--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we are devoted to the development of…" description: "\"When we are devoted to the development of kindness, it becomes our ready response, so that reacting from compassion, from caring, is not a question of ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sharon-salzberg-562_caring_when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-o_1547001.png" --- # When we are devoted to the development of kindness, it… ![“When we are devoted to the development of kindness, it becomes our ready response, so that reacting from compassion, from caring, is not a question of giving ourselves a lecture: 'I don't really feel like it, but I'd better be helpful, or what would people think?'” quote by Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sharon-salzberg-562_caring_when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-o_1547001.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sharon-salzberg-562_caring_when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-o_1547001.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sharon-salzberg-562_caring_when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-o_1547001.png) > “When we are devoted to the development of kindness, it becomes our ready response, so that reacting from compassion, from caring, is not a question of giving ourselves a lecture: 'I don't really feel like it, but I'd better be helpful, or what would people think?'” [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. Kindness should arise naturally from compassion, not from obligation or self‑criticism, allowing authentic caring. **In simple terms:** Kindness flows from genuine compassion, not duty. Key Takeaway Cultivate compassion first. Themes compassion kindness authenticity Mood calm inspired Type spiritual practical When to use this quote - volunteering - conflict resolution - personal relationships - teaching Key Concepts mindful awareness self‑compassion altruism Questions to Reflect On - What blocks your natural compassion? - How can you turn kindness into a habit? A Different Perspective Compassion can be hard to sustain when fatigued or stressed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Caring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-caring-566407/) [Development](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development/) [Development Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/development-kindness-5773412/) [Devoted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devoted/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Helpful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helpful/) [Kindness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness/) [Kindness Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindness-ready-3194972/) [Lectures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lectures/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reacting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reacting/) [Reacting Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reacting-compassion-5773411/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Response](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/response/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [“He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/he-that-has-once-done-you-a-kindness-will-be-more-ready-to-do-you/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [I think most important, you need to have the compassion and caring for helping to protect vulnerable people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-sauerbrey/i-think-most-important-you-need-to-have-the-compassion-and-caring-for/) [Ellen Sauerbrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-sauerbrey/) > [Compassion, caring, teaching, loving, and sharing your gifts, talents, and abilities are the gateways to power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-sams/compassion-caring-teaching-loving-and-sharing-your-gifts-talents-and/) [Jamie Sams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-sams/) > [“In the process of becoming conscious beings, we eventually come back around again and again to the ideas of compassion, caring, and empathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/in-the-process-of-becoming-conscious-beings-we-eventually-come-back/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [“When I am critical of others, I am actually exposing my own sin. If Christ lives in me, continually extending His mercy toward me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-hunt/when-i-am-critical-of-others-i-am-actually-exposing-my-own-sin-if/) [June Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-hunt/) > [“I believe that Human Kindness, Compassion and Caring towards all life, will always prevail. No matter how cruel the night, the dawn will break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-oxton/i-believe-that-human-kindness-compassion-and-caring-towards-all-life/) [Paul Oxton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-oxton/) > [Our training pushes us to develop a new set of instincts: instead of reacting to danger with a fight-or-flight adrenaline rush, we're trained to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hadfield/our-training-pushes-us-to-develop-a-new-set-of-instincts-instead-of/) [Chris Hadfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hadfield/) > [If life were fair, we would never have suffered what we suffered at all; having suffered it and survived, we're still reacting to things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-sagara/if-life-were-fair-we-would-never-have-suffered-what-we-suffered-at/) [Michelle Sagara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-sagara/) > [There is a magnificent intensity in life that comes when we are not in control but are only reacting, living, surviving. I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-callahan/there-is-a-magnificent-intensity-in-life-that-comes-when-we-are-not/) [Steven Callahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-callahan/) > [And I told you: I think of a photograph you took of me, up in Montreal. You told me to jump in the air,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/and-i-told-you-i-think-of-a-photograph-you-took-of-me-up-in-montreal/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [When you're playing a fictional character reacting to the real world, it's incredibly difficult and confusing and kind of messes with your values a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-helms/when-you-re-playing-a-fictional-character-reacting-to-the-real-world/) [Ed Helms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-helms/) > [Law is downstream from culture. By the time you make a law about something, you're reacting, not acting. I'd rather shape the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/law-is-downstream-from-culture-by-the-time-you-make-a-law-about/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [I can feel how an audience is reacting when I'm on a stage, but when you are on stage, your perception is distorted. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-c-k/i-can-feel-how-an-audience-is-reacting-when-i-m-on-a-stage-but-when/) [Louis C. K](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-c-k/) > [We did have one work where it looked like the fibreglass was discolouring, but it turned out it was reacting to the foam it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-piccinini/we-did-have-one-work-where-it-looked-like-the-fibreglass-was/) [Patricia Piccinini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-piccinini/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) [Joe Pitts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-pitts/) ## 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/) > [“How we traverse the space between us when conflict arises has a profound effect on the health and longevity of our relationships.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/how-we-traverse-the-space-between-us-when-conflict-arises-has-a/) [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/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“When we believe a wounding story, our whole world is diminished.