How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
"Here's what I sent her back," Morrie told Koppel, perching his glasses gingerly on his nose and ears. "'Dear Barbara… I was very moved by your letter. I feel the work you have done with the children who have lost a parent is very important. I also lost a parent at an early age…'" (11.16)
One of the things that make Morrie so compassionate during these last months is that he's constantly reaching out to strangers who are suffering. Hundreds of people are sending in letters asking for responses to their suffering, asking to commiserate with Morrie's own suffering.
Quote #5
"It's become quite clear to me as I've been sick. If you don't have the support and love and caring and concern that you get from a family, you don't have much at all. Love is so supremely important. As our great poet Auden said, 'Love each other or perish.'" (14.8)
Love is connected to compassion. As his favorite quote by Auden states, being compassionate makes us human. Loving isn't a choice—we need to practice love in our lives just like we need oxygen to breathe.
Quote #6
The bad news was, my brother did not want me around—not me, nor anyone in the family. [I was ripped with guilt for what I felt I should be doing for him and fueled with anger for his denying us the right to do it again. (14.52)
Because we have a natural desire to be compassionate, it's very damaging when those we love don't want our love and concern. Mitch is haunted by a sick brother who refuses to let him reach out to him, or even express how much he cares. This shows that there is something that we get out of being compassionate to others.