The tragedy of our lives is that, while we suffer from the wounds afflicted on us by those who love us, we cannot avoid wounding those we want to love.
Henri NouwenHospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place.
Henri NouwenThe great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.
Henri NouwenThere are areas I have to work on. I had some questions and some struggles, but it was an enormously important time for me.
Henri NouwenLet us not underestimate how hard it is to be compassionate. Compassion is hard because it requires the inner disposition to go with others to place where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken. But this is not our spontaneous response to suffering. What we desire most is to do away with suffering by fleeing from it or finding a quick cure for it.
Henri Nouwen