Evils Quote by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
“We pity in others only the those evils which we ourselves have experienced.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Emile, 1762
We only sympathize with others' suffering that mirrors our own experiences.
In simple terms: Empathy is limited to personal experience.
Seek broader compassion beyond self‑experience.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- counseling
- community building
- conflict mediation
- education
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we expand empathy to unfamiliar suffering?
- What role does imagination play in compassion?
People can learn empathy without direct experience.