--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Understanding people's difficulties…" description: "\"Understanding people's difficulties and-just as crucial-helping people understand their own difficulties and teaching them concrete ways to help themse..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/kathryn-erskine-31340_concrete_understanding-people-s-difficulties-and_2681358.png" --- # Understanding people's difficulties and-just as… ![“Understanding people's difficulties and-just as crucial-helping people understand their own difficulties and teaching them concrete ways to help themselves will help them better deal with their own lives and, in turn, ours.” quote by Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/kathryn-erskine-31340_concrete_understanding-people-s-difficulties-and_2681358.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/kathryn-erskine-31340_concrete_understanding-people-s-difficulties-and_2681358.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/kathryn-erskine-31340_concrete_understanding-people-s-difficulties-and_2681358.png) > “Understanding people's difficulties and-just as crucial-helping people understand their own difficulties and teaching them concrete ways to help themselves will help them better deal with their own lives and, in turn, ours.” [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Helping others understand their struggles and teaching self‑help skills improves both their lives and ours. **In simple terms:** Teach self‑help to aid others and yourself. Key Takeaway Empower others through self‑reliance. Themes empathy education self‑help Mood compassionate hopeful Type motivational educational When to use this quote - counseling - support groups - mentoring Key Concepts psychology coaching community building Questions to Reflect On - What self‑help methods work best for you? - How can we tailor support to individual needs? A Different Perspective Self‑help may not suit all situations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Helping people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-people/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Teaching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teaching/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-people/) ## Related quotes > [Volunteering is also now more crucial than ever in helping people find work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-johnson/volunteering-is-also-now-more-crucial-than-ever-in-helping-people/) [Boris Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-johnson/) > [Anyone that has a job that takes them away from home, I think, can understand the difficulties in maintaining consistency, not only with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heath-ledger/anyone-that-has-a-job-that-takes-them-away-from-home-i-think-can/) [Heath Ledger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heath-ledger/) > [When children are very young, you read them books that are positive to help them go to sleep. But there comes a moment when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-morpurgo/when-children-are-very-young-you-read-them-books-that-are-positive-to/) [Michael Morpurgo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-morpurgo/) > [If you are not a writer, you will not understand the difficulties of writing. If you are not a writer, you will not know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mem-fox/if-you-are-not-a-writer-you-will-not-understand-the-difficulties-of/) [Mem Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mem-fox/) > [A diagnosis of Asperger Syndrome can be useful to help a person understand why they have had difficulties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-baron-cohen/a-diagnosis-of-asperger-syndrome-can-be-useful-to-help-a-person/) [Simon Baron-Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-baron-cohen/) > [When a person is down in the world, an ounce of help is better than a pound of preaching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-person-is-down-in-the-world-an-ounce-of-help-is-better-than-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [ I know Malcolm \[Subban\] and myself, we're a little bit older now, but we don't know everything. To get to where we have so… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-k-subban-2/i-know-malcolm-subban-and-myself-we-re-a-little-bit-older-now-but-we/) [P. K. Subban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-k-subban-2/) > [You are a part of the world. You can only directly control yourself. The most surefire way to help others is to become a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-are-a-part-of-the-world-you-can-only-directly-control-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We can all do something to help better humanity✌ www.bullyingben.com ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-pina/we-can-all-do-something-to-help-better-humanity-www-bullyingben-com/) [Timothy Pina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-pina/) > [“Wise people are those who help others to become better than they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/wise-people-are-those-who-help-others-to-become-better-than-they-are/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [What more can be done to help see better refereeing is a question we'll keep posing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-greenwood/what-more-can-be-done-to-help-see-better-refereeing-is-a-question-we/) [Alex Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-greenwood/) > [“can I help it if I’m a better assassin than I am a housewife?