“I always have a sense of trembling, but so does a compass, after all.”

“I think people believe empathy to be compassion, that compassion is an inner sense (a sense of the soul). But empathy is a sense, while compassion isn't a sense. Empathy is an affinity, a communion, a comprehension. They say that empathy is compassion, but I think that the two are independent of each other. You see, through empathy you will feel what another is feeling, including all those plans for manipulation and persuasion. You will feel everything, not just the parts that make you take compassion for the person, but also all the red flags! You see, empathy is a sense that works with the other senses such as foresight and intuition. So, we can feel compassion but we have to move with empathy.”

“Whatever God does, the first outburst is always compassion.”

“Imagine me; I shall not exist if you do not imagine me; try to discern the doe in me, trembling in the forest of my own iniquity; let's even smile a little. After all, there is no harm in smiling.”

“If, after all, men cannot always make history have a meaning, they can always act so that their own lives have one.”

“We sometimes think of compassion as ‘kind intention.’ The Gospel writers meant more than that. The word actually means, ‘to have trembling bowels.’ In other words, biblical compassion is such a deep degree of care that it gnaws at your gut.”