On Compassion (Neil Kinnock, Winston Churchill and Queen Elizabeth II)

I read Neil Kinnock's speech last week and found some lines worth quoating. And it reminds me of Winston Churchill's comments on compassion; Queen Elizabeth II's comments on moderation and compassion; a concerned disscution with my friend; and my previous blog articles like: http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/kevin-wch/article?mid=381；　http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/kevin-wch/article?mid=268&fid=22　；and, this one http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/kevin-wch/article?mid=1092 .

Here is the lines from Kinnock's speech:

We are democratic socialists. We care all the time. We don't think it's a soft sentiment, we don't think it's 'wet'.

We think that care is the essence of strength.

And we believe that because we know that strength without care is savage and brutal and selfish.

Strength with care is compassin--the practical action that is needed to help people lift themselves to their full stature.

That's real care--It is not soft or weak. It is tough and strong.

.....from Neil Kinnock, Why am I the frist Kinnock in a thousand generations to be able to get to university? in The Penguin Book of Twentieth Century Speeches, p456-7

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Here is Winston Churchill's comments on compassion:

‘…but I'm not sure his(Winston Churchill's) heart was in being a Conservative.’

Lord Butler's eyes were shining. Somewhere deep inside he seemed to be suppressing another giggle. ‘Winston used to ring me up before a Budget and say, “Remember compassion!”’

.....from John Mortimer interviewed R. A. Butler, it's included in Mortimer's book In Character (P. 126-130)

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Here is the Queen Elizabeth II's comments on moderation and compassion:

I, like Queen Victoria, have always been a believer in that old maxim "moderation in all things". I sometimes wonder how future generations will judge the events of this tumultuous year. I dare say that history will take a slightly more modeate view than that of some contemporary commentators. Distance is well known to lend enchantment, even to the less attractive ivews. AFter all, it has the inestimable advantage of hindsight. But it can also lend an extra dimension to judgement, giving it a leavening of moderation and compassion--even of wisdom--that is sometimes lacking in the reacions of those whose task it is in life to offer instant opinions on all things great and small.

No section of the community has all the virtues, neither does any hav all the vices. I ma quite sure that most people try to do their jobs as best they can, even if the result is not always entirely successful .......

......from  Queen Elizabeth II, Annus Horribilis, in The Penguin Book of Twentieth Century Speeches, p492