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josie-brown/can-i-help-it-if-i-m-a-better-assassin-than-i-am-a-housewife/) [Josie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josie-brown/) > [ “- \[Regret,Cause you didn't ask for help\] is better than \[Regret,cause you did\]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-hosny/regret-cause-you-didn-t-ask-for-help-is-better-than-regret-cause-you/) Omar Hosny > [“So what she's a (this or that)…If you don't plan to help better other women in this world then keep moving, honey!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-edwards/so-what-she-s-a-this-or-that-if-you-don-t-plan-to-help-better-other/) [Helen Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-edwards/) > [With any rookie quarterback, the more help you can get the better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-burrow/with-any-rookie-quarterback-the-more-help-you-can-get-the-better/) [Joe Burrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-burrow/) ## More by Kathryn Erskine > [“You have to try even if it’s hard and you think you can never do it and you just want to scream and hide”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/you-have-to-try-even-if-it-s-hard-and-you-think-you-can-never-do-it/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [Ignore and ignorance share the same root.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/ignore-and-ignorance-share-the-same-root/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [Empathy isn't as hard as it sounds because people have a lot of the same feelings. And it helps to understand other people because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/empathy-isn-t-as-hard-as-it-sounds-because-people-have-a-lot-of-the/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“He said sometimes hope is the only thing that keeps us going”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/he-said-sometimes-hope-is-the-only-thing-that-keeps-us-going/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“He can kick as hard as he wants but he cannot destroy what is inside. I have a strong spirit and the Rat will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/he-can-kick-as-hard-as-he-wants-but-he-cannot-destroy-what-is-inside/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [Books are not like people. Books are safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/books-are-not-like-people-books-are-safe/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“Even though I didn't think I'd like empathy it kind of creeps up on you and makes you feel all warm and glowy inside.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/even-though-i-didn-t-think-i-d-like-empathy-it-kind-of-creeps-up-on/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [I know, I say, after he says, This is hard, for the third time. This is what happens when you have a TRM, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/i-know-i-say-after-he-says-this-is-hard-for-the-third-time-this-is/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [Sometimes I read the same books over and over and over. What's great about books is that the stuff inside doesn't change. People say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/sometimes-i-read-the-same-books-over-and-over-and-over-what-s-great/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [I don't think I'm going to like it at all. I think it's going to hurt. But after the hurt I think maybe something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/i-don-t-think-i-m-going-to-like-it-at-all-i-think-it-s-going-to-hurt/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“I think about what Devon would say. You have to Work At It Dad. You have to try even if it's hard and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/i-think-about-what-devon-would-say-you-have-to-work-at-it-dad-you/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [“Haven’t you ever seen someone standing alone? I shrug. Just one. Why don’t you talk to that child? Because it’s me and Devon told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/haven-t-you-ever-seen-someone-standing-alone-i-shrug-just-one-why-don/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [I feel like Snow White because now I have a bunch of little dwarf friends who love me. I may not know how Scout's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/i-feel-like-snow-white-because-now-i-have-a-bunch-of-little-dwarf/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [I don't like the word soon because you don't know when it's going to sneak up on you and turn into NOW. Or maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/i-don-t-like-the-word-soon-because-you-don-t-know-when-it-s-going-to/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) > [A movie is better than real life because in the movies only the bad guys die. Or you can pick the good movies where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/a-movie-is-better-than-real-life-because-in-the-movies-only-the-bad/) [Kathryn Erskine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) [Explore all 16 Kathryn Erskine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/) ## More Concrete quotes > [I used a psychologist when I was playing, It's one of the most powerful things: how you can have a concrete head and not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parker/i-used-a-psychologist-when-i-was-playing-it-s-one-of-the-most/) [Scott Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parker/) > [Once an activity has been socialized, it is impossible to point out, by concrete example, how men in a free market could better conduct…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-read/once-an-activity-has-been-socialized-it-is-impossible-to-point-out-by/) [Leonard Read](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-read/) > [Love, like truth and beauty, is concrete. Love is not fundamentally a sweet feeling; not, at heart, a matter of sentiment, attachment, or being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carter-heyward/love-like-truth-and-beauty-is-concrete-love-is-not-fundamentally-a/) [Carter