--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we listen for feelings and needs…" description: "\"When we listen for feelings and needs - we can see that people who seem like monsters are simply human beings whose language and behavior sometimes kee..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_behavior_when-we-listen-for-feelings-and-needs-we_342652.png" --- # When we listen for feelings and needs - we can see that… ![“When we listen for feelings and needs - we can see that people who seem like monsters are simply human beings whose language and behavior sometimes keep us from seeing their humanness.” quote by Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_behavior_when-we-listen-for-feelings-and-needs-we_342652.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_behavior_when-we-listen-for-feelings-and-needs-we_342652.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/906/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_behavior_when-we-listen-for-feelings-and-needs-we_342652.png) > “When we listen for feelings and needs - we can see that people who seem like monsters are simply human beings whose language and behavior sometimes keep us from seeing their humanness.” [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. Recognizes that labeling others as monsters dehumanizes them; empathy reveals shared humanity. **In simple terms:** Seeing people as human, not monsters, through empathy. Key Takeaway Practice empathetic listening. Themes empathy humanity conflict resolution Mood compassionate thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - family disputes - workplace tension - customer service - mediations Key Concepts nonviolent communication psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you maintain empathy when feeling threatened? - What steps help you see humanity in difficult people? A Different Perspective Empathy may not change entrenched harmful behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beings/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humanness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanness/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Like Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-monsters-1306415/) [Monster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monster/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Seeing Humanness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing-humanness-3182510/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Sometimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sometimes/) ## Related quotes > [The essence of forgiveness is seeing our humanness and seeing that we all have our limitations and follies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-coleman/the-essence-of-forgiveness-is-seeing-our-humanness-and-seeing-that-we/) [Mark Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-coleman/) > [“The really bad monsters never look like monsters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leigh-bardugo/the-really-bad-monsters-never-look-like-monsters/) [Leigh Bardugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leigh-bardugo/) > [I like monsters, and when the monster is a superhero, it's a byproduct. Like Hellboy, the Hulk, Man-Thing, Swamp Thing, Sandman, Constantine, Demon, Dr.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-del-toro/i-like-monsters-and-when-the-monster-is-a-superhero-it-s-a-byproduct/) [Guillermo del Toro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-del-toro/) > [I like monsters in general - that's what I like to write about. Somebody was joking with me that my body was becoming a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-dahvana-headley/i-like-monsters-in-general-that-s-what-i-like-to-write-about-somebody/) [Maria Dahvana Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-dahvana-headley/) > [The scariest monster in the world is human beings and what we are capable of, especially when we get together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-peele/the-scariest-monster-in-the-world-is-human-beings-and-what-we-are/) [Jordan Peele](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-peele/) > [The scariest monsters are human beings and what we will do to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-harris/the-scariest-monsters-are-human-beings-and-what-we-will-do-to-each/) [Jared Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-harris/) > [“Monsters like us can learn to be human beings from watching movies”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-kuhn/monsters-like-us-can-learn-to-be-human-beings-from-watching-movies/) [Shane Kuhn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-kuhn/) > [“Monsters don't dress like monsters; they dress like humans. Even stranger, they rarely know they're the monsters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-lehane/monsters-don-t-dress-like-monsters-they-dress-like-humans-even/) [Dennis Lehane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-lehane/) > [“We can't continue treating people like monsters and then wondering why they have so few reservations about doing monstrous things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-j-kirk/we-can-t-continue-treating-people-like-monsters-and-then-wondering/) [T.J. Kirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-j-kirk/) > [“in this house drunks are like monsters. People think if they ignore them they’ll cease to exist.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/in-this-house-drunks-are-like-monsters-people-think-if-they-ignore/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [“... not all monsters look like monsters. There are some that carry their monstrosity inside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fredrik-backman/not-all-monsters-look-like-monsters-there-are-some-that-carry-their/) [Fredrik Backman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fredrik-backman/) > [Even in reality shows, how they look at black women like they're the monsters - snatching wigs, and weaves and wigs, weaves and wigs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsai-martin/even-in-reality-shows-how-they-look-at-black-women-like-they-re-the/) [Marsai Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsai-martin/) > [“Some monsters disguise themselves so well you don’t realize that they’re monsters until it’s too late. You check all of the usual places: under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-rae/some-monsters-disguise-themselves-so-well-you-don-t-realize-that-they/) [Nikki Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-rae/) > [I'm not in the business of making us look clean, but I don't want us to look like monsters either. I think there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-waithe/i-m-not-in-the-business-of-making-us-look-clean-but-i-don-t-want-us/) [Lena Waithe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-waithe/) > [Have you ever noticed?--people, no matter how beautiful or desirable, invariably will, if observed closely while going about their daily business of keeping alive,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-antrim/have-you-ever-noticed-people-no-matter-how-beautiful-or-desirable/) [Donald Antrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-antrim/) ## 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. 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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. 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We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-thomas/we-are-endowed-with-genes-which-code-out-our-reaction-to-beavers-and/) [Lewis Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-thomas/) > [The number of poor, and poorly prepared, students who succeed in college and beyond undercuts the simplistic notion that economic or educational disadvantage is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-merullo/the-number-of-poor-and-poorly-prepared-students-who-succeed-in/) [Roland Merullo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-merullo/) > [To behave creatively in art means behavior with skill; and skill comes from discipline, not derangement. The artist who knows the rules -and proportion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/burne-hogarth/to-behave-creatively-in-art-means-behavior-with-skill-and-skill-comes/) [Burne Hogarth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/burne-hogarth/) > [You don't put milk in chamomile tea - that's disgusting behavior! That's not right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-fraser/you-don-t-put-milk-in-chamomile-tea-that-s-disgusting-behavior-that-s/) [Laura Fraser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-fraser/) > [The laws of thermodynamics, as empirically determined, express the approximate and probable behavior of systems of a great number of particles, or, more precisely,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-willard-gibbs/the-laws-of-thermodynamics-as-empirically-determined-express-the/) [J. 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