Creatures Quote by Martha C. Nussbaum
“As we tell stories about the lives of others, we learn how to imagine what another creature might feel in response to various events. At the same time, we identify with the other creature and learn something about ourselves.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Upheavals of Thought, 2004
Storytelling about others expands empathy, allowing us to imagine their feelings and, in turn, understand ourselves better.
In simple terms: Stories of others build empathy and self‑knowledge.
Key Takeaway
Use narratives to deepen empathy and self‑awareness.
Themes
empathy
identity
storytelling
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
philosophical
educational
When to use this quote
- education
- therapy
- diversity training
- media analysis
Key Concepts
philosophy
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How do stories change your view of yourself?
- When might empathy hinder objectivity?
A Different Perspective
Over‑identification can blur self‑other boundaries.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