Heyward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carter-heyward/) > [If they are, then the only ultimate truths are the particulars of concrete experience, and no postulate or general assumption is inherent in science…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chauncey-wright/if-they-are-then-the-only-ultimate-truths-are-the-particulars-of/) [Chauncey Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chauncey-wright/) > [I just can't recruit where there's grass around. You gotta have a concrete lawn before I feel comfortable enough to go in and talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-mcguire/i-just-can-t-recruit-where-there-s-grass-around-you-gotta-have-a/) [Al McGuire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-mcguire/) > [While much of modern behavioral and social science treats individuals as autonomous agents, it is absolutely clear that the way we think and act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-r-nelson/while-much-of-modern-behavioral-and-social-science-treats-individuals/) Richard R. Nelson > [...it is a very risky thing for anyone to go about proclaiming the truth simply because he finds himself in possession of concrete documentary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-amado/it-is-a-very-risky-thing-for-anyone-to-go-about-proclaiming-the-truth/) [Jorge Amado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-amado/) > [Perhaps, if science is clever enough to see, it will realize that religion may not be too far off with its concrete imagery; and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-lanza/perhaps-if-science-is-clever-enough-to-see-it-will-realize-that/) [Robert Lanza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-lanza/) > [“But what a feeling can come over a man just from seeing the things he believes in and hopes for symbolized in the concrete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-ellison/but-what-a-feeling-can-come-over-a-man-just-from-seeing-the-things-he/) [Ralph Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-ellison/) > [There's a point in me where it's beyond sad, seeing the state of the world today. It's so screwed up. It's terrible, and it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/there-s-a-point-in-me-where-it-s-beyond-sad-seeing-the-state-of-the/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [The psychological condition of fear is divorced from any concrete and true immediate danger. It comes in many forms: unease, worry, anxiety, nervousness, tension,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-psychological-condition-of-fear-is-divorced-from-any-concrete-and/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Every design is a rigorous attempt to capture a concrete moment of a transitory image in all its nuances. The extent to which this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvaro-siza-vieira/every-design-is-a-rigorous-attempt-to-capture-a-concrete-moment-of-a/) Alvaro Siza Vieira > [Once you stop talking about the female body empowering itself vis-à-vis male forays or invasions or male demands or the necessity to respond to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-geok-lin-lim/once-you-stop-talking-about-the-female-body-empowering-itself-vis-vis/) [Shirley Geok-lin Lim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-geok-lin-lim/) > [To slide into the domed reading room at ten each morning, specially in summer, off the hot street outside, was a sensation as delicious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-garner/to-slide-into-the-domed-reading-room-at-ten-each-morning-specially-in/) [Helen Garner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-garner/) > [Like the Good Samaritan, may we not be ashamed of touching the wounds of those who suffer, but try to heal them with concrete…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/like-the-good-samaritan-may-we-not-be-ashamed-of-touching-the-wounds/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) Browse all 868 Concrete quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Understanding people's difficulties and-just as crucial-helping people understand their own difficulties and teaching them concrete ways to help themselves will help them better deal with their own lives and, in turn, ours.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kathryn Erskine" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/understanding-people-s-difficulties-and-just-as-crucial-helping/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Concrete" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/understanding-people-s-difficulties-and-just-as-crucial-helping/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/kathryn-erskine-31340_concrete_understanding-people-s-difficulties-and_2681358.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/kathryn-erskine-31340_concrete_understanding-people-s-difficulties-and_2681358.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/90c/kathryn-erskine-31340_concrete_understanding-people-s-difficulties-and_2681358.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Understanding people's difficulties and-just as crucial-helping people understand their own difficulties and…” — Kathryn Erskine", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Kathryn Erskine", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-erskine/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Understanding people's difficulties and-just as crucial-helping...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/understanding-people-s-difficulties-and-just-as-crucial-helping/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-erskine/understanding-people-s-difficulties-and-just-as-crucial-helping/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```