Empathy Quotes

“When someone says to us, as Thich Nhat Hanh suggests, "Darling, I care about your suffering," a deep healing begins.”
― Tara Brach, Radical Acceptance: Embracing Your Life With the Heart of a Buddha

“But compassion isn't about solutions. It's about giving all the love that you've got.”
― Cheryl Strayed, Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar

“There is no greater intelligence than kindness and empathy.”
― Bryant McGill, Voice of Reason

“But when he’s cut, I bleed.”
― Lois McMaster Bujold, Shards of Honour

“We live close together and we live far apart. We all go through the same things-it's all just a different kind of the same thing.”
― Susan Glaspell, Trifles

“If I could give one message to the bullied, it would be this: You are not alone. You are strong. You have a voice. You are beautiful. You are intelligent. There are many kids who want to speak up for you, but they don’t because they are afraid of becoming bullied themselves. There are many of us in the world who love you. I love you. You have the power to end this now. That power is in your voice. Find it. Once you use your voice, bullies want no part of you. If you feel that you lack the courage, fake it until you do. Finally, I know it’s hard to see a life that exists beyond high school. It is there, and it is beautiful.”
― Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing: The Best of Year One

“Life is always going to be a series of ouch-making moments, and the question was, was I going to go all fetal position, or was I going to woman up? I went into fetal position on the bed to think about this. Fetal position turned out to be very comfortable.”
― Maureen Johnson, The Madness Underneath

“I sometimes try to imagine what would have happened if we’d known the bonobo first and the chimpanzee only later—or not at all. The discussion about human evolution might not revolve as much around violence, warfare and male dominance, but rather around sexuality, empathy, caring and cooperation. What a different intellectual landscape we would occupy!”
― Frans de Waal, Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We Are

“Understanding did not provide solace or make the pain go away; in many ways, understanding was just more salt in the emotional wound. Ignorance allowed one to fight back with unfettered cruelty. Understanding inspired empathy, which led to guilt, as well as suffering.

She looked at Gavin, supine, unconcerned, contented, and thought that perhaps there was something to being a sociopath. If you didn't have a heart, it couldn't be broken.”
― Nenia Campbell, Terrorscape

“The glory of fame isn't in having so many people know you, but in having so many people know you care. Otherwise, it's like being drawn to a fire to find no warmth.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Smile Anyway: Quotes, Verse, and Grumblings for Every Day of the Year

“Don't hate the bullies. Experience tells me that hating them, or being angry with them, will always make it worse. Instead, put your arm around them. Love them. Tell them that they are valuable. Tell them that you expect great things from them. They will stop the bullying. They will stop, because they will start to love themselves. And people who love themselves don’t bully others.”
― Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing: The Best of Year One

“Race prejudice is not only a shadow over the colored — it is a shadow over all of us, and the shadow is darkest over those who feel it least and allow its evil effects to go on.”
― Pearl S. Buck, What America Means to Me

“You have to see everyone in relationship to you. Just because you understand the shit in someone else's life doesn't mean you don't stand up for your own”
― Chris Crutcher, Whale Talk

“Compassion only plagues those with hearts, much like a field of thorns only troubles those who bleed.”
― Richelle E. Goodrich, Eena, The Companionship of the Dragon's Soul

“The pain on the inside is what keeps you human,' she said. 'Never forget that.”
― Taylor Stevens, The Doll

“I'm too intense. I feel too much. And when I experience certain sensations, I act. Even if the situation is one I should probably walk away from. But you know what?" She was feeling a little better. "I'm never going to walk away, not from any of it. I can't. I am what I am. I'm intense, just as my fiance said. I feel everything around me, and I'm glad about that. I can't imagine life without the depth, without the magic that accompanies the pain.”
― Tara Taylor Quinn, A Child's Wish

“Sweet Evelyn, I think, I should have loved you better.
Possessing perfect knowledge I hover above him as he hacks me to bits. I see his rough childhood. I see his mother doing something horrid to him with a broomstick. I see the hate in his heart and the people he had yet to kill before pneumonia gets him at eighty-three. I see the dead kid's mom unable to sleep, pounding her fists against her face in grief at the moment I was burying her son's hand. I see the pain I've caused. I see the man I could have been, and the man I was, and then everything is bright and new and keen with love and I sweep through Sam's body, trying to change him, trying so hard, and feeling only hate and hate, solid as stone.”
― George Saunders, CivilWarLand in Bad Decline

“If we possess narrative sympathy - enabling us to see the world from other's point of view - we cannot kill. If we do not, we cannot love.”
― Richard Kearney, On Stories

“Empathy needs no genius.”
― Toba Beta, Betelgeuse Incident: Insiden Bait Al-Jauza

“Empathy is a big part of Sparkleponies, because it’s also my belief (as a history and political science major) that societies that don’t practice rational empathy inevitably collapse – either by fomenting conflict from within by oppressing a segment/s of their populace, or seeking conflict from without by taking from others and eventually getting into a fight they can’t win.”
― Chris Kluwe

“The women ranged in age, but they were all old enough to know that in the currency of friendship, empathy is more valuable than accuracy.”
― Erica Bauermeister, Joy for Beginners

“One-time rival and subsequent usurper Secretary of State Seward finally settled into an assessment of Lincoln that, "His confidence and compassion increase every day.”
― Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

“The solution to nearly every problem in the world comes down to greater awareness, compassion, and empathy.”
― Bryant McGill, Voice of Reason

“If I could give one message to the bullies, it would be this: You are incredible. You are bound for great things. You have the potential to be anybody you want to be. There are people who believe in you. There are people who love you. Be what we know you can be, even if you don’t believe in yourself right now.”
― Dan Pearce

“Like works of literature, mathematical ideas help expand our circle of empathy, liberating us from the tyranny of a single, parochial point of view.”
― Daniel Tammet Thinking in Numbers How Maths Illuminates Our Lives

“I am noticing a big difference in the way the hospital workers are looking at me as I approach Jess’s room.

The look of sincere sympathy that used to be on their faces when they made eye contact with me is gone.

It has been replaced by shear helplessness as they quickly walk past me with their heads tilted down and to the right.

I feel like Bud Fox walking into his office with the Securities and Exchange Commission awaiting him.”
― John Passaro, 6 Minutes Wrestling With Life

“When the positive revolution takes hold it will no longer be enough for politicians to gain points through attack or being negative. Politicians will be expected to be constructive.”
― Edward De Bono, Handbook for the Positive Revolution

“Humans are unique in having the astonishing capacity to extend our sympathies far beyond the here and now. through time and space, to anywhere and anything we choose. It is our culture that decides how large and inclusive our moral circle is, but it is each of us who makes up our culture. (p.250)”
― Andrew Westoll

“Es gibt zwei Sorten von Männern. Die einen verstehen 'etwas von Frauen', die anderen sind solche, die einfach 'Frauen verstehen'. Ich weiß nicht, welche Sorte mir verdächtiger ist.”
― Sten Nadolny, Netzkarte

“Misery comes to miser; joy comes to wiser. (A Very Hot Cup of Tea, Empathy)

Juvenile invites, youth tries, adult applies, and the old man dies. (A Straw Man, Empathy)

In everyone, there lives a superhero. (The Medicine Man, Empathy)

Faith is the strongest word in any dictionary. (The Wisdom Beard, Empathy)

I’ve entered into your feelings; it’s your turn now. (Empathy)”
― D.R. Mirror