My guides say that compassion is the pinnacle principle. From a compassionate state we recognize that everyone has a story, even the annoying telemarketer on the other end of the phone, the person in the grocery story line who has too many items for the express line, the politician who votes against legislation that would obviously help people, and us, when we make a stupid mistake that makes our own life harder.
Compassion contains spiritual love and the understanding that we are not yet enlightened. We still have fears and confusions that are not worked out. Our magnificent spirit and the long path of evolution that includes our past lives makes up our individual stories that explain who we are and why we do what we do. Yes, life on earth is the school. A plate of compassion all around, because we still have a lot to learn.