--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I have learned anything it is that…" description: "\"“If I have learned anything it is that pity is more intelligent than hatred, that mercy is better than justice, that if one walks around the world with..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b6/philip-gibbs-25999_around-the-world_if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pi_2659246.png" --- # If I have learned anything it is that pity is more… ![“If I have learned anything it is that pity is more intelligent than hatred, that mercy is better than justice, that if one walks around the world with friendly eyes one makes good friends.” quote by Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b6/philip-gibbs-25999_around-the-world_if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pi_2659246.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b6/philip-gibbs-25999_around-the-world_if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pi_2659246.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b6/philip-gibbs-25999_around-the-world_if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pi_2659246.png) > ““If I have learned anything it is that pity is more intelligent than hatred, that mercy is better than justice, that if one walks around the world with friendly eyes one makes good friends.”” [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mercy and kindness surpass hatred and justice; friendly eyes foster friendships. **In simple terms:** Kindness beats hatred, builds friends. Key Takeaway Practice empathy daily. Themes compassion humanity friendship Mood empathetic optimistic Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - community building - personal interaction - conflict resolution Key Concepts ethical philosophy social harmony Questions to Reflect On - How do we protect kindness from manipulation? - What limits empathy? A Different Perspective Kindness may be exploited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Around the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Friendly Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendly-eyes-2413997/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Good friend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friend/) [Good friends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-friends/) [Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/justice/) [Learned Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learned-pity-2413996/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Mercy Better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy-better-1696124/) [Pity Intelligent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-intelligent-2413995/) ## Related quotes > [Keep my eyes fixed on You, Lord. Help me to stop tinkering and realize my total inability to change. I look to You to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/keep-my-eyes-fixed-on-you-lord-help-me-to-stop-tinkering-and-realize/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If there is anything I've learned, is that piety is smarter than hate, that mercy is preferable even to justice itself, that if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/if-there-is-anything-i-ve-learned-is-that-piety-is-smarter-than-hate/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [One drop of the Lord's mercy is better than an ocean of the world's comfort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lysa-terkeurst/one-drop-of-the-lord-s-mercy-is-better-than-an-ocean-of-the-world-s/) [Lysa TerKeurst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lysa-terkeurst/) > [“Mercy is always better than pride.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracie-peterson-judith-miller/mercy-is-always-better-than-pride/) [Tracie Peterson Judith Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracie-peterson-judith-miller/) > [And if you are slain in the way of Allah or you die, certainly forgiveness from Allah and mercy is better than what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quran/and-if-you-are-slain-in-the-way-of-allah-or-you-die-certainly/) [Quran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quran/) > [The soul of mercy is better than a soul that is revengeful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-elise/the-soul-of-mercy-is-better-than-a-soul-that-is-revengeful/) [Angelina Elise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-elise/) > [It's been my experience that people who make proclamations about themselves are usually the opposite of what they claim to be. If someone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/it-s-been-my-experience-that-people-who-make-proclamations-about/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [People say Find Good friends, and leave bad ones But I say find good in your friends and leave the bad with them.Remember no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-say-find-good-friends-and-leave-bad-ones-but-i-say-find-good/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I keep seeing in the papers that I am good friends with Samantha Cameron. I've never met her in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-taylor-johnson/i-keep-seeing-in-the-papers-that-i-am-good-friends-with-samantha/) [Sam Taylor-Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-taylor-johnson/) > [I tell people all the time: one of the cool things with Brock is you never have to wonder where you stand with him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelton-benjamin/i-tell-people-all-the-time-one-of-the-cool-things-with-brock-is-you/) [Shelton Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelton-benjamin/) > [I definitely paid my dues, and I'm grateful for everything and for my good friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/i-definitely-paid-my-dues-and-i-m-grateful-for-everything-and-for-my/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [The Jonas Brothers are all sweet. Theyre so amazing to me. Theyve become really good friends of mine, but Im not dating any of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selena-gomez/the-jonas-brothers-are-all-sweet-theyre-so-amazing-to-me-theyve/) [Selena Gomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selena-gomez/) > [I've said it before, me and Conor are very, very good friends, and he's certaintly helped me get into the UFC, you know, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artem-lobov/i-ve-said-it-before-me-and-conor-are-very-very-good-friends-and-he-s/) [Artem Lobov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artem-lobov/) > [“Careful, human,” Hauk warned, showing Darling his fangs. “I might get hungry one of these nights and decide we no longer need a weaptech.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/careful-human-hauk-warned-showing-darling-his-fangs-i-might-get/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [I feel like I've made good friends with people I've worked with, but in terms of lasting inspiration, it is probably Matthew Vaughn who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taron-egerton/i-feel-like-i-ve-made-good-friends-with-people-i-ve-worked-with-but/) [Taron Egerton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taron-egerton/) ## More by Philip Gibbs > [It is better to give than to lend, and it costs about the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/it-is-better-to-give-than-to-lend-and-it-costs-about-the-same/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [But the worst handicap we had the prohibition of naming individual units who had done the fighting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/but-the-worst-handicap-we-had-the-prohibition-of-naming-individual/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [It was announced as a French victory by the French Minister of War. I did not see any sign of victory but only the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/it-was-announced-as-a-french-victory-by-the-french-minister-of-war-i/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [If there is anything I've learned, is that piety is smarter than hate, that mercy is preferable even to justice itself, that if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/if-there-is-anything-i-ve-learned-is-that-piety-is-smarter-than-hate/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [During the early months of the war in 1914 there was a conflict of opinion between the War Office and the Foreign Office regarding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/during-the-early-months-of-the-war-in-1914-there-was-a-conflict-of/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [It is better to give then to lend, and it costs about the same.