--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The best way I can get understanding from…" description: "\"The best way I can get understanding from another person is to give this person the understanding, too. If I want them to hear my needs and feelings, I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_best-way_the-best-way-i-can-get-understanding-fro_1480159.png" --- # The best way I can get understanding from another person… ![“The best way I can get understanding from another person is to give this person the understanding, too. If I want them to hear my needs and feelings, I first need to empathize.” quote by Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_best-way_the-best-way-i-can-get-understanding-fro_1480159.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_best-way_the-best-way-i-can-get-understanding-fro_1480159.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c9d/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_best-way_the-best-way-i-can-get-understanding-fro_1480159.png) > “The best way I can get understanding from another person is to give this person the understanding, too. If I want them to hear my needs and feelings, I first need to empathize.” [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. Understanding others requires first feeling what they feel. **In simple terms:** Empathy precedes effective communication. Key Takeaway Empathize before expressing needs. Themes empathy communication relationships Mood empathetic educational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - conflict resolution - team meetings - parenting - customer service Key Concepts psychology social skills Questions to Reflect On - How can you practice empathy in a heated argument? - What barriers stop you from feeling others' emotions? A Different Perspective Empathy may be difficult when emotions run high. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Best way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/best-way/) [Empathize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathize/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [I can](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-can/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Need Empathize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/need-empathize-5392399/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Person Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/person-understanding-5392400/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Understanding Person](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding-person-340116/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [If the other persons behavior is not in harmony with my own needs, the more I empathize with them and their needs, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/if-the-other-persons-behavior-is-not-in-harmony-with-my-own-needs-the/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Empathize, rather than put your "but" in the face of an angry person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/empathize-rather-than-put-your-but-in-the-face-of-an-angry-person/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Empathize with silence by listening for the feelings and needs behind it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/empathize-with-silence-by-listening-for-the-feelings-and-needs-behind/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [It's harder to empathize with those who appear to possess more power, status, or resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/it-s-harder-to-empathize-with-those-who-appear-to-possess-more-power/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [The more we empathize with the other party, the safer we feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/the-more-we-empathize-with-the-other-party-the-safer-we-feel/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [It may be most difficult to empathize with those we are closest to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/it-may-be-most-difficult-to-empathize-with-those-we-are-closest-to/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [To empathize means to share, to experience the feelings of another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-greenson/to-empathize-means-to-share-to-experience-the-feelings-of-another/) [Ralph Greenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-greenson/) > [The story is a machine for empathy. In contrast to logic or reason, a story is about emotion that gets staged over a sequence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ira-glass/the-story-is-a-machine-for-empathy-in-contrast-to-logic-or-reason-a/) [Ira Glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ira-glass/) > [I am now in a place where I have to be truer to myself first before anyone else. If you're not real, how can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-benet/i-am-now-in-a-place-where-i-have-to-be-truer-to-myself-first-before/) [Eric Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-benet/) > [The friends I have, and the people whom I admire, are people who have an understanding of the conditions under which we live, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-rankine/the-friends-i-have-and-the-people-whom-i-admire-are-people-who-have/) [Claudia Rankine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-rankine/) > [An understanding person may not always understand everything about you. But they always understand when you're fine or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/an-understanding-person-may-not-always-understand-everything-about/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [Leslie is the most understanding person in the world; rarely will she get angry; she's been screwed over her whole life and still comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/leslie-is-the-most-understanding-person-in-the-world-rarely-will-she/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [My wife is a brilliant, hugely understanding person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dornan/my-wife-is-a-brilliant-hugely-understanding-person/) [Jamie Dornan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dornan/) > [An understanding person may not understand everything about you. But they always understand when you're sad or happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-mark/an-understanding-person-may-not-understand-everything-about-you-but/) [Terry Mark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-mark/) > [I'm a very understanding person. That's something I was raised to be aware of - not everybody has the same shoes to fill or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-agron/i-m-a-very-understanding-person-that-s-something-i-was-raised-to-be/) [Dianna Agron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-agron/) ## 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. 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To understand each other is the only way to love each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelangelo/to-know-each-other-is-the-best-way-to-understand-each-other-to/) [Michelangelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelangelo/) > [One of the best ways into the business is to get a job with a production, which you can do by cold-calling or by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitchell-hurwitz/one-of-the-best-ways-into-the-business-is-to-get-a-job-with-a/) [Mitchell Hurwitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitchell-hurwitz/) > [The best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/the-best-way-to-counter-attack-a-hater-is-to-make-it-blatantly/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) > [What I can say is that all my characters are searching for their souls, because they are my mirrors. 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