---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sometimes we think that to develop an…"
description: "\"“Sometimes we think that to develop an open heart, to be truly loving and compassionate, means that we need to be passive, to allow others to abuse us,..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/sharon-salzberg-562_compassion_sometimes-we-think-that-to-develop-an-op_2364013.jpg"
---

#  Sometimes we think that to develop an open heart, to be…

![“Sometimes we think that to develop an open heart, to be truly loving and compassionate, means that we need to be passive, to allow others to abuse us, to smile and let anyone do what they want with us. Yet this is not what is meant by compassion. Quite the contrary. Compassion is not at all weak…” quote by Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/sharon-salzberg-562_compassion_sometimes-we-think-that-to-develop-an-op_2364013.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/sharon-salzberg-562_compassion_sometimes-we-think-that-to-develop-an-op_2364013.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9d3/sharon-salzberg-562_compassion_sometimes-we-think-that-to-develop-an-op_2364013.jpg)

> ““Sometimes we think that to develop an open heart, to be truly loving and compassionate, means that we need to be passive, to allow others to abuse us, to smile and let anyone do what they want with us. Yet this is not what is meant by compassion. Quite the contrary. Compassion is not at all weak. It is the strength that arises out of seeing the true nature of suffering in the world. Compassion allows us to bear witness to that suffering, whether it is in ourselves or others, without fear; it allows us to name injustice without hesitation, and to act strongly, with all the skill at our disposal. To develop this mind state of compassion...is to learn to live, as the Buddha put it, with sympathy for all living beings, without exception.””

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

## About This Quote

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

True compassion is active strength, not passive tolerance; it involves recognizing suffering, naming injustice, and acting skillfully.

**In simple terms:** Compassion is active strength, not weakness.

Key Takeaway

Act with skillful compassion toward suffering.

Themes

compassion strength justice

Mood

thoughtful motivational

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- social injustice
- personal suffering
- activism

Key Concepts

mindfulness ethical action

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance compassion with self‑preservation?
- When should you intervene versus step back?

A Different Perspective

Compassion can be draining without self‑care; over‑identifying with others’ pain may cause burnout.

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[Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Open heart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-heart/) [True nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-nature/)

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> [I had to learn compassion. Had to learn what it felt like to hate, and to forgive and to love and be loved. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/i-had-to-learn-compassion-had-to-learn-what-it-felt-like-to-hate-and/)

[Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/)

> [ \[T\]he family is a school of compassion because it is here that we learn to live with other people. (68) ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/t-he-family-is-a-school-of-compassion-because-it-is-here-that-we/)

[Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/)

> [Compassion allows us to accept everything. That's why there's always a tear in the eye of the Buddha that no one sees, for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/compassion-allows-us-to-accept-everything-that-s-why-there-s-always-a/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Compassion allows us to understand that, as citizens of the planet, we’re all in this together and that in order to ensure our survival…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-ford/compassion-allows-us-to-understand-that-as-citizens-of-the-planet-we/)

[Debbie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-ford/)

> [The greatness of a man is measured by the way he treats the little man. Compassion for the weak is a sign of greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myles-munroe/the-greatness-of-a-man-is-measured-by-the-way-he-treats-the-little/)

[Myles Munroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/myles-munroe/)

> [“How can we set up a system which encourages individuals to strive and excel, and yet which shows some compassion to the weak, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-brin/how-can-we-set-up-a-system-which-encourages-individuals-to-strive-and/)

[David Brin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-brin/)

> [Don't ever think compassion is weak. Compassion is about strength.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-halifax/don-t-ever-think-compassion-is-weak-compassion-is-about-strength/)

[Joan Halifax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-halifax/)

> [“People claim you should feel compassion for the weak. Well, that depends on the circumstances. Should you feel compassion for a donkey? In truth,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/people-claim-you-should-feel-compassion-for-the-weak-well-that/)

[Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/)

> [I am compelled, because of my faith, to have compassion for the weak and vulnerable in our midst.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-wolf/i-am-compelled-because-of-my-faith-to-have-compassion-for-the-weak/)

[Frank Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-wolf/)

## More by Sharon Salzberg

> [Some things hurt, you know, and there's pain. But we magnify the suffering of it often, I think, by our reactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/some-things-hurt-you-know-and-there-s-pain-but-we-magnify-the/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

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[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“Even when we do our very best to treat those close to us with utmost respect and understanding, conflict happens. That’s life. That’s human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-when-we-do-our-very-best-to-treat-those-close-to-us-with-utmost/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [“Loving ourselves calls us to give up the illusion that we can control everything and focuses us on building our inner resource of resilience.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/loving-ourselves-calls-us-to-give-up-the-illusion-that-we-can-control/)

[Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

> [In order to do anything about the suffering of the world we must have the strength to face it without turning away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/in-order-to-do-anything-about-the-suffering-of-the-world-we-must-have/)

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[Explore all 473 Sharon Salzberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/)

## More Compassion quotes

> [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/)

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> [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/)

Segun Magbagbeola

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> [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/)

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[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

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[Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/)

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[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

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Talib al Habib

> [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/)

[Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/)

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