--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I draw a lot from Buddhism, which focuses…" description: "\"I draw a lot from Buddhism, which focuses on compassion and kindness, loving kindness, as they call it, but rejects empathy because it's a poor moral g..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/paul-bloom-3720_buddhism_i-draw-a-lot-from-buddhism-which-focuses_1682624.jpg" --- # I draw a lot from Buddhism, which focuses on compassion… ![“I draw a lot from Buddhism, which focuses on compassion and kindness, loving kindness, as they call it, but rejects empathy because it's a poor moral guide. And I think there's a lot of evidence suggesting that they're right.” quote by Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/paul-bloom-3720_buddhism_i-draw-a-lot-from-buddhism-which-focuses_1682624.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/paul-bloom-3720_buddhism_i-draw-a-lot-from-buddhism-which-focuses_1682624.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdd/paul-bloom-3720_buddhism_i-draw-a-lot-from-buddhism-which-focuses_1682624.jpg) > “I draw a lot from Buddhism, which focuses on compassion and kindness, loving kindness, as they call it, but rejects empathy because it's a poor moral guide. And I think there's a lot of evidence suggesting that they're right.” [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He notes Buddhism promotes compassion but rejects empathy as unreliable, and he finds supporting evidence for this stance. **In simple terms:** Buddhism values compassion, not empathy, which may be a weak moral guide. Key Takeaway Consider compassion over empathy in moral decisions. Themes ethics philosophy religion empathy critique Mood contemplative critical inquisitive Type ethical analysis philosophical critique When to use this quote - ethical counseling - moral education - interpersonal conflict resolution - policy making Key Concepts moral psychology Buddhist teachings ethical frameworks cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - When is empathy essential despite its flaws? - How can compassion be cultivated without empathy? A Different Perspective Empathy can still play a vital role in human connection despite its limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Buddhism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/buddhism/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion And Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-and-kindness/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness and compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-and-compassion/) [Loving kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/loving-kindness/) [Moral](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moral/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Calmly contemplating these dimensions and bringing them into the service of compassion and kindness is the right way to make rapid gains in meditation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hsing-yun/calmly-contemplating-these-dimensions-and-bringing-them-into-the/) [Hsing Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hsing-yun/) > [Like a cube of ice, anger cannot be eliminated by applying force, only by applying warmth, compassion and kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/like-a-cube-of-ice-anger-cannot-be-eliminated-by-applying-force-only/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [Mercy is to care, and care very deeply about one another. 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When you allow yourself to remember what you already know about yourself on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael-zernoff/you-are-the-very-creator-and-co-creator-of-your-own-reality-when-you/) [Raphael Zernoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael-zernoff/) > [Education teaches us compassion and kindness, connection to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/education-teaches-us-compassion-and-kindness-connection-to-others/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [Value your life and the people who you have in it, if someone is good to you be good to them because compassion and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rashida-rowe/value-your-life-and-the-people-who-you-have-in-it-if-someone-is-good/) [Rashida Rowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rashida-rowe/) > [I believe in the spirit of equality and the spirit of this country as one of love and compassion and kindness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-gaga/i-believe-in-the-spirit-of-equality-and-the-spirit-of-this-country-as/) [Lady Gaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-gaga/) ## More by Paul Bloom > [I have two teenage sons, and they're both surviving, thriving, and having a great time, and they're always on social media.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/i-have-two-teenage-sons-and-they-re-both-surviving-thriving-and/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [Families survive the terrible twos because toddlers aren't strong enough to kill with their hands and aren't capable of using lethal weapons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/families-survive-the-terrible-twos-because-toddlers-aren-t-strong/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [If Inigo Montoya were around now, he wouldn't need to storm the castle to bring his father's murderer to justice; the police would do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/if-inigo-montoya-were-around-now-he-wouldn-t-need-to-storm-the-castle/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [Most of us know nothing about constitutional law, so it's hardly surprising that we take sides in the Obamacare debate the way we root…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/most-of-us-know-nothing-about-constitutional-law-so-it-s-hardly/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [“Being a good person likely is more related to distanced feelings of compassion and kindness, along with intelligence, self-control, and a sense of justice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/being-a-good-person-likely-is-more-related-to-distanced-feelings-of/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [Imagination is Reality Lite - a useful substitute when the real pleasure is inaccessible, too risky, or too much work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/imagination-is-reality-lite-a-useful-substitute-when-the-real/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [One way to make a baby cry is to expose it to cries of other babies. 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