But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have
need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion read more

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have
need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how
dwelleth the love of God in him?

Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it,
read more

Or, if there were a sympathy in choice,
War, death, or sickness did lay siege to it,
Making it momentany as a sound,
Swift as a shadow, short as any dream,
Brief as the lightning in the collied night,
That, in a spleen, unfolds both heaven and earth,
And ere a man hath power to say 'Behold!'
The jaws of darkness do devour it up:
So quick bright things come to confusion.

A heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathise.

A heart at leisure from itself,
To soothe and sympathise.

If there was less sympathy in the world, there would be less trouble in the world.

If there was less sympathy in the world, there would be less trouble in the world.

Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.

Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.

When you are in trouble, people who call to sympathize are really looking for the particulars.

When you are in trouble, people who call to sympathize are really looking for the particulars.

The craving for sympathy is the common boundary-line between joy
and sorrow.

The craving for sympathy is the common boundary-line between joy
and sorrow.

Pity and need
Make all flesh kin. There in no caste in blood.

Pity and need
Make all flesh kin. There in no caste in blood.

It [true love] is the secret sympathy,
The silver link, the silken tie,
Which heart to heart, read more

It [true love] is the secret sympathy,
The silver link, the silken tie,
Which heart to heart, and mind to mind
In body and in soul can bind.