“Even as a mother protects with her life her child, her only child, so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings.”
Canonical Pali Original: Mātā yathā niyaṃ puttaṃ, āyusā ekaputtamanurakkhe; Evampi sabbabhūtesu, mānasaṃ bhāvaye aparimāṇaṃ.
— Gautam Buddha
The Awakened One, Founder of Dhamma
Pali Canon: Sutta Nipata 1.8 (Metta Sutta), setting forth the highest Buddhist ethical ideal of universal loving-kindness (Metta).