--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As NVC replaces our old patterns of…" description: "\"As NVC replaces our old patterns of defending, withdrawing or attacking in the face of judgment and criticism. We come to perceive ourselves and others..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_attacking_as-nvc-replaces-our-old-patterns-of-defe_1047728.png" --- # As NVC replaces our old patterns of defending, withdrawing… ![“As NVC replaces our old patterns of defending, withdrawing or attacking in the face of judgment and criticism. We come to perceive ourselves and others, as well as our intentions and relationships, in a new light. Resistance, defensiveness, and violent reactions are minimized.” quote by Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_attacking_as-nvc-replaces-our-old-patterns-of-defe_1047728.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_attacking_as-nvc-replaces-our-old-patterns-of-defe_1047728.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/68d/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_attacking_as-nvc-replaces-our-old-patterns-of-defe_1047728.png) > “As NVC replaces our old patterns of defending, withdrawing or attacking in the face of judgment and criticism. We come to perceive ourselves and others, as well as our intentions and relationships, in a new light. Resistance, defensiveness, and violent reactions are minimized.” [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nonviolent communication transforms defensive reactions into understanding by reframing judgment. **In simple terms:** NVC changes how we react to criticism, fostering empathy. Key Takeaway Practice NVC to reduce conflict. Themes empathy communication conflict resolution mindfulness Mood calm hopeful instructive Type educational practical When to use this quote - personal relationships - workplace disputes - family arguments - educational settings Key Concepts nonviolent communication psychology relationship dynamics Questions to Reflect On - What judgment trigger defensiveness for you? - How can you apply NVC in a tense conversation? A Different Perspective Changing deep habits can be difficult and may meet resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Criticism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criticism/) [Defensiveness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defensiveness/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Intention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intention/) [Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/light/) [Nonviolent communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolent-communication/) [Patterns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patterns/) [Resistance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resistance/) [Violent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violent/) ## Related quotes > [“The Buddha encouraged people to "know for yourselves that certain things are unwholesome and wrong. And when you do, then give them up. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hagen/the-buddha-encouraged-people-to-know-for-yourselves-that-certain/) [Steve Hagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hagen/) > [The judgment, criticism, and rejection you face as an actor can be overwhelming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lacey-chabert/the-judgment-criticism-and-rejection-you-face-as-an-actor-can-be/) [Lacey Chabert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lacey-chabert/) > [The thought of judgment, criticism and condemnation must, in time, operate against the one who sets it into motion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-holmes/the-thought-of-judgment-criticism-and-condemnation-must-in-time/) [Ernest Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-holmes/) > [When people hear needs, it provokes compassion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-people-hear-needs-it-provokes-compassion/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [This language is from the head. It is a way of mentally classifying people into varying shades of good and bad, right and wrong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/this-language-is-from-the-head-it-is-a-way-of-mentally-classifying/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [When people hear needs, it provokes compassion. When people hear diagnoses, it provokes defensiveness and attack.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-people-hear-needs-it-provokes-compassion-when-people-hear/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [ I'm not saying that George W. Bush did everything right. But even if you take a skeptical view of his Iraq war, \[Barack\] Obama… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-kasparov/i-m-not-saying-that-george-w-bush-did-everything-right-but-even-if/) [Garry Kasparov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-kasparov/) > [My guess is that Trump will begin withdrawing troops from Europe at a slow pace. He will demand a renovation of the Iran Accord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-davidson/my-guess-is-that-trump-will-begin-withdrawing-troops-from-europe-at-a/) [Lawrence Davidson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-davidson/) > [My view is different from this, only to the extent that if a decision is taken, by the parents and doctors, that it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/my-view-is-different-from-this-only-to-the-extent-that-if-a-decision/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [“She sighed to herself, and longed to leave this place. It’d been four months now since everything came to its ugly conclusion. She opened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-e-walsh/she-sighed-to-herself-and-longed-to-leave-this-place-it-d-been-four/) T.M.E. Walsh > [Meditation is nothing but withdrawing all the barriers .. thoughts, emotions, sentiments .. which criteria wall between you and existence. The moment they drop,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/meditation-is-nothing-but-withdrawing-all-the-barriers-thoughts/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Whatever we have done in withdrawing from full consciousness of the One Mind, we are doing now. Whatever we are doing will always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thaddeus-golas/whatever-we-have-done-in-withdrawing-from-full-consciousness-of-the/) [Thaddeus Golas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thaddeus-golas/) > [Humility sets us free to do what is really good, by showing us our illusions and withdrawing our will from what was only an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/humility-sets-us-free-to-do-what-is-really-good-by-showing-us-our/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [If you overcome your fear to ask someone for a date, a raise, or help with a project, that is an act of self-assertiveness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathaniel-branden/if-you-overcome-your-fear-to-ask-someone-for-a-date-a-raise-or-help/) [Nathaniel Branden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathaniel-branden/) > [We fill the hands and nurseries of our children with all manner of dolls, drums and horses, withdrawing their eyes from the plain face…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-fill-the-hands-and-nurseries-of-our-children-with-all-manner-of/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## More by Marshall B. Rosenberg > [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/) > [Understanding the other persons' needs does not mean you have to give up on your own needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/understanding-the-other-persons-needs-does-not-mean-you-have-to-give/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Plans to exact retribution are never going to make us