The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.
-- Elizabeth Kubler Ross
The only extent to which I might disagree with Ross is that it seems she might be assuming that suffering necessarily leads to appreciation, sensitivity, and understanding. That's simply not true. It takes arduous work to turn suffering into a path to compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Many people choose to become frightened, bitter, cynical, mediocre, or hateful instead.
-- Elizabeth Kubler Ross
The only extent to which I might disagree with Ross is that it seems she might be assuming that suffering necessarily leads to appreciation, sensitivity, and understanding. That's simply not true. It takes arduous work to turn suffering into a path to compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Many people choose to become frightened, bitter, cynical, mediocre, or hateful instead.