--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Seeing with better eyes We can recognize…" description: "\"Seeing with better eyes We can recognize that the offender is a valuable human being who struggles with the same needs, pressures, and confusions that ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/elbert-hubbard-510_confusion_seeing-with-better-eyes-we-can-recognize_944523.jpg" --- # Seeing with better eyes We can recognize that the offender… ![“Seeing with better eyes We can recognize that the offender is a valuable human being who struggles with the same needs, pressures, and confusions that we struggle with. We will recognize that the incident really may not have been about us in the first place. Instead it was about the wrongdoer's…” quote by Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/elbert-hubbard-510_confusion_seeing-with-better-eyes-we-can-recognize_944523.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/elbert-hubbard-510_confusion_seeing-with-better-eyes-we-can-recognize_944523.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e51/elbert-hubbard-510_confusion_seeing-with-better-eyes-we-can-recognize_944523.jpg) > “Seeing with better eyes We can recognize that the offender is a valuable human being who struggles with the same needs, pressures, and confusions that we struggle with. We will recognize that the incident really may not have been about us in the first place. Instead it was about the wrongdoer's misguided attempt to meet his or her own needs. As we regard offenders from this point of view (regardless of whether they repent and regardless of what they have done or suffered), we will be in a position to forgive them.” [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Seeing offenders as fellow humans with similar struggles opens the path to forgiveness. **In simple terms:** Recognize shared humanity to forgive. Key Takeaway Shift perspective to see common needs. Themes forgiveness empathy humanity conflict resolution growth Mood reflective hopeful Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - personal conflict - restorative justice - community mediation - self‑reflection Key Concepts shared needs misunderstanding compassion Questions to Reflect On - What needs does the offender truly have? - Can you separate the act from the person? A Different Perspective Forgiveness may be difficult when harm is severe. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Confusion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [First place](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-place/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Forgiving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgiving/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Incidents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incidents/) [May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/may/) [Misguided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misguided/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Offender Valuable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offender-valuable-1638971/) [Offenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offenders/) [Point of view](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/point-of-view/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Position Forgive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position-forgive-1638972/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Recognize Incident](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize-incident-1638973/) [Recognize Offender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recognize-offender-1638970/) [Regard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard/) [Regard Offenders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regard-offenders-1638969/) [Repent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/repent/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Struggle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggle/) [Valuable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/valuable/) [Views](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/views/) ## Related quotes > [There are over 500,000 registered sex offenders across the country, and statistics have shown that the recidivism rate for those criminals is high.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-sensenbrenner/there-are-over-500-000-registered-sex-offenders-across-the-country/) [Jim Sensenbrenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-sensenbrenner/) > [If people are being upstanding citizens of the Republic, then you have to widen the net to incarcerate them. This explains why America's prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-rollins/if-people-are-being-upstanding-citizens-of-the-republic-then-you-have/) [Henry Rollins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-rollins/) > [... the growing child must not be treated by those rigid rules of criminal procedure which confessedly fail to prevent offenses on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-lathrop/the-growing-child-must-not-be-treated-by-those-rigid-rules-of/) [Julia Lathrop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-lathrop/) > [The Children's Safety Act will help protect children from the perpetrators of these vile crimes by strengthening notification requirements for sex offenders and increasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-t-walsh/the-children-s-safety-act-will-help-protect-children-from-the/) [James T. Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-t-walsh/) > [But what if I should discover that the least amongst them all, the poorest of all beggars, the most impudent of all offenders, yea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/but-what-if-i-should-discover-that-the-least-amongst-them-all-the/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [Due to a Supreme Court decision, if these violent offenders cannot be sent home, our law enforcement officers have to release them into your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/due-to-a-supreme-court-decision-if-these-violent-offenders-cannot-be/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Time is the justice that examines all offenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-is-the-justice-that-examines-all-offenders/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I've got a 15-year old son and a 10-year old daughter, and if they were going to do one of the following things: be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-rose/i-ve-got-a-15-year-old-son-and-a-10-year-old-daughter-and-if-they/) [Pete Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-rose/) > [The thing about youthful offenders is that no one seems to care about them. Most people don't like adolescents - even the good ones…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayelet-waldman/the-thing-about-youthful-offenders-is-that-no-one-seems-to-care-about/) [Ayelet Waldman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayelet-waldman/) > [Time is the old justice that examines all such offenders, and let Time try.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-is-the-old-justice-that-examines-all-such-offenders-and-let-time/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [The practice of executing such offenders is a relic of the past and is inconsistent with evolving standards of decency in a civilized society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-paul-stevens/the-practice-of-executing-such-offenders-is-a-relic-of-the-past-and/) [John Paul Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-paul-stevens/) > [“In all the interviews I have done, I cannot remember one offender who did not admit privately to more victims than those for whom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/in-all-the-interviews-i-have-done-i-cannot-remember-one-offender-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Many offenders have had immensely difficult upbringings and do not have the support of loving families and friends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gauke/many-offenders-have-had-immensely-difficult-upbringings-and-do-not/) [David Gauke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gauke/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [MERCY, n. An attribute beloved of detected offenders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/mercy-n-an-attribute-beloved-of-detected-offenders/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) ## More by Elbert Hubbard > [The teacher is one who makes two ideas grow where only one grew before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-teacher-is-one-who-makes-two-ideas-grow-where-only-one-grew-before/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The highest reward that God gives us for good work is the ability to do better](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-highest-reward-that-god-gives-us-for-good-work-is-the-ability-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Art is nothing; it's a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/art-is-nothing-it-s-a-way/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Library: A place where the dead lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/library-a-place-where-the-dead-lie/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [“If we cannot be happy and powerful and prey on others, we invent conscience and prey on ourselves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-we-cannot-be-happy-and-powerful-and-prey-on-others-we-invent/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The poor and ignorant will continue to lie and steal as long as the rich and educated show them how.