Q0651
“Compassion always signifies that opposites are one in the dynamic reciprocity of…” — Nishida Kitaro (Last Writings (Dilworth, p. 107))
Verified English quotation. Primary source: Last Writings (Dilworth, p. 107). Theme: love.
English
Compassion always signifies that opposites are one in the dynamic reciprocity of their own contradictory identity. The religious will arise as the self-determination of this dimension of sympathetic coalescence.
Source and attribution
The archive attributes this English wording to Last Writings (Dilworth, p. 107) and files it under Kyoto School. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
About Nishida Kitaro
Nishida Kitarō (1870–1945) founded the Kyoto School at Kyoto Imperial University, forging a modern Japanese philosophy in dialogue with James, Bergson, Neo-Kantianism, and Zen practice. An Inquiry into the Good (1911) made ‘pure experience’ his early keystone; later essays develop the logic of basho (place) and absolute nothingness.
How to read this passage
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, self.
Concepts in this quote
- Love
- Love in philosophy ranges from friendship and desire to care, justice, and the transformation of the self.
- Self
- Philosophy quotes about self explore identity, responsibility, and the examined life—from Socrates’ unexamined life to modern phenomenology and existential authenticity.
How to cite this quotation
APA: Nishida Kitaro. (n.d.). Compassion always signifies that opposites are one in the dynamic reciprocity of their own contradictory identity. The religious will arise as the self-determination of this dimension of sympathetic coalescence. In Philosophy Blind Box. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0651
MLA: Nishida Kitaro. “Compassion always signifies that opposites are one in….” Philosophy Blind Box, https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0651.
Chicago: Nishida Kitaro. “Compassion always signifies that opposites are one in….” Philosophy Blind Box. Accessed 2026. https://www.philosophydef.com/quotes/q0651.
Frequently asked questions
What is the source of the quotation “Compassion always signifies that opposites are one in…”?
The passage is attributed to Nishida Kitaro, Last Writings (Dilworth, p. 107). The archive attributes this English wording to Last Writings (Dilworth, p. 107) and files it under Kyoto School. That locator distinguishes the passage from loose internet attributions: readers can return to the named work or section to check translation, surrounding argument, and edition-specific wording.
What does Nishida Kitaro mean by love?
Greek distinctions among eros, philia, and agape, Confucian relational ethics, and modern debates about romantic love keep the theme philosophically precise rather than merely sentimental. This passage enters that discussion through love, self.