--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we listen for their feelings and…" description: "\"When we listen for their feelings and needs, we no longer see people as monsters.\" — Marshall B. Rosenberg" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_communication_when-we-listen-for-their-feelings-and-ne_1038807.png" --- # When we listen for their feelings and needs, we no longer… ![“When we listen for their feelings and needs, we no longer see people as monsters.” quote by Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_communication_when-we-listen-for-their-feelings-and-ne_1038807.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_communication_when-we-listen-for-their-feelings-and-ne_1038807.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dc7/marshall-b-rosenberg-1145_communication_when-we-listen-for-their-feelings-and-ne_1038807.png) > “When we listen for their feelings and needs, we no longer see people as monsters.” [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. Listening empathetically shifts perception from seeing others as threats to recognizing their humanity and needs. **In simple terms:** Empathy changes how we view people. Key Takeaway Practice active listening to understand others. Themes empathy communication humanity Mood compassionate reflective Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - relationships - customer service - team meetings - parenting - mediation Key Concepts nonviolent communication psychology conflict resolution Questions to Reflect On - How can you stay present when you feel judged? - What needs might be hidden behind anger? A Different Perspective May be difficult when emotions run high or biases are entrenched. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Nonviolent communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonviolent-communication/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [When we are in contact with our feelings and needs, we humans no longer make good slaves and underlings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-we-are-in-contact-with-our-feelings-and-needs-we-humans-no/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [Never connect yourself with the other person's pain. Just hear their need. Leave yourself out of the other person's feelings and needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/never-connect-yourself-with-the-other-person-s-pain-just-hear-their/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [In NVC, no matter what words others may use to express themselves, we simply listen for their observations, feelings, needs, and requests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/in-nvc-no-matter-what-words-others-may-use-to-express-themselves-we/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [We should never listen to our feelings. They lead us astray.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shirley-manson/we-should-never-listen-to-our-feelings-they-lead-us-astray/) [Shirley Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shirley-manson/) > [“Because even if we're strange and Cursed and Beasts, the people Above are monsters.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-bobet/because-even-if-we-re-strange-and-cursed-and-beasts-the-people-above/) [Leah Bobet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-bobet/) > [“People who have monsters recognize each other. They know each other without even saying a word.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-alire-s-enz/people-who-have-monsters-recognize-each-other-they-know-each-other/) [Benjamin Alire Sáenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-alire-s-enz/) > [I recommend allowing others the opportunity to fully express themselves before turning our attention to solutions or requests for relief. When we proceed too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/i-recommend-allowing-others-the-opportunity-to-fully-express/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [To be able to hear our own feelings and needs and to empathize with them can free us from depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/to-be-able-to-hear-our-own-feelings-and-needs-and-to-empathize-with/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [You don't have people who are monsters and only do bad. There's good and bad for everybody. It's all a spectrum.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-prentice/you-don-t-have-people-who-are-monsters-and-only-do-bad-there-s-good/) [Justin Prentice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-prentice/) > [“War is a monster...War is the devil. It starts and it consumes and it grows and grows and grows...And otherwise normal people become monsters,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/war-is-a-monster-war-is-the-devil-it-starts-and-it-consumes-and-it-2/) [Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/) > [“Read the book: All the good people go. Only monsters remain.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-friesen/read-the-book-all-the-good-people-go-only-monsters-remain/) [Jonathan Friesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-friesen/) > [“Don't you see? Those monsters you've been so worried about. Not aliens. People. The monsters have always been people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beth-revis/don-t-you-see-those-monsters-you-ve-been-so-worried-about-not-aliens/) [Beth Revis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beth-revis/) > [Much of the research on the Nazi era makes a science out of distancing oneself from it or conjuring its demons. The conceit is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gotz-aly/much-of-the-research-on-the-nazi-era-makes-a-science-out-of/) [Gotz Aly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gotz-aly/) > [We never see other people anyway, only the monsters we make of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colson-whitehead/we-never-see-other-people-anyway-only-the-monsters-we-make-of-them/) [Colson Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colson-whitehead/) > [Sometimes I will portray the more normal-looking people as the monsters and then the more distorted - "uniquely formed" is the word I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-mars/sometimes-i-will-portray-the-more-normal-looking-people-as-the/) [Chris Mars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-mars/) ## 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 Communication quotes > [Some people still believe you should just fall in line with what's going on - and that's scary. 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Smashing heads does not open minds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-tannen/in-dialogue-there-is-opposition-yes-but-no-head-on-collision-smashing/) [Deborah Tannen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-tannen/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I've been in a serious conversation with one of my children, and a fan has come up. 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