Compassion Quote by William Faulkner
““I believe that man will not merely endure: he will prevail. He is immortal, not because he alone among creatures has an inexhaustible voice, but because he has a soul, a spirit capable of compassion and sacrifice and endurance. The poet's, the writer's, duty is to write about these things. It is his privilege to help a man endure by lifting his heart, by reminding him of the courage and honor and hope and pride and compassion and pity and sacrifice which have been the glory of his past. The poet's voice need not merely be the record of man, it can be one of the props, the pillars to help him endure and prevail.””
About This Quote
The passage argues that humanity's resilience stems from an inner moral and emotional capacity—compassion, sacrifice, and hope—making us capable of overcoming adversity, and that writers should actively nurture these qualities in readers.
In simple terms: Human resilience is rooted in moral spirit.
Key Takeaway
Writers can uplift and sustain humanity.
Themes
Resilience
Compassion
Hope
Literary purpose
Human spirit
Endurance
Mood
Inspirational
Reflective
Hopeful
Type
Philosophical
Motivational
Literary
When to use this quote
- During personal crisis
- In post‑war reconstruction
- When confronting social injustice
- Amid cultural decline
Key Concepts
Moral agency
Narrative influence
Collective memory
Empathy
Practical Applications
- Inspirational essays
- Therapeutic literature
Questions to Reflect On
- How can literature shape collective morale?
- What responsibilities do creators have toward societal endurance?
