Quotes About Empathy

Peter had even named it once, when he said that he could always see what other people hated most about themselves, and bully them, while Val could always see what other people liked best about themselves, and flatter them.

No human being, when you understand his desires, is worthless. No one's life is nothing. Even the most evil of men and women, if you understand their hearts, had some generous act that redeems them, at least a little, from their sins.

If there were no goodness in people, mankind would still be confined to loping across a Savannah somewhere on Earth, watching the elephants rule, or some other more compassionate species.

I must rejoice that I am part of her, instead of resenting that I am not more of her.

Ender Wiggin isn't a killer. He just wins—thoroughly. If anybody's going to be scared, let it be the buggers." "Makes you almost feel sorry for them, knowing Ender's going to be coming after them.

It made Ender listen more carefully to what people meant, instead of what they said. It made him wise.

The highest beings of all are the ones who are willing to pay any personal cost for the good of those who need them.

Those eyes had seen people weep, and had cared, and had hurt them again anyway. It's a look that no human eyes should ever have.

I'm not one to despise other people for their sins. I haven't found one yet, that I didn't say to myself, I've done worse than this.

imagine. I imagine it feels like bathing in ice to the person touching her. But how does it feel to her? Cold as she is, it must surely burn like fire.

In the end it was only Peter who had something he could say from the heart. Am I the only one here who sees something of himself in the man who's lying inside this box? No one had an answer for him, either yes or no.

Then he was done. He pulled away, rolled onto his back. "I'm sorry," he said. "You're welcome," she said. She believed in answering what people meant, not what they said.

He could just look at people and listen to them and suddenly he'd know things about them.

Once you understand what people really want, you can't hate them anymore. You can fear them, but you can't hate them, because you can always find the same desires in your own heart.

Maybe it isn't based on what you deserve. Maybe it's based on what you need.

Never mock a tender heart.

If you could make them feel as you can make me feel, then perhaps they could forgive you.

We are like you; the thought pressed into his mind. We did not mean to murder, and when we understood, we never came again. We thought we were the only thinking beings in the universe, until we met you, but never did we dream that thought could arise from the lonely animals who cannot dream each other's dreams. How were we to know? We could live with you in peace. Believe us, believe us, believe us.

You treated me the way you like to be treated when you grieve, and now I'm treating you the way I like to be treated. We prescribe our own medicine for each other.

All these uses a valid; all these reading of the book are correct. For all these readers have placed themselves inside this story, not as spectators, but as participants, and so have looked at the world of Ender's Game, not with my eyes only, but also with their own.

But what kind of race is it, when the racers never let go of each other's hands, and the winner pulls the loser laughing over the finish line?

One of Ender's toonmates shook his head. "You dumb as a thumb.

The disadvantage with people is that you can't put bookmarks in them and set them aside till you want them again.

I know you!' She insisted. 'No you don't. But that's all right, because I don't know me either, let alone you. We never understand anybody, not even ourselves.