“Compassion is an unstable emotion. It needs to be translated into action, or it withers. The question of what to do with the feelings that have been aroused, the knowledge that has been communicated. If one feels that there is nothing 'we' can do -- but who is that 'we'? -- and nothing 'they' can do either -- and who are 'they' -- then one starts to get bored, cynical, apathetic.”

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About Susan Sontag

American intellectual and writer of the late 20th century, Susan Sontag was a philosopher and critic whose work explored the intersections of art, politics, and culture. She is best known for her essays on aesthetics, morality, and the role of the intellectual in society, as well as her influential novels and screenplays.

More from Susan Sontag (146 quotes) →
"Compassion is an unstable emotion. It needs to be translated into act…" — Susan Sontag | Daily Quotes