I don't have strong opinions about Emma Thompson or the truth of her statement, but I do find fault with your analysis.
If it happens to be true that those who have suffered are kinder, then anyone might prefer their company. Certainly, if the corollary is true, that those who have not suffered are unkind, then there must be some who suffer their unkindness.
I would like to empower those who are powerless and strip those who wield their power unkindly, causing suffering, of their power.
I think this aligns with the quote.
She wishes no one would suffer, but we don't live in that world, so we make observations.
Thanks for reading and the reply! I actually think that people who've suffered are more than likely just like all the other people - some are kind, some are hateful and some are neutral. I believe that many people, in general, are kind - more so I'd say, than the number of people who aren't kind.
Being kind, after all, isn't that difficult, though maybe more remarkable coming from someone who'd suffered greatly. 🤔
I like to play devil's advocate when I write about quotes when they're on the list of prompts in the email, and I see them as controversial; especially when the controversy mainly arises because they are taken out of context. It's not so much of what I believe the quote means, it's what I can imagine the average person might take out of seeing the quote without any knowledge of the discussion from whence the "quote" was lifted.
Of course she wishes no one would suffer. Most people wish no one would suffer, but some who will see this quote, out there all by itself, are going to think the worst about her, based on a misunderstanding from lack of context. Not her fault, really. Standalone quotes can be very misleading.
Maybe that's someone's intention.
I'd never seen this quote before, so it was also out of context for me.