--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The ability to offer empathy to people in…" description: "\"“The ability to offer empathy to people in stressful situations can defuse potential violence.”\" — Marshall B. Rosenberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_empathy_the-ability-to-offer-empathy-to-people-i_1038038.png" --- # The ability to offer empathy to people in stressful… ![“The ability to offer empathy to people in stressful situations can defuse potential violence.” quote by Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_empathy_the-ability-to-offer-empathy-to-people-i_1038038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_empathy_the-ability-to-offer-empathy-to-people-i_1038038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad1/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_empathy_the-ability-to-offer-empathy-to-people-i_1038038.png) > ““The ability to offer empathy to people in stressful situations can defuse potential violence.”” [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. Empathy in tense moments can calm emotions and prevent violence, emphasizing listening and understanding. **In simple terms:** Empathy calms tense situations. Key Takeaway Practice active listening. Themes communication empathy conflict Mood calm hopeful Type psychological educational When to use this quote - customer service - police encounters - family disputes Key Concepts nonviolent communication emotional regulation de-escalation Questions to Reflect On - When is empathy insufficient? - How to combine empathy with firm boundaries? A Different Perspective Empathy alone may not stop all aggression. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Empathy People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy-people-569877/) [Offer Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/offer-empathy-1237352/) [Potential Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/potential-violence-1898978/) [Stressful situations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stressful-situations/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [Our ability to offer empathy can allow us to stay vulnerable, defuse potential violence, help us hear the word 'no' without taking it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/our-ability-to-offer-empathy-can-allow-us-to-stay-vulnerable-defuse/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [The reason that people in the intellectual community argue that football is dangerous is because there's now a large swath of society that has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-reason-that-people-in-the-intellectual-community-argue-that/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [Tragically, one of the rarest commodities in our culture is empathy. People are hungry for empathy, They don't know how to ask for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/tragically-one-of-the-rarest-commodities-in-our-culture-is-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Cinema is my religion. It is a way to make people sensitive, through emotions. To make them feel, experience empathy. People are touched and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-dumont/cinema-is-my-religion-it-is-a-way-to-make-people-sensitive-through/) [Bruno Dumont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-dumont/) > [While we have to take personal responsibility for our actions, I have a great deal of empathy for people who are unconsciously racially biased,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barnes/while-we-have-to-take-personal-responsibility-for-our-actions-i-have/) [John Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barnes/) > [“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/) > [“When you show love and empathy to people, you draw them closer to your beliefs and traditions”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/when-you-show-love-and-empathy-to-people-you-draw-them-closer-to-your/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [The best way to have empathy for people and the best way to have empathy for our Constitution is to appoint judges who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-long/the-best-way-to-have-empathy-for-people-and-the-best-way-to-have/) [Wendy Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-long/) > [“So that’s why I’m such a big fan of storytelling. I think the most important thing is empathy. And it’s less about ‘those people’.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-walls/so-that-s-why-i-m-such-a-big-fan-of-storytelling-i-think-the-most/) [Jeanette Walls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-walls/) > [My natural mother passed away from cystic fibrosis when I was a toddler, so I feel a great deal of empathy for people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/my-natural-mother-passed-away-from-cystic-fibrosis-when-i-was-a/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [Look, I'm a cancer survivor, all right? So I have great personal empathy for people who have pre-existing conditions and can't get insurance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/look-i-m-a-cancer-survivor-all-right-so-i-have-great-personal-empathy/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I am truly passionate and concerned about the lack of empathy that people show towards one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-am-truly-passionate-and-concerned-about-the-lack-of-empathy-that/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [“If Sally had been in an accident or come down with some overtly physical disease, I would not hesitate to tell him about it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-greenberg/if-sally-had-been-in-an-accident-or-come-down-with-some-overtly/) [Michael Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-greenberg/) > [I hope that if the people who read my work encounter people in the real world who are like the characters that I write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-hope-that-if-the-people-who-read-my-work-encounter-people-in-the/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [My journey has mainly been driven by empathy towards people who I thought were suffering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonam-wangchuk/my-journey-has-mainly-been-driven-by-empathy-towards-people-who-i/) [Sonam Wangchuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonam-wangchuk/) ## 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 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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