--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To reconcile conflicting parties, we must…" description: "\"To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides. If we take sides, it is impossible to do the work..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/nhat-hanh-515_ability_to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must_1408360.png" --- # To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability… ![“To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides. If we take sides, it is impossible to do the work of reconciliation. And humans want to take sides. That is why the situation gets worse and worse. Are there people who are still available to both…” quote by Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/nhat-hanh-515_ability_to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must_1408360.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/nhat-hanh-515_ability_to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must_1408360.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/nhat-hanh-515_ability_to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must_1408360.png) > “To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides. If we take sides, it is impossible to do the work of reconciliation. And humans want to take sides. That is why the situation gets worse and worse. Are there people who are still available to both sides? They need not do much. They need do only one thing: Go to one side and tell all about the suffering endured by the other side, and go to the other side and tell all about the suffering endured by this side. This is our chance for peace. But how many of us are able to do that?” [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. True reconciliation requires empathy for each side’s pain and avoiding partisan bias; sharing each side’s suffering can foster peace. **In simple terms:** Understand both sides, avoid taking sides, share each side’s pain. Key Takeaway Practice empathetic listening and balanced storytelling. Themes empathy conflict resolution peacebuilding Mood reflective hopeful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - community mediation - family disputes - international negotiations - faith dialogues Key Concepts nonviolence compassion dialogue Questions to Reflect On - Can you listen to an opponent’s pain without judgment? - How might sharing stories change a conflict? A Different Perspective Human tendency to choose sides can block empathy and deepen conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Able](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/able/) [Available](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/available/) [Both sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/both-sides/) [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Conflicting Parties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflicting-parties-1871865/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Impossible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/impossible/) [Listening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/listening/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [One thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-thing/) [Party](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/party/) [Peacebuilding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peacebuilding/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reconcile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reconcile/) [Reconcile Conflicting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reconcile-conflicting-1871864/) [Reconciliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reconciliation/) [Reconciliation Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reconciliation-humans-4956331/) [Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sides/) [Situation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/situation/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Suffering Sides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering-sides-535504/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) ## Related quotes > [To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must-have-the-ability-to-2/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Reconciliation is a deep practice that we can do with our listening and our mindful speech. To reconcile means to bring peace and happiness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/reconciliation-is-a-deep-practice-that-we-can-do-with-our-listening/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [The fact is that when you make the other suffer, he will try to find relief by making you suffer more. The result is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-fact-is-that-when-you-make-the-other-suffer-he-will-try-to-find/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Contradictions are the impossible chasms that create forever separations. God is the forever bridge that creates impossible reunions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/contradictions-are-the-impossible-chasms-that-create-forever/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [It is much safer to reconcile an enemy than to conquer him; victory may deprive him of his poison, but reconciliation of his will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/owen-feltham/it-is-much-safer-to-reconcile-an-enemy-than-to-conquer-him-victory/) [Owen Feltham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/owen-feltham/) > [A poet is deeply conflicted and it's in his work that he reconciles those deep conflicts. The place is the harbor. It doesn't set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irving-layton/a-poet-is-deeply-conflicted-and-it-s-in-his-work-that-he-reconciles/) [Irving Layton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irving-layton/) > [“There is hope for every man to return to his Maker.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/there-is-hope-for-every-man-to-return-to-his-maker/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“The Life of Pi' timelessly encapsulates an objectively true & real meme that God is Love and seeks out those He calls unto himself."…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-alan-woods/the-life-of-pi-timelessly-encapsulates-an-objectively-true-real-meme/) [R. Alan Woods](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-alan-woods/) > [“To reconcile ourselves with one another, we must release our judgments and make peace with the fact that we are one. This country was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lewis/to-reconcile-ourselves-with-one-another-we-must-release-our-judgments/) [John Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lewis/) > [You can't demand truth and reconciliation. You have to demand truth - people have to hear it, and then they have to want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-stevenson/you-can-t-demand-truth-and-reconciliation-you-have-to-demand-truth/) [Bryan Stevenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-stevenson/) > [I don't have to hate any person because I can always start anew, I can always reconcile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/i-don-t-have-to-hate-any-person-because-i-can-always-start-anew-i-can/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [Reconciliation is to understand both sides; to go to one side and describe the suffering being endured by the other side, and then go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/reconciliation-is-to-understand-both-sides-to-go-to-one-side-and/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [When we hug, our hearts connect and we know that we are not separate beings. Hugging with mindfulness and concentration can bring reconciliation, healing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/when-we-hug-our-hearts-connect-and-we-know-that-we-are-not-separate/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/the-practice-of-peace-and-reconciliation-is-one-of-the-most-vital-and/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [We must master our egoism, and through this mastery, step outside ourselves and educate ourselves in giving. Fasting requires that we rediscover all that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tariq-ramadan/we-must-master-our-egoism-and-through-this-mastery-step-outside/) [Tariq Ramadan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tariq-ramadan/) ## 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 Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides. If we take sides, it is impossible to do the work of reconciliation. And humans want to take sides. That is why the situation gets worse and worse. Are there people who are still available to both sides? They need not do much. They need do only one thing: Go to one side and tell all about the suffering endured by the other side, and go to the other side and tell all about the suffering endured by this side. This is our chance for peace. But how many of us are able to do that?", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Nhat Hanh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must-have-the-ability-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must-have-the-ability-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/nhat-hanh-515_ability_to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must_1408360.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/nhat-hanh-515_ability_to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must_1408360.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eae/nhat-hanh-515_ability_to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must_1408360.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“To reconcile conflicting parties, we must have the ability to understand the suffering of both sides. If we…” — Nhat Hanh", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Nhat Hanh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "To reconcile conflicting parties, we must...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must-have-the-ability-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/to-reconcile-conflicting-parties-we-must-have-the-ability-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```