"Few things are so deadly as a misguided sense of compassion"

A misguided sense of compassion can lead to unintended consequences that ultimately perpetuate harm rather than alleviate suffering. When compassion is not rooted in wisdom and discernment, actions meant to help others can become counterproductive or even destructive. Charles Colson’s warning highlights how easily good intentions, when not guided by a clear understanding of justice and reality, morph into enablers of dysfunction.

Historically, misguided compassion has surfaced in many forms, from policies that prioritize immediate emotional relief over long-term wellbeing, to personal interventions that spare someone from discomfort while delaying essential growth. For example, shielding someone from the natural results of their choices, whether out of sympathy or a desire to protect, may provide momentary solace but it deprives them of agency and accountability. In social policy, well-meaning governmental aid has, at times, created cycles of dependency instead of empowerment, undermining dignity and motivation.

On a societal level, refusing to address harmful behaviors out of fear of appearing judgmental can enable further harm. Ignoring addiction, criminal behavior, or dysfunction in the name of tolerance often emboldens such patterns, perpetuating the suffering of individuals and communities. Compassion, untethered from truth and responsibility, paves the way for enabling destructive choices rather than encouraging healing or growth.

True compassion is more than feeling sorry for someone; it is rooted in a desire for the other’s flourishing, even if that path requires difficult truths, tough love, or short-term hardship. Colson’s words serve as a caution: emotional impulses toward kindness must be balanced with prudent judgment. Effective compassion considers not just immediate relief but the long-term good, resisting the temptation to mistake sentimentality for genuine care. Ultimately, only compassion paired with wisdom can truly shield individuals and societies from the perils of good intentions gone awry.