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/it-is-better-to-give-then-to-lend-and-it-costs-about-the-same/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [We who go out to die shall be remembered, because we gave the world peace. That will be our reward, though we will know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/we-who-go-out-to-die-shall-be-remembered-because-we-gave-the-world/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [But do you know, I shall not be sorry to die. I shall be glad, Monsieur. And why glad, you ask? Because I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/but-do-you-know-i-shall-not-be-sorry-to-die-i-shall-be-glad-monsieur/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [“about the German boy's throat and tried to strangle him and to stop another dreadful cry. The second officer made haste. He thrust his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/about-the-german-boy-s-throat-and-tried-to-strangle-him-and-to-stop/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [When we got down from the ambulances there were sharp cracks about us as bursts of shrapnel splashed down upon the Town Hall square.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/when-we-got-down-from-the-ambulances-there-were-sharp-cracks-about-us/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [In front of us was not a line but a fortress position, twenty miles deep, entrenched and fortified, defended by masses of machine-gun posts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/in-front-of-us-was-not-a-line-but-a-fortress-position-twenty-miles/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [At all costs we must re-establish faith in spiritual values. We must worship something beyond ourselves, lest we destroy ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/at-all-costs-we-must-re-establish-faith-in-spiritual-values-we-must/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [“We do trust you—with some misgivings," thought the people, "and we do leave it to you—though you seem to be making a mess of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/we-do-trust-you-with-some-misgivings-thought-the-people-and-we-do/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [I am going to fight - I, a socialist and Syndicalist - so that we shall make an end to war, so that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/i-am-going-to-fight-i-a-socialist-and-syndicalist-so-that-we-shall/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) > [“It is a the belief of many brooding minds that almost as great as the direct guilt of the German war lords was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/it-is-a-the-belief-of-many-brooding-minds-that-almost-as-great-as-the/) [Philip Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) [Explore all 22 Philip Gibbs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/) ## More Around the world quotes > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [Look at music for what it's worth around the world and not just America. In other countries, people are still buying CDs and going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/look-at-music-for-what-it-s-worth-around-the-world-and-not-just/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Throughout our history, the words of the Declaration have inspired immigrants from around the world to set sail to our shores. These immigrants have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/throughout-our-history-the-words-of-the-declaration-have-inspired/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It's difficult to believe in yourself because the idea of self is an artificial construction. You are, in fact, part of the glorious oneness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-brand/it-s-difficult-to-believe-in-yourself-because-the-idea-of-self-is-an/) [Russell Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-brand/) > [We know the candidate Barack Obama, what he was like - the anti-war government nig... America was a source for division around the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-santorum/we-know-the-candidate-barack-obama-what-he-was-like-the-anti-war/) [Rick Santorum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-santorum/) > [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/) [Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/) > [Once, as an experiment, I travelled around the world with a single suit. Before I left, I went to a tailor in Savile Row…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-hamilton/once-as-an-experiment-i-travelled-around-the-world-with-a-single-suit/) [George Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-hamilton/) > [Thanks to all members of the military around the world for giving me the ultimate motivation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalya-neidhart/thanks-to-all-members-of-the-military-around-the-world-for-giving-me/) [Natalya Neidhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalya-neidhart/) > [I look at what's happening around the world and I see Iran four years closer to a bomb. I see the Middle East with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/i-look-at-what-s-happening-around-the-world-and-i-see-iran-four-years/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [“The low point occurred in July, during Romney’s junior week abroad, in which the press became increasingly frustrated over Romney’s refusal to talk to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-leibovich/the-low-point-occurred-in-july-during-romney-s-junior-week-abroad-in/) [Mark Leibovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-leibovich/) > [I believe there definitely are good things about social networking. It's a way for people to connect all around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizzie-velasquez/i-believe-there-definitely-are-good-things-about-social-networking-it/) [Lizzie Velasquez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizzie-velasquez/) > [“Isn’t everyone on the planet or at least everyone on the planet called me stuck between the two impulses of wanting to walk away…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-lacey/isn-t-everyone-on-the-planet-or-at-least-everyone-on-the-planet/) [Catherine Lacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-lacey/) > [You always can improve and I think that's the beauty of international cricket, particularly test cricket, is playing all around the world against different…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kane-williamson/you-always-can-improve-and-i-think-that-s-the-beauty-of-international/) [Kane Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kane-williamson/) > [Trump is reviled around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/trump-is-reviled-around-the-world/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) [Browse all 3,349 Around the world quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around-the-world/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“If I have learned anything it is that pity is more intelligent than hatred, that mercy is better than justice, that if one walks around the world with friendly eyes one makes good friends.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Philip Gibbs" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pity-is-more-intelligent-than/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Around the world" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pity-is-more-intelligent-than/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b6/philip-gibbs-25999_around-the-world_if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pi_2659246.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b6/philip-gibbs-25999_around-the-world_if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pi_2659246.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7b6/philip-gibbs-25999_around-the-world_if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pi_2659246.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If I have learned anything it is that pity is more intelligent than hatred, that mercy is better than…” — Philip Gibbs", "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": "Philip Gibbs", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-gibbs/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“If I have learned anything it...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pity-is-more-intelligent-than/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-gibbs/if-i-have-learned-anything-it-is-that-pity-is-more-intelligent-than/#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 } } ] } ```