"Let judges secretly despair of justice: their verdicts will be more acute. Let generals secretly despair of triumph; killing will be defamed. Let priests secretly despair of faith: their compassion will be true"
- Leonard Cohen
About this Quote
This quote by Leonard Cohen speaks to the concept that when people in positions of power and authority are able to acknowledge the limitations of their roles, they are better able to satisfy their tasks. Judges, for example, need to not be too positive in their ability to provide justice, as this can lead to a lack of objectivity. Instead, they should know the limitations of their role and strive to make the most precise choices possible. Similarly, generals need to not be too positive in their capability to achieve triumph, as this can result in unneeded bloodshed. Instead, they ought to understand the consequences of their actions and make every effort to reduce casualties. Lastly, priests need to not be too positive in their capability to spread out faith, as this can cause an absence of compassion. Instead, they ought to be aware of the constraints of their role and strive to reveal real empathy to those in requirement.
This quote is written / told by Leonard Cohen somewhere between September 21, 1934 and today. He/she was a famous Musician from Canada.
The author also have 13 other quotes.
"Computers are magnificent tools for the realization of our dreams, but no machine can replace the human spark of spirit, compassion, love, and understanding"
"I am not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion thrown from the table of someone who considers himself my master. I want the full menu of rights"
"Certainly it is wrong to be cruel to animals and the destruction of a whole species can be a great evil. The capacity for feelings of pleasure and pain and for the form of life of which animals are capable clearly impose duties of compassion and humanity in their case"
"However, without considering this connection, there is no doubt but that more good than evil, more delight than sorrow, arises from compassion itself; there being so many things which balance the sorrow of it"
"Compassion is sometimes the fatal capacity for feeling what it is like to live inside somebody else's skin. It is the knowledge that there can never really be any peace and joy for me until there is peace and joy finally for you too"
"Today, our actions must be motivated only by our intense desire to achieve a just and lasting peace. The compassion and charity of the American people should be reflected in this legislation, though sadly, they are silenced"
"They weren't impatient for the boys to turn into cartoons again. They awarded sympathy, gave compassion. Because deep down they had found parts of themselves in the characters. You said it George"
