--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: YOU MUST LEARN THE COMPASSION PROPER TO…" description: "\"YOU MUST LEARN THE COMPASSION PROPER TO YOUR TRADE\" \"And what's that?\" \"A SHARP EDGE.\" — Terry Pratchett" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/terry-pratchett-19_compassion_you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to_2710359.jpg" --- # YOU MUST LEARN THE COMPASSION PROPER TO YOUR TRADE" "And… ![“YOU MUST LEARN THE COMPASSION PROPER TO YOUR TRADE" "And what's that?" "A SHARP EDGE.” quote by Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/terry-pratchett-19_compassion_you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to_2710359.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/terry-pratchett-19_compassion_you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to_2710359.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/terry-pratchett-19_compassion_you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to_2710359.jpg) > “YOU MUST LEARN THE COMPASSION PROPER TO YOUR TRADE" "And what's that?" "A SHARP EDGE.” [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A craftsman must learn compassion appropriate to his profession, which is as sharp and precise as a tool. **In simple terms:** Compassion must be honed like a skilled craft. Key Takeaway Cultivate compassion with the same care as your trade. Themes craftsmanship compassion professional ethics skill sharpness Mood thoughtful instructive humorous Type professional ethical When to use this quote - medical practice - teaching - customer service - law enforcement Key Concepts moral craftsmanship emotional intelligence trade discipline Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice compassion without losing effectiveness? - When does compassion become a liability? A Different Perspective Compassion can be difficult to balance with necessary firmness in some roles. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Proper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-proper-2478763/) [Learn Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learn-compassion-240740/) [Proper Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proper-trade-2802498/) [Sharp Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sharp-edge-1717819/) [Trade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade/) [Trade Sharp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trade-sharp-2802497/) ## Related quotes > [“Are you going to send me home?” he said. Death reached down and swung him up behind the saddle. BECAUSE YOU SHOWED COMPASSION? NO.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/are-you-going-to-send-me-home-he-said-death-reached-down-and-swung/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [What is gained by debt relief and aid can be lost if we don't get a proper trade agreement in Hong Kong,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-brown/what-is-gained-by-debt-relief-and-aid-can-be-lost-if-we-don-t-get-a/) [Gordon Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-brown/) > [“The sharp edge of grief might dull with time, but it never truly went away. The cruel blade was always in your heart, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/the-sharp-edge-of-grief-might-dull-with-time-but-it-never-truly-went/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [“We have to make mistakes, it's how we learn compassion for others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/we-have-to-make-mistakes-it-s-how-we-learn-compassion-for-others/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [“But gradually we learn something very precious under the tutelage of these wounds. We learn a compassion for others that replaces judging, self-loathing, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-laird/but-gradually-we-learn-something-very-precious-under-the-tutelage-of/) [Martin Laird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-laird/) > [We have to make mistakes, its how we learn compassion for others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/we-have-to-make-mistakes-its-how-we-learn-compassion-for-others/) [Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/) > [If we begin to get in touch with whatever we feel with some kind of kindness, our protective shells will melt, and we'll find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/if-we-begin-to-get-in-touch-with-whatever-we-feel-with-some-kind-of/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [As we learn to have compassion for ourselves, the circle of compassion for others - what and whom we can work with, and how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/as-we-learn-to-have-compassion-for-ourselves-the-circle-of-compassion/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [The only way to learn compassion is through your heart; you have to back up and pass through your own pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-fox/the-only-way-to-learn-compassion-is-through-your-heart-you-have-to/) [Matthew Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-fox/) > [Were it not for the relationship I have with Christ, the world surely would have run me down by now…Certainly I'll never find the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-lott/were-it-not-for-the-relationship-i-have-with-christ-the-world-surely/) [Bret Lott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-lott/) > [Sometimes we find ourselves in desperate need and we look to those of privilege and power. It's then we learn compassion sits inert upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bad-religion/sometimes-we-find-ourselves-in-desperate-need-and-we-look-to-those-of/) [Bad Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bad-religion/) > [“Love can come from enduring ones life journey, where from such a venture, you will learn compassion and humility, leading you to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alastair-agutter/love-can-come-from-enduring-ones-life-journey-where-from-such-a/) [Alastair Agutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alastair-agutter/) > [Dealing with difficult people, you learn compassion and patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dealing-with-difficult-people-you-learn-compassion-and-patience/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [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/) > [A Light exists in Spring Not present on the Year At any other period - When March is scarcely here A Color stands abroad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-dickinson/a-light-exists-in-spring-not-present-on-the-year-at-any-other-period/) [Emily Dickinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-dickinson/) ## More by Terry Pratchett > [“This one’s mental.’ ‘Eccentric.’ ‘What’s the difference?’ ‘A bag of cash.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/this-one-s-mental-eccentric-what-s-the-difference-a-bag-of-cash/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“But I did not return until half past four this morning and I distinctly remember stubbing my toe on the stairs. I am as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/but-i-did-not-return-until-half-past-four-this-morning-and-i/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Someone broke from the scrum and, punching and kicking, staggered towards the Klatchian goal. "Isn't that man your butler?" said Ahmed. "Yes." "One of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/someone-broke-from-the-scrum-and-punching-and-kicking-staggered/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [It's an interesting fact that fewer than 17 % of Real cats end their lives with the same name they started with. Much family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/it-s-an-interesting-fact-that-fewer-than-17-of-real-cats-end-their/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [You can't trust folk songs. They always sneak up on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-can-t-trust-folk-songs-they-always-sneak-up-on-you/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Either dragons should exist completely or fail to exist at all, he felt. A dragon only half-existing was worse than the extremes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/either-dragons-should-exist-completely-or-fail-to-exist-at-all-he/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Magrat wondered what it was like, spending your whole life doing something you didn’t want to do. Like being dead, she considered, only worse,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/magrat-wondered-what-it-was-like-spending-your-whole-life-doing/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [A hardback's harder at Christmas time because that's a good hardback buying time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/a-hardback-s-harder-at-christmas-time-because-that-s-a-good-hardback/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There were more old people. The world was full of them,' said the wizard. 'Yes, I know. And now it's full of young people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-were-more-old-people-the-world-was-full-of-them-said-the-wizard/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Hobson was big and heavyset, but not exactly fat; he was probably what you’d get if you shaved a bear.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/hobson-was-big-and-heavyset-but-not-exactly-fat-he-was-probably-what/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“There is a night that never comes to an end… The clock of the world turns under its own shadow. Midnight is a moving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/there-is-a-night-that-never-comes-to-an-end-the-clock-of-the-world/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You'd like Freedom, Truth, and Justice, wouldn't you, Comrade Sergeant?' said Reg encouragingly. 'I'd like a hard-boiled egg,' said Vimes, shaking the match out.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-d-like-freedom-truth-and-justice-wouldn-t-you-comrade-sergeant/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not apprehensive, are you? I can't detect no trace of fear none whatsoever Roomy cranium all possible videos of all possible outcomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-are-not-apprehensive-are-you-i-can-t-detect-no-trace-of-fear-none/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Imagination, not intelligence, made us human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/imagination-not-intelligence-made-us-human/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Explore all 3,328 Terry Pratchett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) ## 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": "YOU MUST LEARN THE COMPASSION PROPER TO YOUR TRADE\" \"And what's that?\" \"A SHARP EDGE.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Terry Pratchett" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to-your-trade-and-what-s-that-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to-your-trade-and-what-s-that-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/terry-pratchett-19_compassion_you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to_2710359.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/terry-pratchett-19_compassion_you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to_2710359.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b12/terry-pratchett-19_compassion_you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to_2710359.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“YOU MUST LEARN THE COMPASSION PROPER TO YOUR TRADE\" \"And what's that?\" \"A SHARP EDGE.” — Terry Pratchett", "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": "Terry Pratchett", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "YOU MUST LEARN THE COMPASSION PROPER...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to-your-trade-and-what-s-that-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-must-learn-the-compassion-proper-to-your-trade-and-what-s-that-a/#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 } } ] } ```