Anthony de Mello Quotes

When you close your eyes to tragedy, you close your eyes to greatness.

We're all human, and growing up you learn that the world isn't always kind.

Pain is a gift. Humanity, without pain, would know neither fear nor pity. Without fear, there could be no humility, and every man would be a monster. The recognition of pain and fear in others give rise in us to pity, and in our pity is our humanity, our redemption.

Pain is a teacher from whom we can learn much.

It is through suffering that learning comes.

Every single person has a story that will break your heart. And if you're paying attention, many people... have a story that will bring you to your knees. Nobody rides for free.

It's like growing lotus flowers. You cannot grow lotus flowers on marble. You have to grow them on the mud. Without mud you cannot have lotus flowers. Without suffering, you have no way to learn how to be understanding and compassionate.

The wisdom that comes from having experienced heartbreak cannot be bequeathed; it can only be gained through experience. And having truly felt it, we are far more likely to have compassion for others. Anything that takes us close to true compassion takes us closer to what will one day be an experience of even greater joy.

Pain is a gift. Humanity, without pain, would know neither fear nor pity.

If I’d a knowed more, I would a loved more.

You know things are bad when a woman without any legs and who recently lost two of her own kids feels sorry for you.

In teaching your child, do not forget that suffering is good too. It makes a person rich in character.

The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance.

To remove ignorance is an important branch of benevolence.

I speak to people who have been through so much more.

We're all human beings, and we all have the same problems. I do remember how blessed I am, and no matter how bad things are, they can always get worse.

Nobody's life is a bed of roses. We all have crosses to bear, and we all just do our best. I would never claim to have the worst situation. There are many widows, and many people dying of AIDS, many people killed in Lebanon, people starving all over the planet. So we have to count our lucky stars.

My illness has taught me something about the nature of humanity, love, brotherhood and relationships that I never understood, and probably never would have. So, from that standpoint, there is some truth and good in everything.

Things happen to everybody in the course of a lifetime. Relationships end, people die, tragedy befalls everyone. So everyone has this wealth of experience, and the older you are the more you have to draw on.

Pain makes man think. Thought makes man wise. Wisdom makes life endurable.

'Suffering should not make us bitter people,' my mother once said, 'it should make us better comforters.' Young people need to hear this from those who have walked before them, because someday they'll be walking those same steps, but there may not be anyone following behind.

Three passions, simple but overwhelmingly strong, have governed my life: the longing for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of mankind.

Wisdom comes alone through suffering.

The wise are wise only because they love. The fool are fools only because they think they can understand love.

Evil being the root of mystery, pain is the root of knowledge.