Quotes About Empathy

Self-knowledge comes from knowing other men.

Confronted by outstanding merit, there is no way of saving one's ego except by love

A correct answer is like an affectionate kiss.

Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though it were his own.

To know of someone here and there whom we accord with, who is living on with us, even in silence—this makes our earthly ball a peopled garden.

The world is so empty if one thinks only of mountains, rivers & cities; but to know someone who thinks & feels with us, & who, though distant, is close to us in spirit, this makes the earth for us an inhabited garden.

No one would talk much in society if they knew how often they misunderstood others.

Life teaches us to be less harsh with ourselves and with others.

A teacher who can arouse a feeling for one single good action, for one single good poem, accomplishes more than he who fills our memory with rows on rows of natural objects, classified with name and form.

There is a courtesy of the heart; it is allied to love. From its springs the purest courtesy in the outward behavior.

Every reader, if he has a strong mind, reads himself into the book, and amalgamates his thoughts with those of the author.

Whatever is the lot of humankind I want to taste within my deepest self. I want to seize the highest and the lowest, to load its woe and bliss upon my breast, and thus expand my single self titanically and in the end go down with all the rest.

Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own.

Every day I observe more and more the folly of judging of others by ourselves; and I have so much trouble with myself, and my own heart is in such constant agitation, that I am well content to let others pursue their own course, if they only allow me the same privilege.

No one has ever properly understood me, I have never fully understood anyone; and no one understands anyone else

Behaviour is a mirror in which every one displays his own image.

That which issues from the heart alone, Will bend the hearts of others to your own.

Since you know me and my destiny only too well, you probably also know what attracts me to all unfortunate people.

The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become.

It is in vain that a man of sound mind and cool temper understands the condition of such a wretched being... He can no more communicate his own wisdom to him than a healthy man can instil his strength into the invalid by whose bedside he is seated.

It has ever been my fate to give pain to those whose happiness I should have promoted.

Tolerance should really only be a passing attitude: it should lead to appreciation. To tolerate is to offend.

For many people, one of the most frustrating aspects of life is not being able to understand other people's behavior.

I mean now to try and see her as soon as I can: or perhaps, on second thoughts, I had better not; it is better I should behold her through the eyes of her lover. To my sight, perhaps, she would not appear as she now stands before me; and why should I destroy so sweet a picture?