--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We think empathy is innate, but it's not…" description: "\"We think empathy is innate, but it's not. It's a muscle you're working.\" — Julien Baker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/julien-baker-6187_empathy_we-think-empathy-is-innate-but-it-s-not_2792919.jpg" --- # We think empathy is innate, but it's not. It's a muscle… ![“We think empathy is innate, but it's not. It's a muscle you're working.” quote by Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/julien-baker-6187_empathy_we-think-empathy-is-innate-but-it-s-not_2792919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/julien-baker-6187_empathy_we-think-empathy-is-innate-but-it-s-not_2792919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eaf/julien-baker-6187_empathy_we-think-empathy-is-innate-but-it-s-not_2792919.jpg) > “We think empathy is innate, but it's not. It's a muscle you're working.” [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Empathy is a skill that strengthens through deliberate practice, not innate talent. **In simple terms:** Empathy is a practiced muscle. Key Takeaway Exercise empathy regularly. Themes empathy growth skill development Mood introspective hopeful Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - therapy sessions - team building - parenting Key Concepts psychology neuroscience Questions to Reflect On - How can you measure empathy growth? - What practices enhance empathetic listening? A Different Perspective Empathy may be limited by personal bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Muscle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/muscle/) ## Related quotes > [“I weigh more than I used to. I've been eating a lot of fast food, so I must have put on some muscle—without even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-weigh-more-than-i-used-to-i-ve-been-eating-a-lot-of-fast-food-so-i/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [I think empathy can serve as a moral spark, motivating us to do good things. But anything can be a moral spark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/i-think-empathy-can-serve-as-a-moral-spark-motivating-us-to-do-good/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [“Most of us think about empathy as a “feeling” or an “emotion.” It is. To be empathetic is to be able to feel what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-schwartz/most-of-us-think-about-empathy-as-a-feeling-or-an-emotion-it-is-to-be/) [Barry Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-schwartz/) > [I think empathy is a guy who punches you in the face at a bus station, and you’re somehow able to look at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-jeremiah-sullivan/i-think-empathy-is-a-guy-who-punches-you-in-the-face-at-a-bus-station/) [John Jeremiah Sullivan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-jeremiah-sullivan/) > [I think empathy's a terrible danger for a writer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-flanagan/i-think-empathy-s-a-terrible-danger-for-a-writer/) [Richard Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-flanagan/) > [I think we all have empathy. We may not have enough courage to display it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/i-think-we-all-have-empathy-we-may-not-have-enough-courage-to-display/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I think of empathy as a set of cumulative effects, ideally - that it can be a force shaping your habits, shaping where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-jamison/i-think-of-empathy-as-a-set-of-cumulative-effects-ideally-that-it-can/) [Leslie Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-jamison/) > [Looking at various means of developing compassion, I think empathy is an important factor: the ability to appreciate others' suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/looking-at-various-means-of-developing-compassion-i-think-empathy-is/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I think empathy is a beautiful thing. I think that's the power of film though. We have one of the most powerful, one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-rodriguez/i-think-empathy-is-a-beautiful-thing-i-think-that-s-the-power-of-film/) [Michelle Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-rodriguez/) > [I think empathy is undervalued in a lot of these comedy writers' rooms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nell-scovell/i-think-empathy-is-undervalued-in-a-lot-of-these-comedy-writers-rooms/) [Nell Scovell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nell-scovell/) > [I think empathy is really important for pleasure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/i-think-empathy-is-really-important-for-pleasure/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [I think with empathy... It's more looking out at the people. And that includes the Republicans, you know the people that might be opposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-o-meara-sanders/i-think-with-empathy-it-s-more-looking-out-at-the-people-and-that/) [Jane O'Meara Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-o-meara-sanders/) > [Something as important and central and encompassing as empathy can't be all bad. I think empathy plays a role in intimate relationships, where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/something-as-important-and-central-and-encompassing-as-empathy-can-t/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [“Empathy. Most people think empathy is like understanding someone else or relating to them. But it's more than that. Real empathy is the actual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-hill/empathy-most-people-think-empathy-is-like-understanding-someone-else/) [Nathan Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-hill/) > [“They say your muscles have memory. Once you've trained your arms to swing a tennis racket or your legs to ride a bike, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-brande/they-say-your-muscles-have-memory-once-you-ve-trained-your-arms-to/) [Robin Brande](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-brande/) ## More by Julien Baker > [Writing from life is how I feel most comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/writing-from-life-is-how-i-feel-most-comfortable/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [The more blessings or resources you have at your disposal, the more I become aware of... how should I steward this? It's supposed to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/the-more-blessings-or-resources-you-have-at-your-disposal-the-more-i/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [All my heroes are teachers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/all-my-heroes-are-teachers/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [If I can say so without sounding presumptuous, I want to model women being collaborative instead of competitive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/if-i-can-say-so-without-sounding-presumptuous-i-want-to-model-women/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I had a hot-pink mohawk in high school, and when I came out everyone was like, 'We don't care.