--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My power is that I can always tell when…" description: "\"“My power is that I can always tell when someone is unhappy, even if that person is pretending to be happy and is a really good actor. The bad thing ab..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/charise-mericle-harper-44068_bad-thing_my-power-is-that-i-can-always-tell-when_141226.jpg" --- # My power is that I can always tell when someone is… ![“My power is that I can always tell when someone is unhappy, even if that person is pretending to be happy and is a really good actor. The bad thing about my power is that I always try to do something to make the sad person feel better—even if I should probably leave it alone and not do anything at…” quote by Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/charise-mericle-harper-44068_bad-thing_my-power-is-that-i-can-always-tell-when_141226.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/charise-mericle-harper-44068_bad-thing_my-power-is-that-i-can-always-tell-when_141226.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48c/charise-mericle-harper-44068_bad-thing_my-power-is-that-i-can-always-tell-when_141226.jpg) > ““My power is that I can always tell when someone is unhappy, even if that person is pretending to be happy and is a really good actor. The bad thing about my power is that I always try to do something to make the sad person feel better—even if I should probably leave it alone and not do anything at all. Dad says that feeling people's sadness is called empathy and it's a superpower because of the "having to do something to help them feel better" part. A superhero has to help people in trouble. She can't just change into a regular I’m-not-going-to-do-anything-to help-someone-else type of person even if she wanted to.”” [Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Empathy drives a compulsion to intervene, even when restraint would be kinder. **In simple terms:** Empathy makes us want to fix others' sadness. Key Takeaway Balance empathy with respect for others' autonomy. Themes empathy compassion boundaries Mood thoughtful empathetic Type advice psychological When to use this quote - personal relationships - counseling - support groups Key Concepts psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - When should you step back and listen? - How can you support without overstepping? A Different Perspective Over‑helping can undermine trust. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Help people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/help-people/) [Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power/) [Pretending To Be Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretending-to-be-happy/) ## Related quotes > [My book is going to be called Against Empathy, which may give you a feeling for where my argument is going to go. Whenever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/my-book-is-going-to-be-called-against-empathy-which-may-give-you-a/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [If I have a superpower, it's not having been traditionally trained in anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramell-ross/if-i-have-a-superpower-it-s-not-having-been-traditionally-trained-in/) [RaMell Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramell-ross/) > [Playing a character who's dealing not only with a superpower but having a normal relationship is easy to associate with, because I feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shawn-ashmore/playing-a-character-who-s-dealing-not-only-with-a-superpower-but/) [Shawn Ashmore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shawn-ashmore/) > [Pretending to be happy when your in pain is just an example of how strong you are as a person… still making that simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mhargs-abuda/pretending-to-be-happy-when-your-in-pain-is-just-an-example-of-how/) Mhargs Abuda > [I guess I'm just tired. Tired of being bitched about behind my back. Tired of being laughed at. Tired of being made fun of.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/i-guess-i-m-just-tired-tired-of-being-bitched-about-behind-my-back/) Unkown > [Pretending to be happy in pain is virtue of strong people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dranil-kr-sinha/pretending-to-be-happy-in-pain-is-virtue-of-strong-people/) [DrAnil Kr Sinha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dranil-kr-sinha/) > [The clown is an image of us, he is disguised under a funny face, pretending to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/efiosiugbore-adebayo/the-clown-is-an-image-of-us-he-is-disguised-under-a-funny-face/) [Efiosiugbore Adebayo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/efiosiugbore-adebayo/) > [~Are you happy I honestly couldnt even tell you what happiness feels like anymore. I dont love myself, I hate me! I am a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/she-s-gone/are-you-happy-i-honestly-couldnt-even-tell-you-what-happiness-feels/) She's\_gone > [My life is full of empty promises and broken dreams. Im hoping things will look up, and right when they do, theres always something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/my-life-is-full-of-empty-promises-and-broken-dreams-im-hoping-things/) Im Nothing > [I just want one day to go by where I'm not pretending to be happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-just-want-one-day-to-go-by-where-i-m-not-pretending-to-be-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Pretending to be happy when you're in pain is just an example of how strong you are as a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pretending-to-be-happy-when-you-re-in-pain-is-just-an-example-of-how/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I hate crowds of people pretending to be happy on one night of the year, where they get drunk and obnoxious by the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-hickey/i-hate-crowds-of-people-pretending-to-be-happy-on-one-night-of-the/) [Kenny Hickey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-hickey/) > [Sometimes it's just easier pretending to be happy than making people understand why you're feeling sad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/sometimes-it-s-just-easier-pretending-to-be-happy-than-making-people/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) > [“Stop pretending to be happy! If the relationship isn’t working let it go, and save you both from tolerating each other. Release the drama,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keishorne-scott/stop-pretending-to-be-happy-if-the-relationship-isn-t-working-let-it/) Keishorne Scott > [Pretending to be happy when you are in pain is just an example of how strong you are as a person. Still making that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhishek-tiwari/pretending-to-be-happy-when-you-are-in-pain-is-just-an-example-of-how/) [Abhishek Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhishek-tiwari/) ## More by Charise Mericle Harper > [“ she has big ears like a monkey , she can probably hear really good!