Jean Vanier Quotes

Always keep an open mind and a compassionate heart.

Embrace the humanity of everyone, especially those you don't understand.

Basically, therefore, we should approach others openly, recognizing each person as another human being just like ourselves. There is not much difference between us all.

Acceptance is the truest kinship with humanity.

If I could have one wish, it would be for people to look at one another with open hearts and minds. Most of all, to look at each other with compassion. No matter who they are.

People are people. Don't be afraid of them.

Don't put anyone out of your heart, there's room for all.

You have to give others the opportunity to love who you love. If they don't accept it, it's their loss.

We are all trying to make it the best way we know how, so when we look at each other as individuals and nations, we should do so with compassion.

What we need is not more distrust and division. What we need now is acceptance.

I think what's important is to give space to the range of human experience.

We may have our private opinions but why should they be a bar to the meeting of hearts?

And I'm happy to say that I'm able to find people wherever I go that are not black, not white - they're just human beings. That's where I am, where I've been and where I intend to stay.

You can't tell stories and really walk in someone's shoes and not have a love for them, even if they're doing horrible things.

I don't believe in writing people off.

It would never occur to me to judge anyone.

People who truly love us can be divided into two categories: those who understand us, and those who forgive us our worst sins. Rarely do you find someone capable of both.

Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience molds us into fascinating beings. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to cultivate an atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and compassion. We are all in this life together.

I have gained so much more from my experiences of being open and loving humanity rather than being jaded and being closed-off.

I have a deep love for life and my fellow human beings. I try to understand everything that everybody does, even if it seems wrong to me.

Nelson Mandela proved that an great heart is better than a closed mind.

If err we must, let us err on the side of tolerance.

To achieve progress in the face of adversity, we need a genuine commitment to gaining a deeper understanding of humanity. I'd like to see a world with more leaders who are familiar with the depths of the views of those they deeply disagree with, so that they can understand the nuances of everyone they're representing.

The goal of my shows, my interviews, my business, my philanthropy, all of it, whatever ventures I might pursue, would be to make clear that what unites us is ultimately far more redeeming and compelling than anything that separates me.

Love is something in the heart and in the mind, so why would you chastise anyone for that? And this is something that I feel very strongly about.