safer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/plans-to-exact-retribution-are-never-going-to-make-us-safer/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [NVC gives us tools and understanding to create a more peaceful state of mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/nvc-gives-us-tools-and-understanding-to-create-a-more-peaceful-state/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [What I want in my life is compassion a flow between myself and others based on mutual giving from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/what-i-want-in-my-life-is-compassion-a-flow-between-myself-and-others/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Analyses of others are actually expressions of our own needs and values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/analyses-of-others-are-actually-expressions-of-our-own-needs-and/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Staying with empathy we allow speakers to touch deeper levels of themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/staying-with-empathy-we-allow-speakers-to-touch-deeper-levels-of/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Punishment is the root of violence on our planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/punishment-is-the-root-of-violence-on-our-planet/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Often, instead of offering empathy, we have a strong urge to give advice or reassurance and to explain our own position or feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/often-instead-of-offering-empathy-we-have-a-strong-urge-to-give/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [NVC is founded on language and communication skills that strengthen our ability to remain human, even under trying conditions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/nvc-is-founded-on-language-and-communication-skills-that-strengthen/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Ask before offering advice or reassurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/ask-before-offering-advice-or-reassurance/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [If you think ahead to what to say next - like how to fix it or make the person feel better - BOOM! Off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/if-you-think-ahead-to-what-to-say-next-like-how-to-fix-it-or-make-the/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Two questions help us see why we are unlikely to get what we want by using punishment... The first question is: What do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/two-questions-help-us-see-why-we-are-unlikely-to-get-what-we-want-by/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Praise and reward create a system of extrinsic motivations for behavior. Children (and adults) end up taking action in order to receive the praise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/praise-and-reward-create-a-system-of-extrinsic-motivations-for/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Everything we do is in service of our needs. When this one concept is applied to our view of others, we'll see that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/everything-we-do-is-in-service-of-our-needs-when-this-one-concept-is/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) [Explore all 283 Marshall B. Rosenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) ## More Attacking quotes > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Attack the evil that is within yourself, rather than attacking the evil that is in others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/confucius/attack-the-evil-that-is-within-yourself-rather-than-attacking-the/) [Confucius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/confucius/) > [Wine is the first weapon that devils use in attacking the young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-jerome/wine-is-the-first-weapon-that-devils-use-in-attacking-the-young/) [St. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-jerome/) > [Let a man who has to make his fortune in life remember this maxim: Attacking is the only secret. Dare and the world yields,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/let-a-man-who-has-to-make-his-fortune-in-life-remember-this-maxim/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [I've gotten better at calling out coverages, communication, and being vertical when they're attacking me in the paint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivica-zubac/i-ve-gotten-better-at-calling-out-coverages-communication-and-being/) [Ivica Zubac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivica-zubac/) > [Before I signed for Liverpool, I was playing for Newcastle as a No. 10 - basically, I was always attacking. I didn't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georginio-wijnaldum/before-i-signed-for-liverpool-i-was-playing-for-newcastle-as-a-no-10/) [Georginio Wijnaldum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georginio-wijnaldum/) > [It's a big part of my game, attacking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-walker/it-s-a-big-part-of-my-game-attacking/) [Kyle Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-walker/) > [When I was elected governor of my state, I had a legislature 87 percent Democrat. It was not lost on me that to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitt-romney/when-i-was-elected-governor-of-my-state-i-had-a-legislature-87/) [Mitt Romney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitt-romney/) > [Positive thinking is so firmly enshrined in our culture that knocking it is a little like attacking motherhood or apple pie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/srikumar-rao/positive-thinking-is-so-firmly-enshrined-in-our-culture-that-knocking/) [Srikumar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/srikumar-rao/) > [This is really good,” Donovan Caine said, attacking his third strawberry pancake. “You sound surprised,” I said. He shrugged. “I just didn’t think an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-estep/this-is-really-good-donovan-caine-said-attacking-his-third-strawberry/) [Jennifer Estep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-estep/) > [Dravid Could play attacking cricket like me but i could never play like him](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gayle/dravid-could-play-attacking-cricket-like-me-but-i-could-never-play/) [Chris Gayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gayle/) > [Islamic fundamentalism is attacking us at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/islamic-fundamentalism-is-attacking-us-at-home/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [“California cat that chased off attacking”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/california-cat-that-chased-off-attacking/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When I listen to candidates spend all their time attacking Barack Obama, I'm glad they're not driving this bus because they'd be looking through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kasich/when-i-listen-to-candidates-spend-all-their-time-attacking-barack/) [John Kasich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kasich/) > [For many years the stakes were clear. There were the Arabs attacking us and us defending ourselves, so basically there were no real problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/for-many-years-the-stakes-were-clear-there-were-the-arabs-attacking/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) Browse all 580 Attacking quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As NVC replaces our old patterns of defending, withdrawing or attacking in the face of judgment and criticism. We come to perceive ourselves and others, as well as our intentions and relationships, in a new light. Resistance, defensiveness, and violent reactions are minimized.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marshall B. 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