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charise-mericle-harper/she-has-big-ears-like-a-monkey-she-can-probably-hear-really-good/) [Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) > [“You might think that a boy is just your friend, but then if you find out that maybe he likes you (in a boyfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charise-mericle-harper/you-might-think-that-a-boy-is-just-your-friend-but-then-if-you-find/) [Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) > [“I don't like it when the inside parts of you don't match up with what the brain part of you thinks. If there were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charise-mericle-harper/i-don-t-like-it-when-the-inside-parts-of-you-don-t-match-up-with-what/) [Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) > [“For sure they didn't share sips from the same cup, give each other cheer-up hugs, or swear to keep real important things secret, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charise-mericle-harper/for-sure-they-didn-t-share-sips-from-the-same-cup-give-each-other/) [Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) > [“Sometimes when you're upset it's so easy to forget what's real and go for what makes you feel better. (131)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charise-mericle-harper/sometimes-when-you-re-upset-it-s-so-easy-to-forget-what-s-real-and-go/) [Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) > [“Even though friends say they are interested in your life, they never really want to talk about you as much as you want them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charise-mericle-harper/even-though-friends-say-they-are-interested-in-your-life-they-never/) [Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) > [“My other boy thing is that I sort of have a teeny tiny superpower. It’s not a jump-over-buildings, see-through-people’s-clothes, or lift-a-train-over-my-head one, which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charise-mericle-harper/my-other-boy-thing-is-that-i-sort-of-have-a-teeny-tiny-superpower-it/) [Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) > [“Ostriches like shiny things like coins and eyeballs.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charise-mericle-harper/ostriches-like-shiny-things-like-coins-and-eyeballs/) [Charise Mericle Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) [Explore all 9 Charise Mericle Harper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charise-mericle-harper/) ## More Bad thing quotes > [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/) [Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [I think the people I talk about are generally so stupid that they don't even know I'm saying bad things about them. I've run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/i-think-the-people-i-talk-about-are-generally-so-stupid-that-they-don/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [I'm not going to pretend that bad things don't happen. I just hope my daughter has enough understanding that when they do, just give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-krasinski/i-m-not-going-to-pretend-that-bad-things-don-t-happen-i-just-hope-my/) [John Krasinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-krasinski/) > [I've heard some pretty bad things in my life. I'm just one of those people I've gotten to a point where I don't want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-bush/i-ve-heard-some-pretty-bad-things-in-my-life-i-m-just-one-of-those/) [Sophia Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-bush/) > [Like everybody, you get nights where you feel completely depressed. You start thinking about all the bad things and think about the glass half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/like-everybody-you-get-nights-where-you-feel-completely-depressed-you/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [Be Thankful for all things in life. Even for the bad things. SOMETIMES the worst situations in life turn out to be the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/be-thankful-for-all-things-in-life-even-for-the-bad-things-sometimes/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [In my business, you should be very strong in mind. You have to be sure about yourself and about your work and your career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irina-shayk/in-my-business-you-should-be-very-strong-in-mind-you-have-to-be-sure/) [Irina Shayk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irina-shayk/) > [“I don’t know why I latched onto the idea of being friends, but it sits right with my gut. I want Hartley in my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-watt/i-don-t-know-why-i-latched-onto-the-idea-of-being-friends-but-it-sits/) [Erin Watt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-watt/) > [I'm just grateful to people who are willing to admit how bad things feel for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-furman/i-m-just-grateful-to-people-who-are-willing-to-admit-how-bad-things/) [Ezra Furman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-furman/) > [I love it when television is shot in a cinematic way and I think to aspire to that is no bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-rhys/i-love-it-when-television-is-shot-in-a-cinematic-way-and-i-think-to/) [Matthew Rhys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-rhys/) > [“Dear Delphine, When you are older I want you to find Chinua Achebe. I want you to read Things Fall Apart. Don't be hardheaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-williams-garcia/dear-delphine-when-you-are-older-i-want-you-to-find-chinua-achebe-i/) [Rita Williams-Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-williams-garcia/) > [Lobbying is not a bad thing. I'm not trying to say that we shouldn't have lobbyists or we shouldn't have lobbying to petition our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-abramoff/lobbying-is-not-a-bad-thing-i-m-not-trying-to-say-that-we-shouldn-t/) [Jack Abramoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-abramoff/) > [In life, we don't know why things happen. I believe God is not responsible for the bad things that happen to you. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buck-brannaman/in-life-we-don-t-know-why-things-happen-i-believe-god-is-not/) [Buck Brannaman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buck-brannaman/) Browse all 2,889 Bad thing quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“My power is that I can always tell when someone is unhappy, even if that person is pretending to be happy and is a really good actor. The bad thing about my power is that I always try to do something to make the sad person feel better—even if I should probably leave it alone and not do anything at all. Dad says that feeling people's sadness is called empathy and it's a superpower because of the \"having to do something to help them feel better\" part. A superhero has to help people in trouble. 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