---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This genuine heart of sadness can teach…"
description: "\"This genuine heart of sadness can teach us great compassion. It can humble us when we're arrogant and soften us when we are unkind.\" — Pema Chodron"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/pema-ch-dr-n-327_arrogant_this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach_2880264.png"
---

#  This genuine heart of sadness can teach us great…

![“This genuine heart of sadness can teach us great compassion. It can humble us when we're arrogant and soften us when we are unkind.” quote by Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/pema-ch-dr-n-327_arrogant_this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach_2880264.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/pema-ch-dr-n-327_arrogant_this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach_2880264.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/pema-ch-dr-n-327_arrogant_this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach_2880264.png)

> “This genuine heart of sadness can teach us great compassion. It can humble us when we're arrogant and soften us when we are unkind.”

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Sadness can foster compassion, humility, and kindness, turning personal suffering into a source of empathy for others.

**In simple terms:** Sadness teaches compassion and humility.

Key Takeaway

Use personal sorrow to grow empathy.

Themes

compassion humility kindness

Mood

gentle reflective

Type

spiritual psychological

When to use this quote

- therapy
- spiritual practice
- personal development

Key Concepts

emotional intelligence mindfulness

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you transform sadness into compassion?
- What practices help maintain humility?

A Different Perspective

Sadness may also lead to despair if unprocessed.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Arrogant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogant/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heart/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [Sadness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sadness/)

## Related quotes

> [In opening we can see how many times we have mistaken small identities and fearful beliefs for our true nature and how limiting this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/in-opening-we-can-see-how-many-times-we-have-mistaken-small/)

[Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/)

> [Great compassion penetrates into the marrow of the bone. It is the support of all living beings. Like the love of a parent for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akkineni-nagarjuna/great-compassion-penetrates-into-the-marrow-of-the-bone-it-is-the/)

[Akkineni Nagarjuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akkineni-nagarjuna/)

> [Grant that I have enough suffering that my heart really opens to the great compassion of this world, that I be given enough so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kornfield/grant-that-i-have-enough-suffering-that-my-heart-really-opens-to-the/)

[Jack Kornfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kornfield/)

> [The individual is capable of both great compassion and great indifference. He has it within his means to nourish the former and outgrow the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-cousins/the-individual-is-capable-of-both-great-compassion-and-great/)

[Norman Cousins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-cousins/)

> [“As long as we practice with a vow to help others, we are the Bodhisattva of Great Compassion, and we become the leading figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dosung-yoo/as-long-as-we-practice-with-a-vow-to-help-others-we-are-the/)

Dosung Yoo

> [Have mercy on me, OGod, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/psalm-51-1/have-mercy-on-me-ogod-because-of-your-unfailing-love-because-of-your/)

Psalm 51:1

> [The gift that has been given to me says much about our capacity for great compassion and generosity, and I hope it sends an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-cojocaru/the-gift-that-has-been-given-to-me-says-much-about-our-capacity-for/)

[Steven Cojocaru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-cojocaru/)

> [The eating of meat extinguishes the seed of great compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/the-eating-of-meat-extinguishes-the-seed-of-great-compassion/)

[Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/)

> [I still deal with triggers and neuroses that I've developed over the decades. But I do think I have a great amount of compassion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grant/i-still-deal-with-triggers-and-neuroses-that-i-ve-developed-over-the/)

[John Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grant/)

> [“Buddha has great compassion that is completely impartial, embracing all living beings without discrimination.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsang-gyatso/buddha-has-great-compassion-that-is-completely-impartial-embracing/)

[Kelsang Gyatso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsang-gyatso/)

> [President Carter's lifelong conviction of service was guided by great compassion and a selfless will to look after the people and world around him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-kim/president-carter-s-lifelong-conviction-of-service-was-guided-by-great/)

[Andy Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-kim/)

> [“Great compassion makes a peaceful heart. A peaceful heart makes a peaceful person. A peaceful person makes a peaceful family. A peaceful family makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maha-ghosananda/great-compassion-makes-a-peaceful-heart-a-peaceful-heart-makes-a/)

Maha Ghosananda

> [Have a great compassion for people. To be able to have a heart full of compassion, we need to pray. Especially be kind, be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mother-teresa/have-a-great-compassion-for-people-to-be-able-to-have-a-heart-full-of/)

[Mother Teresa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mother-teresa/)

> [“A little child feeding an animal with great compassion will always look like a giant in our eyes!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/a-little-child-feeding-an-animal-with-great-compassion-will-always/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Shallow understanding accompanies poor compassion; great understanding goes with great compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/shallow-understanding-accompanies-poor-compassion-great-understanding/)

[Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/)

## More by Pema Chodron

> [“LIFE’S work is to wake up, to let the things that enter into your life wake you up rather than put you to sleep.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/life-s-work-is-to-wake-up-to-let-the-things-that-enter-into-your-life/)

[Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [Since death is certain and the time of death is uncertain, what is the most important thing?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/since-death-is-certain-and-the-time-of-death-is-uncertain-what-is-the/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [Buddhist words such as compassion and emptiness don't mean much until we start cultivating our innate ability simply to be there with pain with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/buddhist-words-such-as-compassion-and-emptiness-don-t-mean-much-until/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [The essence of generosity is letting go. Pain is always a sign that we are holding on to something - usually ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-generosity-is-letting-go-pain-is-always-a-sign-that-we/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [“If the object of meditation were something concrete, something solid and graspable - an image or a statue or a dot on the floor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-the-object-of-meditation-were-something-concrete-something-solid/)

[Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [It's a transformative experience to simply pause instead of immediately fill up the space. By waiting, we begin to connect with fundamental restlessness as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-s-a-transformative-experience-to-simply-pause-instead-of/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [“The essence of life is that it’s challenging. Sometimes it is sweet, and sometimes it is bitter. Sometimes your body tenses, and sometimes it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/the-essence-of-life-is-that-it-s-challenging-sometimes-it-is-sweet/)

[Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [If we run a hundred miles an hour to the other end of the continent in order to get away from the obstacle, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-run-a-hundred-miles-an-hour-to-the-other-end-of-the-continent/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [“But in this meditation technique, we are with the out-breath; there's no particular instruction about what to do until the next out-breath.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/but-in-this-meditation-technique-we-are-with-the-out-breath-there-s/)

[Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [“Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. Nothing ever really attacks us except our own confusion. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/nothing-ever-goes-away-until-it-has-taught-us-what-we-need-to-know/)

[Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [So even if the hot loneliness is there, and for 1.6 seconds we sit with that restlessness when yesterday we couldn't sit for even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/so-even-if-the-hot-loneliness-is-there-and-for-1-6-seconds-we-sit/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [If you have rage and righteously act it out and blame it all on others, it's really you who suffers. The other people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-you-have-rage-and-righteously-act-it-out-and-blame-it-all-on/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [“When we realize that the path is the goal, there’s a sense of workability. Trungpa Rinpoche said, “Whatever occurs in the confused mind is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/when-we-realize-that-the-path-is-the-goal-there-s-a-sense-of/)

[Pema Chödrön](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [Every day is a new opportunity to work with what you have inside toward enlightenment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/every-day-is-a-new-opportunity-to-work-with-what-you-have-inside/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

> [If someone comes along and shoots an arrow into your heart, it’s fruitless to stand there and yell at the person. It would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-someone-comes-along-and-shoots-an-arrow-into-your-heart-it-s/)

[Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

[Explore all 664 Pema Chodron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/)

## More Arrogant quotes

> [How arrogant - how very far from humility - would be the self-satisfied, smug assurance that God, a tidy-up-after-us God will come and clean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-whitehouse/how-arrogant-how-very-far-from-humility-would-be-the-self-satisfied/)

[Sheldon Whitehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-whitehouse/)

> [ \[T\]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-after-year-a-symbol-of/)

[Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/)

> [What I would say to filmmakers, if I may be so bold or so arrogant, is to draw inspiration from other filmmakers, but go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/what-i-would-say-to-filmmakers-if-i-may-be-so-bold-or-so-arrogant-is/)

[Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/)

> [In politics we face the choice between warmongering, nation-state loving, big-business agents on one hand; and risk-blind, top-down, epistemic arrogant big servants of large…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nassim-nicholas-taleb/in-politics-we-face-the-choice-between-warmongering-nation-state/)

[Nassim Nicholas Taleb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nassim-nicholas-taleb/)

> [I absolutely hate arrogant people, irks me to no end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-absolutely-hate-arrogant-people-irks-me-to-no-end/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Splutter, splutter. Yes - we're off - we're rising. But why start off with an engine like that? But it smooths out now, like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-morrow-lindbergh/splutter-splutter-yes-we-re-off-we-re-rising-but-why-start-off-with/)

[Anne Morrow Lindbergh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-morrow-lindbergh/)

> [Mourinho is a bit arrogant, but you've got to like him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-nicol/mourinho-is-a-bit-arrogant-but-you-ve-got-to-like-him/)

[Steve Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-nicol/)

> [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/)

[Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/)

> [I was spoiled and I was arrogant. I was very demanding, had an overblown image of who I was and got a reputation for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judge-reinhold/i-was-spoiled-and-i-was-arrogant-i-was-very-demanding-had-an/)

[Judge Reinhold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judge-reinhold/)

> [We are not being arrogant or complacent when we are said that our country, as a united nation, has never in its entire history,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thabo-mbeki/we-are-not-being-arrogant-or-complacent-when-we-are-said-that-our/)

[Thabo Mbeki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thabo-mbeki/)

> [“So you intend to go through life never loving anyone? Just … things?” “No. I’m looking for something more.” “More than love?” “Yes.” “Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-ahdieh/so-you-intend-to-go-through-life-never-loving-anyone-just-things-no-i/)

[Renee Ahdieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-ahdieh/)

> [People are tired of wasteful government programs and welfare chiselers, and they are angry about the constant spiral of taxes and government regulations, arrogant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/people-are-tired-of-wasteful-government-programs-and-welfare/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [“He was a man. Handsome as sin, arrogant as fuck, and in need of at least one woman to prove he wasn’t God’s gift…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-blue/he-was-a-man-handsome-as-sin-arrogant-as-fuck-and-in-need-of-at-least/)

[Melissa Blue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-blue/)

> [Being nice to people gets you nowhere. Being arrogant gets you nowhere. Blackmail, now that's a thing that will get you everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-to-people-gets-you-nowhere-being-arrogant-gets-you-nowhere/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's amusing how arrogant people can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-amusing-how-arrogant-people-can-be/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 1,146 Arrogant quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arrogant/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "This genuine heart of sadness can teach us great compassion. It can humble us when we're arrogant and soften us when we are unkind.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Pema Chodron"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach-us-great-compassion-it-can/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Arrogant"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach-us-great-compassion-it-can/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/pema-ch-dr-n-327_arrogant_this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach_2880264.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/pema-ch-dr-n-327_arrogant_this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach_2880264.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7a3/pema-ch-dr-n-327_arrogant_this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach_2880264.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“This genuine heart of sadness can teach us great compassion. It can humble us when we're arrogant and soften…” — Pema Chodron",
                "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": "Pema Chodron",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "This genuine heart of sadness can...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach-us-great-compassion-it-can/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/this-genuine-heart-of-sadness-can-teach-us-great-compassion-it-can/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
