--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tragically, one of the rarest commodities…" description: "\"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.\" — Marshall B. R..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_asks_tragically-one-of-the-rarest-commodities_1524204.jpg" --- # Tragically, one of the rarest commodities in our culture… ![“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.” quote by Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_asks_tragically-one-of-the-rarest-commodities_1524204.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_asks_tragically-one-of-the-rarest-commodities_1524204.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/288/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_asks_tragically-one-of-the-rarest-commodities_1524204.jpg) > “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.” [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 is scarce; people crave it but lack the language to request it, highlighting a social skill gap. **In simple terms:** Empathy is rare and unasked for. Key Takeaway Learn to ask for and offer empathy. Themes empathy communication social need vulnerability Mood compassionate thoughtful Type advice observational When to use this quote - counseling - team building - conflict resolution - education Key Concepts psychology nonviolent communication human relations Questions to Reflect On - How can you create safe spaces for empathy? - What language helps request empathy? A Different Perspective People may resist expressing vulnerability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [In empathy, you don't speak at all. You speak with the eyes. You speak with your body. If you say any words at all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/in-empathy-you-don-t-speak-at-all-you-speak-with-the-eyes-you-speak/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [With empathy we don't direct, we follow. Don't just do something, be there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/with-empathy-we-don-t-direct-we-follow-don-t-just-do-something-be/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [“The ability to offer empathy to people in stressful situations can defuse potential violence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/the-ability-to-offer-empathy-to-people-in-stressful-situations-can/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [“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 > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [“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/) > [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/) ## 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 Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Marshall B. 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