Quotes About Empathy

They were very close. Like this.' Here Yolande attempted to cross her fingers but the nails kept knocking into each other making it look like a finger puppet version of All Star Wrestling.

Billy learned that trees had feelings and personalities of their own.

Armand Gamache had no stomach to breach someone else's boundaries just because he could.

I said I was only going to recite them once, and he could do with them as he wished." Armand Gamache lowered his fork to his plate and listened. "I don't know. I was wrong. I'm sorry." Lacoste recited them slowly, lifting a finger to count them off. "I need help," the Chief said, completing the statements.

want to crawl inside his skin and wrap herself around his

As a child, Billy had held his grandfather's calloused hand, and together they'd walked through the forest, the old man touching the trees and describing their character. From him, young Billy learned that trees had feelings and personalities of their own.

His magical thinking allowed him to be surprised that when such a good soul dies it isn't remarked. The bells of the church didn't set themselves off. The mice and deer didn't cry out. The earth didn't shudder. It should have.

could be so much deliberate cruelty and so much kindness in one species.

The dead woman's name is Jane Neal,' Gamache knew it was a false kindness to cushion a blow like this.

Inviting her, it seemed, to understand. What it meant to love so completely that all you wanted from that person was companionship.

They stole the files of everyone who was involved in the raid. Who came to you for help. Who told you everything. All their fears, their vulnerabilities. What they want from life. What matters to them. A road map in their heads.

Just because it's the truth doesn't make it any less insulting.

I'm sorry, I don't know, I need help, I forget.

Yes. Armand Gamache hated guns.

This village was old, and you don't get to be old without knowing grief. And loss.

Or worse, dwell in it. Take up residence in the tragedies, the pain. The hurt. To make a home in hell.

What Three Pines had wasn't immunity but a rare ability to heal.

Anyone could be clever. Anyone could be smart. Anyone could be taught. But not everyone was kind.

If one hadn't died with a hole in her heart,' said Nichol. Clara winced.

When you see the worst you appreciate the best.

I'm sorry. I was wrong. I need help. I don't know. He'd

Did you ever suspect us?' Gamache looked at the two men, one huge and buoyant, the other slim and self-contained. 'No. I think you've both been hurt too much in your lives by the cruelty of others to ever be cruel yourselves. In my experience people who have been hurt either pass it on and become abusive themselves or they develop a great kindness. You're not the types to do murder. I wish I could say the same for everyone here.

Instead the wiry, self-contained man had stared at him for a few seconds then invited him to sit and told him the four sentences that lead to wisdom. He'd said them only once, never repeating them. But once had been enough for Gamache. I'm sorry. I was wrong. I need help. I don't know.

The blindness you mention isn't believing in the essential goodness of people, it's failing to see it.