Another Person Makes you Suffer, It Is Because He Suffers Deeply Within Himself, And His Suffering Is Spilling Over. He Does Not Need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pacifiersucker/when-another-person-makes-you-suffer-it-is-because-he-suffers-deeply/) [Pacifiersucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pacifiersucker/) ## More by Nhat Hanh > [Happiness is the cessation of suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/happiness-is-the-cessation-of-suffering/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We need enlightenment, not just individually but collectively, to save the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-need-enlightenment-not-just-individually-but-collectively-to-save/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you really know how to live, what better way to start the day than with a smile?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-really-know-how-to-live-what-better-way-to-start-the-day-than/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Contemplating the bowl, it is possible to see the interdependent elements which give rise to the bowl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/contemplating-the-bowl-it-is-possible-to-see-the-interdependent/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Our joy, peace and happiness depend very much on our practice of recognizing and transforming habit energies. There are positive habit energies that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/our-joy-peace-and-happiness-depend-very-much-on-our-practice-of/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [I vow to live fully in each moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-vow-to-live-fully-in-each-moment/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Silence is something that comes from your heart, not from outside. Silence doesn't mean not talking and not doing things; it means that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/silence-is-something-that-comes-from-your-heart-not-from-outside/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Freedom is the real foundation of happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/freedom-is-the-real-foundation-of-happiness/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Wisdom is a living stream, not an icon to be preserved in a museum. Only when a practitioner finds the spring of wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/wisdom-is-a-living-stream-not-an-icon-to-be-preserved-in-a-museum/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We may think of peace as the absence of war, that if the great powers would reduce their weapons arsenals, we could have peace.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/we-may-think-of-peace-as-the-absence-of-war-that-if-the-great-powers/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If you are capable of brushing your teeth in mindfulness, then you will be able to enjoy the time when you take a shower,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-you-are-capable-of-brushing-your-teeth-in-mindfulness-then-you/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [If I am incapable of washing dishes joyfully, if I want to finish them quickly so I can go and have dessert, I will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/if-i-am-incapable-of-washing-dishes-joyfully-if-i-want-to-finish-them/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [When we have anger in us, we suffer. When we have discrimination in us, we suffer. When we have the complex of superiority, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-have-anger-in-us-we-suffer-when-we-have-discrimination-in-us/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Every morning, when we wake up, we have twenty-four brand-new hours to live. What a precious gift! We have the capacity to live in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/every-morning-when-we-wake-up-we-have-twenty-four-brand-new-hours-to/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [It is best if we do not listen to or look at the person whom we consider to be the cause of our anger.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/it-is-best-if-we-do-not-listen-to-or-look-at-the-person-whom-we/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) [Explore all 507 Nhat Hanh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) ## More Anger quotes > [“If I let myself think of it the pain and anger were still fresh, adrenalin racing down my limbs to pool, hot and itchy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kylie-ladd/if-i-let-myself-think-of-it-the-pain-and-anger-were-still-fresh/) [Kylie Ladd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kylie-ladd/) > [I receive something we might euphemistically call an 'inappropriately hostile' response - that is to say, more than fair criticism or even fair anger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-beard/i-receive-something-we-might-euphemistically-call-an-inappropriately/) [Mary Beard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-beard/) > [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/) [Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/) > [Anger is a rough water; if you can canalize it into a water mill, you can benefit from it. Anything bad can be transformed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/anger-is-a-rough-water-if-you-can-canalize-it-into-a-water-mill-you/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“When you feel terribly angry, you're possessed by anger ghost.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/when-you-feel-terribly-angry-you-re-possessed-by-anger-ghost/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“Medical studies have shown that cursing reduces levels of stress and pain. Repressing your anger is not healthy. It's much better to verbalize it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-markus-malloy/medical-studies-have-shown-that-cursing-reduces-levels-of-stress-and/) [Oliver Markus Malloy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-markus-malloy/) > [My care will be in the heart n not in words My anger will be in Words n not in the Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/my-care-will-be-in-the-heart-n-not-in-words-my-anger-will-be-in-words/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [You should be angry. You must not be bitter. Bitterness is like cancer. It eats upon the host. It doesn't do anything to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-should-be-angry-you-must-not-be-bitter-bitterness-is-like-cancer/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [To be a Negro in this country and to be relatively conscious is to be in a rage almost all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/to-be-a-negro-in-this-country-and-to-be-relatively-conscious-is-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“God, you had enough time to have been through it three times. You've been through my stuff. I bet you over and let one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/god-you-had-enough-time-to-have-been-through-it-three-times-you-ve/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [The present contains nothing more than the past, and what is found in the effect was already in the cause.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henri-bergson/the-present-contains-nothing-more-than-the-past-and-what-is-found-in/) [Henri Bergson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henri-bergson/) > [Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-wright/depression-is-merely-anger-without-enthusiasm/) [Steven Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-wright/) > [I always fight better when my opponent's angry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/i-always-fight-better-when-my-opponent-s-angry/) [David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/) > [ “Where there are kashays (anger-pride-deceit-greed), there is worldly life. As long as anger-pride-deceit-greed exist; one is a sansaari \[living a worldly life\] regardless of… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/where-there-are-kashays-anger-pride-deceit-greed-there-is-worldly/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) [Browse all 7,469 Anger quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anger/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If the people who hurt us have anger or desperation within them then they suffer. 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