Agitated Quote by Marshall B. Rosenberg
““Now, with regard to the people who have done things we call "terrorism," I'm confident they have been expressing their pain in many different ways for thirty years or more. Instead of our empathically receiving it when they expressed it in much gentler ways -- they were trying to tell us how hurt they felt that some of their most sacred needs were not being respected by the way we were trying to meet our economic and military needs -- they got progressively more agitated. Finally, they got so agitated that it took horrible form.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Interview on Conflict Resolution, 1990s
People resort to violence when their deep needs are ignored and they feel unheard over
In simple terms: Violence stems from unmet needs and lack of empathy
Key Takeaway
Address needs early to prevent escalation
Themes
conflict
empathy
violence
Mood
concerned
reflective
Type
analytical
motivational
When to use this quote
- community mediation
- policy making
- education
- peacebuilding
Key Concepts
needs
nonviolent communication
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- What needs are being ignored in this situation?
- How can institutions respond empathetically?
A Different Perspective
Violence can also arise from systemic oppression, not just communication gaps
