Dean Koontz Quotes

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

We need to suffer, that we may learn to pity.

Can one be fully human without experiencing tragedy? The only tragedy there is in the world is ignorance; all evil comes from that.

We may thank God that we can feel pain and know sadness, for these are the human sentiments that constitute our glory as well as our grief.

Cruelty is softened by fear, not pity.

Pity addresses the perceived suffering, not the whole individual.

This horror of pain is a rather low instinct and... if I think of human beings I've known and of my own life, such as it is, I can't recall any case of pain which didn't, on the whole, enrich life.

When your fear touches someone’s pain, it becomes pity, when your love touches someone’s pain, it become compassion.

She wanted—what some people want throughout life—a grief that should deeply touch her, and thus humanize and make her capable of sympathy.

Unless a man has pity he is not truly a man. If a man has not wept at the worlds pain he is only half a man, and there will always be pain in the world, knowing this does not mean that a man shall dispair. A good man will seek to take pain out of things. A foolish man will not even notice it, except in himself, and the poor unfortunate evil man will drive pain deeper into things and spread it about wherever he goes.

How much can we ever know about the love and pain in another heart? How much can we hope to understand those who have suffered deeper anguish, greater deprivation, and more crushing disappointments than we ourselves have known?

I fervently wish no misery ever came near anyone; yet it is that alone that gives us an insight into the depths of our lives, does it not? In our moments of anguish, gates barred forever seem to open and let in many a flood of light.

Needs there groan a world in anguish just to teach us sympathy?

If it weren't for the message of mercy and pity in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, I wouldn't want to be a human being. I would just as soon be a rattlesnake.

All the great things that I get to be curious about, see, and experience because I'm sensitive to the world, it also opens up these areas where there's a lot of pain and suffering. You're just aware, aware, aware.

Only when the sense of the pain of others begins does man begin.

To pity distress is but human; to relieve it is Godlike.

AIDS is a horrible disease, and the people who catch it deserve compassion.

One cannot be deeply responsive to the world without being saddened very often.

I've never thought about it before, but I suppose bad people might need someone to pray to, too.

For me, forgiveness and compassion are always linked: how do we hold people accountable for wrongdoing and yet at the same time remain in touch with their humanity enough to believe in their capacity to be transformed?

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.

I have empathy; I am humane. I understand human misery.