--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Often, instead of offering empathy, we…" description: "\"Often, instead of offering empathy, we have a strong urge to give advice or reassurance and to explain our own position or feeling.\" — Marshall B. Rose..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_advice_often-instead-of-offering-empathy-we-hav_86422.png" --- # Often, instead of offering empathy, we have a strong urge… ![“Often, instead of offering empathy, we have a strong urge to give advice or reassurance and to explain our own position or feeling.” quote by Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_advice_often-instead-of-offering-empathy-we-hav_86422.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_advice_often-instead-of-offering-empathy-we-hav_86422.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2b/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_advice_often-instead-of-offering-empathy-we-hav_86422.png) > “Often, instead of offering empathy, we have a strong urge to give advice or reassurance and to explain our own position or feeling.” [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. People often replace empathy with advice, shifting focus from the other’s feelings to their own perspective. **In simple terms:** Advice can crowd out empathy Key Takeaway Listening without fixing deepens connection Themes empathy communication advice listening self‑awareness Mood thoughtful educational Type instructional quote psychology insight When to use this quote - conflict resolution - counseling session - team meeting Key Concepts non‑violent communication psychological safety Practical Applications - training in active listening - coaching empathetic leadership Questions to Reflect On - When does offering advice become counterproductive? - How can we practice empathy without inserting our own agenda? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice/) [Advice Reassurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advice-reassurance-1085258/) [Confidence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/confidence/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Empathy Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy-strong-746781/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Offering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offering/) [Offering Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offering-empathy-1085257/) [Position](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/position/) [Reassurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reassurance/) [Reassurance Explain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reassurance-explain-1085259/) [Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strong/) [Urges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/urges/) ## Related quotes > [Empathy is a respectful understanding of what others are experiencing. Instead of offering empathy, we often have a strong urge to give advice or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/empathy-is-a-respectful-understanding-of-what-others-are-experiencing/) [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/) > [I soak up personalities and energy. 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The power to make me feel better also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morgenroth/the-thought-gave-me-reassurance-for-a-split-second-until-i-saw-the/) [Kate Morgenroth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morgenroth/) > [As artists, are we quasi psychiatrists who mend the soul? Do we provide the consolations, escapes, and reassurances which enable us to survive? Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-sherman/as-artists-are-we-quasi-psychiatrists-who-mend-the-soul-do-we-provide/) [Russell Sherman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-sherman/) > [Any loss of identity prompts people to seek reassurance and rediscovery of themselves by testing, and even by violence. Today, the electric revolution, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/any-loss-of-identity-prompts-people-to-seek-reassurance-and/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [I was the first in my peer group to get pregnant. All I craved was reassurance. I needed someone to tell me that all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-murkoff/i-was-the-first-in-my-peer-group-to-get-pregnant-all-i-craved-was/) [Heidi Murkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-murkoff/) > [Having limits to push against is how you find out what you can do. I have always been full of contradictions. I am shy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvie-guillem/having-limits-to-push-against-is-how-you-find-out-what-you-can-do-i/) [Sylvie Guillem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvie-guillem/) > [The day has the color and the sound of winter. Thoughts turn to chowder...chowder breathes reassurance. It steams consolation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clementine-paddleford/the-day-has-the-color-and-the-sound-of-winter-thoughts-turn-to/) [Clementine Paddleford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clementine-paddleford/) > [“We never figured out whether I need to be more reassuring or if he just needs reassurance too much. We both try to readjust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/we-never-figured-out-whether-i-need-to-be-more-reassuring-or-if-he/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## 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/) > [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. 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I think that you really ought to listen to the critics, because sometimes they're telling you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/the-worst-advice-don-t-listen-to-the-critics-i-think-that-you-really/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [When I was in my twenties and just so sexually prolific, the first time I went to Machu Picchu, this guy, a spiritual teacher,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woody-harrelson/when-i-was-in-my-twenties-and-just-so-sexually-prolific-the-first/) [Woody Harrelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woody-harrelson/) > [The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-best-way-to-succeed-in-this-world-is-to-act-on-the-advice-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [Time is priceless. You have it, but you don't own it. You spend it, but you can't keep it. And once it's gone, there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-priceless-you-have-it-but-you-don-t-own-it-you-spend-it-but/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You don't need to take a persons advice to make him feel good, just ask him for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/you-don-t-need-to-take-a-persons-advice-to-make-him-feel-good-just/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Some of the things that we hold onto the most, are the things that we need to let go of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryaj-ablando-catayas/some-of-the-things-that-we-hold-onto-the-most-are-the-things-that-we/) [Ryaj Ablando Catayas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryaj-ablando-catayas/) > [“If your clothes are enough to drive would-be friends away, they're not the kind of friends you want." Typical mother advice. 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