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-believe-a-wounding-story-our-whole-world-is-diminished/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“The paradigm for our relationships is formed from our earliest experiences and is actually hardwired into our neurological and emotional network.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/the-paradigm-for-our-relationships-is-formed-from-our-earliest/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [Vulnerability in the face of constant change is what we share, whatever our present condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/vulnerability-in-the-face-of-constant-change-is-what-we-share/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“Asking questions is an opportunity for creativity and personal expression, both for the person asking and the person answering.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/asking-questions-is-an-opportunity-for-creativity-and-personal/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [Compassion isn't morose; it's something replenishing and opening; that's why it makes us happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/compassion-isn-t-morose-it-s-something-replenishing-and-opening-that/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“When we open our hearts to the breadth of our experiences, we learn to tune into our needs, unique perceptions, thoughts & feelings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-open-our-hearts-to-the-breadth-of-our-experiences-we-learn-to/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“As we explore new ways of loving and being loved by others, we need to equip ourselves with open, pliant minds; we need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/as-we-explore-new-ways-of-loving-and-being-loved-by-others-we-need-to/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [Even in the midst of devastation, something within us always points the way to freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/even-in-the-midst-of-devastation-something-within-us-always-points/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“It's important to investigate the nature of anger because it is such a powerful energy and can be so destructive. When we can face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/it-s-important-to-investigate-the-nature-of-anger-because-it-is-such/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) > [“When we contemplate the miracle of embodied life, we begin to partner with our bodies in a kinder way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-contemplate-the-miracle-of-embodied-life-we-begin-to-partner/) [Sharon Salzberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) [Explore all 473 Sharon Salzberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/) ## More Caring quotes > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [There is nothing about myself that I wouldn't reveal or write about. I don't care how horrendous or ridiculous I may appear in person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/augusten-burroughs/there-is-nothing-about-myself-that-i-wouldn-t-reveal-or-write-about-i/) [Augusten Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/augusten-burroughs/) > [Forgive yourself for not being the richest, the thinnest, the tallest, the one with the best hair. Forgive yourself for not being the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/forgive-yourself-for-not-being-the-richest-the-thinnest-the-tallest/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [A happy family needs a loving and caring father, and he who knows how to be a mother sometimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-happy-family-needs-a-loving-and-caring-father-and-he-who-knows-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Show your contempt for the problem and your concern for the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/show-your-contempt-for-the-problem-and-your-concern-for-the-person/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) > [Just remember that when nobody was there for you, I was. And when nobody else gave a damn, I did.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/just-remember-that-when-nobody-was-there-for-you-i-was-and-when/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Without a vision there is no possibility of creating something larger than what al-ready exists. An entrepreneur has to be able to bring something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/without-a-vision-there-is-no-possibility-of-creating-something-larger/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [Hmmm! life zz about caring the life that u have as the rest of the things are of secondary value tc n ks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sardar-hyder-abbas/hmmm-life-zz-about-caring-the-life-that-u-have-as-the-rest-of-the/) [Sardar Hyder Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sardar-hyder-abbas/) > [You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved ,the rest is up to the person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-t-make-someone-love-you-all-you-can-do-is-be-someone-who-can/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The terrorists-those nineteen people, with hundreds or maybe thousands behind them-did the worst thing you can possibly imagine. But tens of millions people did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-terrorists-those-nineteen-people-with-hundreds-or-maybe-thousands/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [When you're 20 you care what everyone thinks, when you're 40 you stop caring what everyone thinks, when you're 60 you realize no one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/when-you-re-20-you-care-what-everyone-thinks-when-you-re-40-you-stop/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [“English: "Being an adult doesn't mean killing the child we once were; it means being able to protect him." Česky: „Být dospělým neznamená zabít…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebasti-n-wortys/english-being-an-adult-doesn-t-mean-killing-the-child-we-once-were-it/) [Sebastián Wortys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebasti-n-wortys/) > [“As you travel along the roads in life, there is a certain kind of peace that comes with knowing you're on the right path.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amaka-nkosazana/as-you-travel-along-the-roads-in-life-there-is-a-certain-kind-of/) [Amaka Nkosazana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amaka-nkosazana/) > [“I am sick with caring.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/i-am-sick-with-caring/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) [Browse all 2,651 Caring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/caring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we are devoted to the development of kindness, it becomes our ready response, so that reacting from compassion, from caring, is not a question of giving ourselves a lecture: 'I don't really feel like it, but I'd better be helpful, or what would people think?'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sharon Salzberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-of-kindness-it-becomes-our/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Caring" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-of-kindness-it-becomes-our/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sharon-salzberg-562_caring_when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-o_1547001.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sharon-salzberg-562_caring_when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-o_1547001.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ead/sharon-salzberg-562_caring_when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-o_1547001.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When we are devoted to the development of kindness, it becomes our ready response, so that reacting from…” — Sharon Salzberg", "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": "Sharon Salzberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-salzberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When we are devoted to the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-of-kindness-it-becomes-our/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-salzberg/when-we-are-devoted-to-the-development-of-kindness-it-becomes-our/#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 } } ] } ```