Labeling and diagnosis is a catastrophic way to communicate. Telling other people what's wrong with them greatly reduces, almost to zero, the probability that we're going to get what we're after.
Marshall B. RosenbergRead
Often, instead of offering empathy, we have a strong urge to give advice or reassurance and to explain our own position or feeling.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote emphasizes the importance of empathy over simply providing advice or reassurance in conversations.
In this quote, Marshall B. Rosenberg highlights a common tendency people have to default to giving advice or sharing their own experiences instead of fully listening and empathizing with others. This observation underlines the need for people to cultivate true empathy, which requires being present for someone else's feelings without immediately jumping to solutions or personal reflections.
Themes
EmpathyListeningAdviceUnderstandingRelationships
In practice
Example use cases
During a training session on effective communication, this quote can be used to illustrate the significance of empathy in conflict resolution.
More from Marshall B. Rosenberg
All quotes βWhether I praise or criticize someone's action, I imply that I am their judge, that I'm engaged in rating them or what they have done.
Marshall B. RosenbergRead
In nonviolent communication, no matter what words others may use to express themselves, we simply listen for their observations, feelings, needs, and requests. Then we may wish to reflect back, paraphrasing what we have understood. We stay with empathy, allowing others the opportunity to fully express themselves before we turn our attention to solutions or requests for relief.
Marshall B. RosenbergRead
All that has been integrated into NVC has been known for centuries about consciousness, language, communication skills, and use of power that enable us to maintain a perspective of empathy for ourselves and others, even under trying conditions.
Marshall B. RosenbergRead
The punitive use of force tends to generate hostility and to reinforce resistance to the very behavior we are seeking.
Marshall B. RosenbergRead
Expressing our vulnerability can help resolve conflicts.
Marshall B. RosenbergRead
Similar quotes
In the beginning of life, when we are infants, we need others to survive, right? And at the end of life, when you get like me, you need others to survive, right?β His voice dropped to a whisper. βBut hereβs the secret: in between, we need others as well.
Mitch AlbomRead
I've talked to nearly 30,000, people on this show, and all 30,000, had one thing in common: They all wanted validation...I would tell you that every single person you will ever meet shares that common desire.
Oprah WinfreyRead
you can't really know the person standing before you, because always there is some missing piece
Barbara KingsolverRead
The woman was silent, her eyes on the floor. Shimamura had come to a point where he knew he was only parading his masculine shamelessness, and yet it seemed likely enough that the woman was familiar with the failing and need not be shocked by it. He looked at her. Perhaps it was the rich lashes of the downcast eyes that made her face seem warm and sensuous. She shook her head very slightly, and again a faint blush spread over her face.
Yasunari KawabataRead
Men take on the nature and the habits and the power of thought of those with whom they associate in a spirit of sympathy and harmony.
Napoleon HillRead
Ah! The strength of women comes from the fact that psychology cannot explain us. Men can be analyzed, women...merely adored.
Oscar WildeRead