--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What is your name?' she asked. The youth…" description: "\"“What is your name?' she asked. The youth ignored her, lowering his eyelids against the sun. She repeated her question. Again he ignored her, so she to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/sherryl-jordan-64328_compassion_what-is-your-name-she-asked-the-youth-ig_2298743.jpg" --- # What is your name?' she asked. The youth ignored her… ![“What is your name?' she asked. The youth ignored her, lowering his eyelids against the sun. She repeated her question. Again he ignored her, so she touched his arm, and he turned his head and looked at her, suddenly back from his own world, his eyes wary, half afraid. But he saw no anger in her…” quote by Sherryl Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/sherryl-jordan-64328_compassion_what-is-your-name-she-asked-the-youth-ig_2298743.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/sherryl-jordan-64328_compassion_what-is-your-name-she-asked-the-youth-ig_2298743.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c96/sherryl-jordan-64328_compassion_what-is-your-name-she-asked-the-youth-ig_2298743.jpg) > ““What is your name?' she asked. The youth ignored her, lowering his eyelids against the sun. She repeated her question. Again he ignored her, so she touched his arm, and he turned his head and looked at her, suddenly back from his own world, his eyes wary, half afraid. But he saw no anger in her; only the stains of tears, and an awful despair. His face changed, and a look of profound sorrow and compassion came over him. Very slowly he lifted his hand and wiped the tears from her cheeks. No other man could have touched her that morning; but the mad youth, with his extraordinary tenderness, gave such a depth of consolation that she found herself leaning her cheek against his hand, and sobbing. He wept with her, and there wove between them an understanding, a unity deep and poignant and powerful.”” [Sherryl Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherryl-jordan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassionate empathy can break through isolation, creating deep, healing connections between people. **In simple terms:** Empathy bridges isolation, fostering healing bonds. Key Takeaway Offer genuine compassion to connect deeply. Themes empathy connection healing compassion Mood empathetic hopeful Type narrative inspirational When to use this quote - conflict resolution - counseling - friendship - parenting Key Concepts psychology human relationships emotional intelligence Questions to Reflect On - When have you offered compassion that changed a relationship? - How can you recognize when someone needs emotional support? A Different Perspective May not work if one party remains closed off or distrustful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Hand Sobbing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hand-sobbing-5428555/) [Profound Sorrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/profound-sorrow-1243000/) [Sorrow Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorrow-compassion-3170111/) [Tenderness Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenderness-gave-664437/) [Wept](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wept/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [He is man whose heart is spirited and eyes are wet each moment on account of the sorrow, compassion, virtue, beauty, and nobility that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/he-is-man-whose-heart-is-spirited-and-eyes-are-wet-each-moment-on/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [“As he said this, looking at her directly, with no particular challenge in his voice, she believed in him completely, he and his parents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/as-he-said-this-looking-at-her-directly-with-no-particular-challenge/) [Ian McEwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [“The birthing wolf, Her heart fed with tenderness, Gave forth from ripe brown nipples, Food to feed the universe.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-payne/the-birthing-wolf-her-heart-fed-with-tenderness-gave-forth-from-ripe/) [Roman Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-payne/) > [ \[Her\] love and tenderness ... gave me the faith in love that enabled me to face my dead at last and write this play-write… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/her-love-and-tenderness-gave-me-the-faith-in-love-that-enabled-me-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hurry to express to you and your fellow citizens my profound sorrow and my closeness in prayer for the nation at this dark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-john-paul-ii/i-hurry-to-express-to-you-and-your-fellow-citizens-my-profound-sorrow/) [Pope John Paul II](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-john-paul-ii/) > [“I had often envisioned my funeral—me lying against the rose-colored satin, looking utterly stunning, U2’ s and Ed Sheeran’s sadder songs playing gently in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristan-higgins/i-had-often-envisioned-my-funeral-me-lying-against-the-rose-colored/) [Kristan Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristan-higgins/) > [We wept, Brooklyn was a lovely place to hit. If you got a ball in the air, you had a chance to get it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duke-snider/we-wept-brooklyn-was-a-lovely-place-to-hit-if-you-got-a-ball-in-the/) [Duke Snider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duke-snider/) > [When he heard there was nothing to eat, he sat down and wept… “Why did I ever wake up!” he cried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-he-heard-there-was-nothing-to-eat-he-sat-down-and-wept-why-did-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I cry myself to sleep sometimes, wept the and the tears From malice, divorce meets to lost peers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-grae/i-cry-myself-to-sleep-sometimes-wept-the-and-the-tears-from-malice/) [Jean Grae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-grae/) > [“I long for scenes where man hath never trod A place where woman never smiled or wept There to abide with my Creator, God,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-clare/i-long-for-scenes-where-man-hath-never-trod-a-place-where-woman-never/) [John Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-clare/) > [“Mr. Crepsley was every bit as composed as he'd sworn he would be. He didn't even shed a tear when the funeral litter was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darren-shan/mr-crepsley-was-every-bit-as-composed-as-he-d-sworn-he-would-be-he/) [Darren Shan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darren-shan/) > [Ralph wept for the end of innocence, the darkness of man's heart, and the fall through the air of the true, wise friend called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-golding/ralph-wept-for-the-end-of-innocence-the-darkness-of-man-s-heart-and/) [William Golding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-golding/) > [And, hungry for the old, familiar ways, I turned aside and bowed my head and wept.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claude-mckay/and-hungry-for-the-old-familiar-ways-i-turned-aside-and-bowed-my-head/) [Claude McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claude-mckay/) > [“Yes,love."He leaned down,his hands splayed on her ankles,up he raked to her knees,her inner thighs until he had her legs spread so wide her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-wright/yes-love-he-leaned-down-his-hands-splayed-on-her-ankles-up-he-raked/) [Laura Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-wright/) > [“The rain feels good against my face, Sam. It feels like tears. Let me stay a while longer, I pray you. It has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/the-rain-feels-good-against-my-face-sam-it-feels-like-tears-let-me/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) ## More by Sherryl Jordan > [“I want you to come with me when i go. But maybe you will not see your cave again, or the stonee rings where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherryl-jordan/i-want-you-to-come-with-me-when-i-go-but-maybe-you-will-not-see-your/) [Sherryl Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherryl-jordan/) > [“Do you think this wild idea might work?” “It’s insane,” growled Boaz. “Utter lunacy, too far-fetched to be credible. Of course it’ll work.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherryl-jordan/do-you-think-this-wild-idea-might-work-it-s-insane-growled-boaz-utter/) [Sherryl Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherryl-jordan/) > [“People don't lose their lives, Your Majesty. Their lives are taken from them, or else they lay them down themselves." And which will be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherryl-jordan/people-don-t-lose-their-lives-your-majesty-their-lives-are-taken-from/) [Sherryl Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherryl-jordan/) > [“They say words more empty than the wind, she said. 'Tis nothing, love. Nothing, and less than nothing. The wind is nothing yet powerful,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherryl-jordan/they-say-words-more-empty-than-the-wind-she-said-tis-nothing-love/) [Sherryl Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherryl-jordan/) [Explore all 5 Sherryl Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherryl-jordan/) ## 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/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“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/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [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/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [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/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“What is your name?' she asked. 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