Quotes About Empathy

Any man can be kind when he is comfortable. I'd always thought kindness a trivial virtue, therefore. But when we were hungry, thirsty, sick, frightened, with our deaths shouting at us, in the heart of horror, you were still as unfailingly courteous as a gentleman at his ease before his own hearth." "Events may be horrible or inescapable. Men have always a choice—if not whether, then how, they may endure.

People are the only mirror we have to see ourselves in. The domain of all meaning. All virtue, all evil, are contained only in people. There is none in the universe at large. Solitary confinement is a punishment in every human culture.

And . . . it would be a real relief for me to have someone along I can talk to freely." Her smile tilted a little at this. "Talk, or vent?" "I—hem!—suspect this one is going to entail quite a lot of venting, yes. D'you think you can stand it?

My mother was a real soldier, too. And I don't think she ever failed to feel another's pain. Not even her enemy's.

Well, I don't hate him. Can't say I worship him, either. She paused a long time, and looked up to meet her mother's eyes square on. But when he's cut, I bleed.

You must learn to give, from sufficiency, not only take, from neediness.

But if you want Arra to give you real joy, you have to give it to her first.

He consoled himself with the reflection that it was seldom he found himself in company who made him feel this stupid. It was probably good for his soul.

Abuse—physical, mental, emotional?" "Sir?" said Tej, staring up in palpable confusion. "Does your husband beat you?" "No!" "Do you beat him?" "No!" said Ivan. "Good grief, sir!" "Does he insult you?" "Certainly not!" Their voices overlapped on that one.

it indicates a deep confusion of thinking to mistake one's own discomfort for a benefit to another.

Galeni made her smile, but not laugh. The lack of any sense of play between them worried Miles. You had to have a keen sense of humor to do sex and stay sane.

She was not the first woman he'd met who endured dire pain in disturbing silence

So… so you went through all this effort, perpetrated all this pointless cruelty, just to make yourself feel better?" A wordless snarl. Pen's voice went dry; he couldn't help it. "Is it working?

Would it do any harm, to make of him a dream-lover? It seemed invasive. How would she like it, after all, if she discovered she was starring in someone else's pornographic daydreams? Horrified, yes? Disgusted, to be pawed over in some untrusted stranger's thoughts. She imagined herself so portrayed in Miles's thoughts, and checked her horror quotient. It was a little . . . weak.

Instead, they'd smile and speak softly, as though I were going to be all right, as though I weren't wearing one navy and one black loafer. As though I weren't driving down the street with my purse on the roof of the car or leaving the oven on preheat all night.

Maybe she needs me to be her basket case.

rushes to my side on the sofa. "Let me give you a massage." He reaches for my shoulders. "No.

There should be a rule for grief groups: forty-watt bulbs only.

He couldn't even find the will to yell at her now. A real man didn't yell at those who weren't exactly sane themselves, he told himself.

She was a nice person, she really was, until someone ignorant decided to force that ignorance in her face, and then she just couldn't hold back.

Some couples--most couples--waited years and years before they developed the ability to read or to feel each other so well. Then there were those very few who touched each other so deeply, so perfectly that first time that the bond was almost immediate.

If he was hurt, it would be her fault. And it wasn't fair, she thought with an edge of self-pity. If anyone got to hurt him, it should be her. Not strangers that didn't know him.

Sir. I could use a crutch." His knees gave way, but the captain was there, his arms going around the taller man's bony body, holding him to him as he shook with silent sobs. "I have you, son," he whispered. "I'll be your crutch.

Lawe's expression was torn, tormented. You're right, Jonas. It's the wrong time for this battle between me and my mate. She keeps telling me that, and I keep refusing to understand. Until now, he stated heavily. She's doing nothing I wouldn't do in her place. Hell, I would have shot me long before now if I were my mate, for standing in my way.