I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to

“I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.” Thus spoke Maya Angelou, the poet of truth and the voice of the soul, whose words pierce the heart like gentle thunder. In this saying lies a truth both tender and fierce: that the capacity for empathy dwells within every human being, like a hidden flame waiting to be kindled. Yet, too often, we smother that flame with fear—fear of judgment, fear of vulnerability, fear of being hurt. Angelou reminds us that to feel deeply is not enough; one must also possess the courage to act upon that feeling, to let compassion shape our words and deeds even when the world rewards indifference.

In the old days, the wise said that to know oneself was the beginning of wisdom—but to know another, to truly understand their pain and joy as one’s own, was the beginning of love. Empathy is the bridge between souls, the sacred power that allows us to see through another’s eyes and to walk for a moment in their footsteps. But this bridge is not easily crossed. It is guarded by pride, by comfort, by fear. To show empathy is to risk the self—to step out of one’s fortress of certainty and meet the suffering of others unshielded. That is why courage is its twin virtue. For without courage, empathy remains a silent guest in the house of the heart.

Maya Angelou herself knew this truth through a life of trial and triumph. Born into a world shadowed by racism and pain, she bore witness to cruelty and injustice. Yet she did not let bitterness harden her spirit. She transformed her suffering into understanding, her understanding into poetry, and her poetry into healing. When she wrote of empathy, she did not speak as a philosopher but as one who had lived through the coldness of human cruelty and still chose warmth. Her life was an act of brave compassion—a declaration that love, when shown in action, is the most radical force in existence.

Consider also the story of Nelson Mandela, imprisoned for twenty-seven long years, deprived of his freedom and his family. When he emerged from his cell, the world expected vengeance. Instead, he offered forgiveness. That act was not born of weakness, but of immense empathy—a deep understanding of his enemies’ fear and ignorance—and the courage to meet them not with wrath but with grace. It was the courage to display the very empathy that most men bury beneath pride. In doing so, he did not only free his nation—he freed the hearts of those who watched him, teaching them that greatness lies not in domination, but in understanding.

To feel another’s sorrow is easy for the gentle soul; to act upon it, to speak when others are silent, to stand beside the suffering when it costs you comfort—that is where courage is tested. Many have felt pity for the poor, yet turned away. Many have felt unease at injustice, yet remained silent. But those who dare to show empathy aloud—who lend their hands, their words, their strength—are the ones who keep the world from crumbling into cruelty. For every act of courage born from empathy sends ripples through the hearts of others, awakening the sleeping goodness within them.

The ancients taught that the lion’s roar and the dove’s heart must dwell together within the same soul. Empathy without courage is powerless sentiment; courage without empathy is blind force. Together, they form the balance that makes a human truly noble. When you dare to feel and to act—to comfort the grieving, to speak for the voiceless, to forgive the unforgivable—you do more than change one life; you preserve the sacred thread of humanity itself.

Therefore, my child, let this teaching be your guide: do not fear the trembling of your heart when it feels the pain of another. That trembling is the pulse of life itself. Do not hide it; let it move you. When you see suffering, step closer, not away. When you witness injustice, speak truth, though your voice shake. To live with empathy is to live with open eyes and an open soul—and to display it requires courage that is rare and radiant.

And when the world grows cold and hard, be among those who keep their hearts aflame. Let your empathy be seen, your courage be known. For it is through such acts that the world is mended—one heart, one kindness, one brave display of compassion at a time.