Thirukkural- On Virtue- Compassion-Kural-249

Add as a preferred source on Google

It is easy to see that clear understanding is essential for acquiring knowledge;But it is not so easy to visualize that compassion is essential for goodness.

Analytical understanding leads to true knowledge; so too intense human compassion leads to perceptive righteousness. The poet implies here that compassion is the basic virtue of all and only on that, the good man may build up all his edifice of righteousness.