--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: That this is the source of our…" description: "\"That this is the source of our fellow-feeling for the misery of others, that it is by changing places in fancy with the sufferer, that we come either t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/adam-smith-1040_affected_that-this-is-the-source-of-our-fellow-fe_2530296.jpg" --- # That this is the source of our fellow-feeling for the… ![“That this is the source of our fellow-feeling for the misery of others, that it is by changing places in fancy with the sufferer, that we come either to conceive or to be affected by what he feels, may be demonstrated by many obvious observations, if it should not be thought sufficiently evident…” quote by Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/adam-smith-1040_affected_that-this-is-the-source-of-our-fellow-fe_2530296.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/adam-smith-1040_affected_that-this-is-the-source-of-our-fellow-fe_2530296.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/23a/adam-smith-1040_affected_that-this-is-the-source-of-our-fellow-fe_2530296.jpg) > “That this is the source of our fellow-feeling for the misery of others, that it is by changing places in fancy with the sufferer, that we come either to conceive or to be affected by what he feels, may be demonstrated by many obvious observations, if it should not be thought sufficiently evident of itself. When we see a stroke aimed and just ready to fall upon the leg or arm of another person, we naturally shrink and draw back our own leg or our own arm; and when it does fall, we feel it in some measure, and are hurt by it as well as the sufferer.” [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Empathy arises when we imaginatively share another's pain, leading to shared emotional response. **In simple terms:** We feel others' pain by imagining ourselves in their place. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy through perspective taking. Themes empathy human nature morality shared experience Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - healthcare - education - community support Key Concepts sympathy emotional contagion mirror neurons Questions to Reflect On - What practices deepen empathetic connection? - How does empathy influence moral decisions? A Different Perspective May be limited by personal detachment or cultural differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Affected](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affected/) [Affected Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/affected-feels-1337263/) [Arms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/arms/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Draws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draws/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Evident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evident/) [Fall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fall/) [Fancy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fancy/) [Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Fellow feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellow-feeling/) [Fellows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fellows/) [Hurt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hurt/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Misery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misery/) [Observation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observation/) [Observations Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/observations-thought-1337265/) [Obvious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obvious/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Ready](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ready/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Shrinks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrinks/) [Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/source/) [Stroke Aimed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stroke-aimed-1337264/) [Strokes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strokes/) [Sufferers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufferers/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) ## Related quotes > [I just want to make art that connects with people and moves them on an emotional level. 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Mankind,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-smith/the-emotions-of-the-spectator-will-still-be-very-apt-to-fall-short-of/) [Adam Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-smith/) > [If a relationship is perfectly natural there will be a complete fusion of the happiness of both of you-owing to fellow-feeling and various other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/if-a-relationship-is-perfectly-natural-there-will-be-a-complete/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [There is more to be said for stupidity than people imagine. Personally I have a great admiration for stupidity. 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It could cause more human and financial suffering than the two world wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-miliband/first-climate-change-is-the-greatest-long-term-threat-faced-by/) [David Miliband](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-miliband/) > [Be a pattern to others, and then all will go well; for as a whole city is affected by the licentious passions and vices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/be-a-pattern-to-others-and-then-all-will-go-well-for-as-a-whole-city/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [At first I thought I would have to put on an English accent and try a sort of affected Shakespeare thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-dicaprio/at-first-i-thought-i-would-have-to-put-on-an-english-accent-and-try-a/) [Leonardo DiCaprio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-dicaprio/) > [Every culture, if its natural development is not too much affected by political restrictions, experiences a perpetual renewal of the formative urge, and out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudolf-rocker/every-culture-if-its-natural-development-is-not-too-much-affected-by/) [Rudolf Rocker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudolf-rocker/) > [Don't show them that you are affected.. 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