Compassion Quote by Erich Fromm
““The faculty to think objectively is reason ; the emotional attitude behind reason is that of humility . To be objective, to use one's reason, is possible only if one has achieved an attitude of humility, if one has emerged from the dreams of omniscience and omnipotence which one has as a child. Love, being dependent on the relative absence of narcissism, requires the developement of humility, objectivity and reason. I must try to see the difference between my picture of a person and his behavior, as it is narcissistically distorted, and the person's reality as it exists regardless of my interests, needs and fears.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Art of Loving, Erich Fromm, 1956
Humility is essential for true objectivity and love; without it, reasoning is clouded by narcissism and ego.
In simple terms: Humility enables clear thinking and genuine love.
Key Takeaway
Practice humility to see others as they are.
Themes
humility
objectivity
love
reason
self-awareness
Mood
reflective
inspirational
Type
philosophical
self-help
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- conflict resolution
- leadership
- relationship counseling
Key Concepts
psychology
philosophy
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does humility change your perception of others?
- What steps can you take to reduce narcissistic bias?
A Different Perspective
Humility can be difficult to cultivate in competitive cultures.
![“Since [narcissists] deep down, feel themselves to be faultless, it is inevitable that when they are in conflict with the world they will invariably perceive the conflict as the world's fault. Since they must deny their own badness, they must perceive others as bad. They project their own evil onto…” quote by M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/055/m-scott-peck-1921_badness_since-narcissists-deep-down-feel-themsel_1410275.jpg)