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-had-a-hot-pink-mohawk-in-high-school-and-when-i-came-out-everyone/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [The thing that is comforting about being a touring musician is whenever I say bye to my friends, I'm like, 'I don't know when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/the-thing-that-is-comforting-about-being-a-touring-musician-is/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [There are people who are explicit and people who are implicit, right? Like I say, 'I think there is a God,' but I've seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/there-are-people-who-are-explicit-and-people-who-are-implicit-right/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [There are still men in the professional or behind the scenes world that are controlling women to build credibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/there-are-still-men-in-the-professional-or-behind-the-scenes-world/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [My parents were always playing records: My mom was really into the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac, and my dad was more Billy Squire, Whitesnake,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/my-parents-were-always-playing-records-my-mom-was-really-into-the/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [Some songs just fall out of you. And some you have to wrestle out like an abscess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/some-songs-just-fall-out-of-you-and-some-you-have-to-wrestle-out-like/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I feel like it's a necessary part of musical development to go through that phase where you think that your favorite style of music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-feel-like-it-s-a-necessary-part-of-musical-development-to-go/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [Connecting with people who are able to maintain a sense of humility is really useful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/connecting-with-people-who-are-able-to-maintain-a-sense-of-humility/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I hate those articles - this is a pet peeve of mine - like move over X, here's the new Y. And it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-hate-those-articles-this-is-a-pet-peeve-of-mine-like-move-over-x/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [I was a very emotional teenager. But I wish that I could tell myself that I matter more than I think. Things are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/i-was-a-very-emotional-teenager-but-i-wish-that-i-could-tell-myself/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) > [Ultimately, I feel like there is just a pervasive evidence of God. Though I know that is maybe a controversial thing to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julien-baker/ultimately-i-feel-like-there-is-just-a-pervasive-evidence-of-god/) [Julien Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) [Explore all 98 Julien Baker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julien-baker/) ## More Empathy quotes > [I have a lot of empathy, and I think that's where mothering starts. You are there to empathise and facilitate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-have-a-lot-of-empathy-and-i-think-that-s-where-mothering-starts-you/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Cinematography speaks to everything that women do inherently well: It's multitasking, it's empathy, and it's channeling visuals into human emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-morrison/cinematography-speaks-to-everything-that-women-do-inherently-well-it/) [Rachel Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-morrison/) > [“God has a way of picking a “nobody” and turning their world upside down, in order to create a “somebody” that will remove the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/god-has-a-way-of-picking-a-nobody-and-turning-their-world-upside-down/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Understanding breeds empathy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-paolini/understanding-breeds-empathy/) [Christopher Paolini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-paolini/) > [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Making a movie is about following characters and embarking on an adventure with them, seeing their reactions, and seeing what they do, having empathy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franck-khalfoun/making-a-movie-is-about-following-characters-and-embarking-on-an/) Franck Khalfoun > [“A novel is not an allegory...it is a sensual experience of another world. If you don't enter that world, hold your breath with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/a-novel-is-not-an-allegory-it-is-a-sensual-experience-of-another/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I try to treat every job with the exact same level of respect. When I go into it, it doesn't matter what the budget…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaya-scodelario/i-try-to-treat-every-job-with-the-exact-same-level-of-respect-when-i/) [Kaya Scodelario](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaya-scodelario/) > [“CWC (Church Women Concerned) enabled us as women in that part of South Africa, to see ourselves as ordinary citizens who found themselves in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sindiwe-magona/cwc-church-women-concerned-enabled-us-as-women-in-that-part-of-south/) Sindiwe Magona > [Ultimately, my character is defined by the quality of my sensitivity to other people. I exist in equilibrium. I am here to the degree…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-prather/ultimately-my-character-is-defined-by-the-quality-of-my-sensitivity/) [Hugh Prather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-prather/) > [I began to use my sensitivity. And I realized I wasn't weird because I cried a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-began-to-use-my-sensitivity-and-i-realized-i-wasn-t-weird-because-i/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [“The emotional intelligence model consists of four clusters: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.  ● Self-Awareness is a propensity for self-reflection and thoughtfulness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-bolton/the-emotional-intelligence-model-consists-of-four-clusters-self/) [Chuck Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-bolton/) > [I need voices of reason and of hysteria and of empathy. I need to have an Alanis moment. I need advice from Elizabeth Bennett.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-need-voices-of-reason-and-of-hysteria-and-of-empathy-i-need-to-have/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) [Browse all 2,480 Empathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We think empathy is innate, but it's not. 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