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-poor-and-ignorant-will-continue-to-lie-and-steal-as-long-as-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [So long as governments set the example of killing their enemies, private individuals will occasionally kill theirs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/so-long-as-governments-set-the-example-of-killing-their-enemies/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [If I supply you with a thought, you may remember it and you may not. But if I can make you think a thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/if-i-supply-you-with-a-thought-you-may-remember-it-and-you-may-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 A conservative is a man who is too cowardly to fight and too fat to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/1-2-3-4-5-a-conservative-is-a-man-who-is-too-cowardly-to-fight-and/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [The great man is not so great as folks think, and the dull man is not quite so stupid as he seems. The difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-great-man-is-not-so-great-as-folks-think-and-the-dull-man-is-not/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Every knock is a boost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/every-knock-is-a-boost/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What boy well raised can compare with your street gamin who has the knowledge and the shrewdness of a grown-up broker.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-boy-well-raised-can-compare-with-your-street-gamin-who-has-the/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Don't make excuses, make good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/don-t-make-excuses-make-good/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [What people need and what they want may be very different… Teachers are those who educate the people to appreciate the things they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/what-people-need-and-what-they-want-may-be-very-different-teachers/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Men who sit back and pride themselves on their culture haven't any to speak of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/men-who-sit-back-and-pride-themselves-on-their-culture-haven-t-any-to/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) [Explore all 506 Elbert Hubbard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) ## More Confusion quotes > [The fog of illusion, the fog of confusion is hanging all over the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-morrison/the-fog-of-illusion-the-fog-of-confusion-is-hanging-all-over-the-world/) [Van Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-morrison/) > [I believe confusion is good. Worldwide market leaders gain when there is confusion in the market.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/subhash-chandra/i-believe-confusion-is-good-worldwide-market-leaders-gain-when-there/) [Subhash Chandra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/subhash-chandra/) > [Being actors we are dealing with the beauty and complexity of human confusion, no? And we are always trying to get answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/being-actors-we-are-dealing-with-the-beauty-and-complexity-of-human/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [“Wait, seriously, what's a piss pot?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-shand/wait-seriously-what-s-a-piss-pot/) [Pat Shand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-shand/) > [I think there's confusion around what the point of social networks is. A lot of different companies characterized as social networks have different goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/i-think-there-s-confusion-around-what-the-point-of-social-networks-is/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [In history as it comes to be written, there is usually some Spirit of the Age which historians can define, but the shape of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-wood-krutch/in-history-as-it-comes-to-be-written-there-is-usually-some-spirit-of/) [Joseph Wood Krutch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-wood-krutch/) > [Establish an atmosphere that energizes you. Some creative people flourish in confusion; others need to be free from interruption. Many prepare themselves for work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-leland/establish-an-atmosphere-that-energizes-you-some-creative-people/) [Nita Leland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-leland/) > [Love is doing what will enthrall the beloved with the greatest and longest joy. What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Psychedelic drugs cause paranoia, confusion, and total loss of reality in politicians that have never taken them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-leary/psychedelic-drugs-cause-paranoia-confusion-and-total-loss-of-reality/) [Timothy Leary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-leary/) > [That feeling you get when you know you are forgetting something, but you don't know what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-feeling-you-get-when-you-know-you-are-forgetting-something-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-beckett/what-are-we-doing-here-that-is-the-question-and-we-are-blessed-in/) [Samuel Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-beckett/) > [But, when it comes to global warming, the public- at-large really doesn't know whom to believe anymore. And NASA has contributed to that confusion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cunningham/but-when-it-comes-to-global-warming-the-public-at-large-really-doesn/) [Walter Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cunningham/) > [You know your in LOVE,because,for once.. You know reality is better than your DREAMS..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-know-your-in-love-because-for-once-you-know-reality-is-better/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“In these days of faith-cures, and hypnotism, and telepathy, and subliminalities – why, the simple old world grows very confusing. But rarely, very rarely novel.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-de-la-mare/in-these-days-of-faith-cures-and-hypnotism-and-telepathy-and/) [Walter de la Mare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-de-la-mare/) > [“If you want nothing to do with god then why do you say his name all the time”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-reimer/if-you-want-nothing-to-do-with-god-then-why-do-you-say-his-name-all/) [Emily Reimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-reimer/) [Browse all 1,822 Confusion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confusion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Seeing with better eyes We can recognize that the offender is a valuable human being who struggles with the same needs, pressures, and confusions that we struggle with. We will recognize that the incident really may not have been about us in the first place. Instead it was about the wrongdoer's misguided attempt to meet his or her own needs. 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