Oh, why does compassion weaken us?'It doesn't, really ... Somewhere where it all balances out - don't the philosophers have a name for it, the perfect place, the place where the answers live? - if we could go there, you could see it doesn't. It only looks, a little bit, like it does, from here, like an ant at the foot of an oak tree. He doesn't have a clue that it's a tree; it's the beginning of the wall round the world, to him.
The quote reflects the idea that compassion is often misunderstood as a weakness. In reality, it holds strength and depth when examined from a broader perspective. The narrator suggests that viewing compassion from a limited standpoint can create misconceptions, much like an ant struggling to grasp the vastness of an oak tree. This imagery illustrates how limited perspectives can distort our understanding of greater truths.
The mention of philosophers and the search for a perfect place symbolizes the quest for deeper wisdom and understanding. It implies that true insights about compassion and strength exist in a realm beyond our immediate perception. If one could access this profound understanding, they would realize that compassion does not weaken us; instead, it connects us to a larger reality that transcends our individual experiences.
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