The wisdom and compassion of great beings

From Dhammapala's Treatise on the Paramis (6th century)

These Great Beings [mahasattvas] devote themselves to working uninterruptedly for the welfare of others without any concern for their own happiness and without any fear... they are able to promote the welfare [of all sentient beings] and even on occasions when they are merely seen, heard of, or recollected inspire confidence [in others]. 

Through his wisdom a bodhisattva perfects within himself the character of a buddha; 
through his compassion, the ability to perform the work of a buddha. 

Through wisdom he brings himself across [the ocean of samsara]; 
through compassion he leads others across. 

Through wisdom he understands the suffering of others, 
through compassion he strives to alleviate their suffering. 

Through wisdom he becomes disenchanted with suffering,  
through compassion he accepts suffering. 

Through wisdom he aspires for nirvana, 
through compassion he remains in samsara. 

Through compassion he enters samsara, 
through wisdom he does not delight in it. 

Through wisdom he destroys all attachments, 
but because his wisdom is accompanied by compassion he never desists from activities that benefit others. 

Through compassion he trembles with sympathy for all, 
but because his compassion is accompanied by wisdom, his mind is unattached. 

Through wisdom he is free from "I-making" and "mine'making,"
through compassion he is free from lethargy and depression. 

So, too, through wisdom and compassion, he becomes his own protector and the protector of others, a sage and a hero, one who does not torment himself or torment others, one who promotes his own welfare and the welfare of others, fearless and a giver of fearlessness, dominated by consideration for the world, grateful for favors done and active in doing favors for others, devoid of ignorance and craving, accomplished in knowledge and in conduct, possessed of the powers and of the grounds for self-confidence. Thus wisdom and compassion, as the means for attaining each of the specific fruits of the paramis, is the condition for the paramis. The same pair is a condition for the resolution as well. 

Source: Dalai Lama and Thubten Chodron, In Praise of Great Compassion, p.306-307.