O, that's what troubles me, papa. You want me to live so…
““O, that's what troubles me, papa. You want me to live so happy, and never to have any pain,—never suffer anything,—not even hear a sad story, when other poor creatures have nothing but pain and sorrow, all their lives,—it seems selfish. I ought to know such things, I ought to feel about them!””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Avoiding pain and sorrow in others can feel selfish; empathy requires feeling others' suffering.
In simple terms: Feeling others’ pain shows empathy.
Key Takeaway
Allow yourself to feel.
Themes
empathy
compassion
pain
self‑awareness
Mood
sad
reflective
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- caring for the sick
- social work
- activism
- parenting
- art creation
Key Concepts
psychology
ethics
literature
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance empathy with self‑care?
- When is it okay to protect yourself from others’ pain?
A Different Perspective
Too much sorrow can overwhelm.