A man is not an elect (Ariya) because he injures living creatures; because he has pity on all living creatures, therefore is a man called Ariya.
Na tena ariyo hoti, yena pāṇāni hiṁsati; Ahiṁsā sabbapāṇānaṁ, “ariyo”ti pavuccati.
Dhammapada 270
The same idea in other traditions
We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures.
Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
The Master angled,—but did not use a net. He shot,—but not at birds perching.
A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast; But the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
By renouncing pleasures he obtains freedom from false longing, whereby he becomes compassionate, humble, free from sorrow, …
Make compassion the cotton, contentment the thread, modesty the knot and truth the twist. This is the sacred thread of the soul; if you have it, then go ahead and put it on me.
That devotee of mine, who hates no being, who is friendly and compassionate, who is free from egoism, and from (the idea that this or that is) mine, to whom happiness and misery are alike, who is forgiving, contented, constantly devoted, self-restrained, and firm in his determinations, and whose mind and understanding are devoted to me, he is dear to me.
In a desert a man found a dog that was dying from thirst. Using his hat as a bucket, he fetched water from a well and gave it to the helpless animal. The prophet of the time stated that God had forgiven the man his sins because of his kindly act. Reflect, if thou be a tyrant, and make a profession of benevolence. He who shows kindness to a dog will not do less towards the good among his fellows. …