--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The greatest gift given to man by God…" description: "\"The greatest gift given to man by God - is the ability to empathize.\" — Meryl Streep" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/meryl-streep-1078_ability_the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is_2699349.jpg" --- # The greatest gift given to man by God - is the ability to… ![“The greatest gift given to man by God - is the ability to empathize.” quote by Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/meryl-streep-1078_ability_the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is_2699349.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/meryl-streep-1078_ability_the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is_2699349.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/meryl-streep-1078_ability_the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is_2699349.jpg) > “The greatest gift given to man by God - is the ability to empathize.” [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## 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 a divine gift allowing humans to understand and share others' feelings, fostering compassion and connection. **In simple terms:** Empathy is a divine gift. Key Takeaway Cultivate empathy daily. Themes compassion humanity spirituality connection psychology Mood hopeful compassionate Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - counseling - team leadership - conflict resolution - parenting Key Concepts emotional intelligence social bonding ethical behavior human development Questions to Reflect On - How can we strengthen empathy in diverse groups? - What barriers prevent true understanding? A Different Perspective Empathy can be limited by personal bias or cultural differences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Ability Empathize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability-empathize-1002455/) [Empathize](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathize/) [Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift/) [Given](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/given/) [God Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-ability-317433/) [Greatest gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-gift/) [Greatest gifts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatest-gifts/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [I think the ability to empathize with another person's experience and go into the trajectory of their journey is challenging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-think-the-ability-to-empathize-with-another-person-s-experience-and/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [I think one of my best qualities is my ability to empathize with people. Perhaps it's because my journey has been so bumpy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-think-one-of-my-best-qualities-is-my-ability-to-empathize-with/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [“... I also empathized, because she'd tried to do these things out of love, and because she had bumbled the attempt, and I suppose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brock-clarke/i-also-empathized-because-she-d-tried-to-do-these-things-out-of-love/) [Brock Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brock-clarke/) > [No matter how old you are, if you're just not an empathetic person, it's a lot easier to concentrate solely on something that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-scott/no-matter-how-old-you-are-if-you-re-just-not-an-empathetic-person-it/) [James Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-scott/) > [One of the greatest gifts a person can give another, is support.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-greatest-gifts-a-person-can-give-another-is-support/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest gift you can give someone is the space to be his or herself, without the threat of you leaving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kai-greene/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-someone-is-the-space-to-be-his-or/) [Kai Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kai-greene/) > [The greatest gift that an actor can have is good scripts because then you're relieved of the responsibility of trying to elevate the material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holt-mccallany/the-greatest-gift-that-an-actor-can-have-is-good-scripts-because-then/) [Holt McCallany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holt-mccallany/) > [The greatest gift I can give is to see, hear, understand, and touch another person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virginia-satir/the-greatest-gift-i-can-give-is-to-see-hear-understand-and-touch/) [Virginia Satir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virginia-satir/) > [Chocolate is the greatest gift to women ever created, next to the likes of Paul Newman and Gene Kelly. It's something that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-bullock/chocolate-is-the-greatest-gift-to-women-ever-created-next-to-the/) [Sandra Bullock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-bullock/) > [One of the greatest gifts to give our friends and others is a prayer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-j-barrier/one-of-the-greatest-gifts-to-give-our-friends-and-others-is-a-prayer/) [Ellen J. Barrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-j-barrier/) > [A dog is the greatest gift a parent can give a child. OK, a good education, then a dog.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grogan/a-dog-is-the-greatest-gift-a-parent-can-give-a-child-ok-a-good/) [John Grogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grogan/) > [The greatest gift that you can give another person is to gracefully receive whatever it is that they want to give us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/the-greatest-gift-that-you-can-give-another-person-is-to-gracefully/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [The greatest gifts you can give someone are your time, your attention, your love, and your concern.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-greatest-gifts-you-can-give-someone-are-your-time-your-attention/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The greatest gift you can give someone is the gift of inspiration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/the-greatest-gift-you-can-give-someone-is-the-gift-of-inspiration/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [The very ability to empathize with a user requires that I have an understanding of that user's value and needs. This is what leads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/the-very-ability-to-empathize-with-a-user-requires-that-i-have-an/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) ## More by Meryl Streep > [Sometimes it's easier for people who are in authority to be authoritarian, because people know where you stand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/sometimes-it-s-easier-for-people-who-are-in-authority-to-be/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I do honestly think that if women were running the world there would be more investment in peace, because basically as women we do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-do-honestly-think-that-if-women-were-running-the-world-there-would/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [My feeling about fears is, if you voice your fears, they may come true. I'm superstitious enough to believe that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/my-feeling-about-fears-is-if-you-voice-your-fears-they-may-come-true/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The work itself is the reward, and if I choose challenging work, it'll pay me back with interest. At least I'll be interested, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-work-itself-is-the-reward-and-if-i-choose-challenging-work-it-ll/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [This act of empathy, that women go through from the time we're little girls - we read all of literature, all of history, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/this-act-of-empathy-that-women-go-through-from-the-time-we-re-little/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Some men can maintain cragginess and weary masculinity. Women just get old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/some-men-can-maintain-cragginess-and-weary-masculinity-women-just-get/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Well, I got better after this, and my entire family really did appreciate it. Usually, they're resentful of movies that I go off and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/well-i-got-better-after-this-and-my-entire-family-really-did/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Acting is not about being someone different. It's finding the similarity in what is apparently different, then finding myself in there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/acting-is-not-about-being-someone-different-it-s-finding-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I didn't really like opera. I liked cheerleading and boys and, later, smoking. So my opera career was cut short when I was 15.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-didn-t-really-like-opera-i-liked-cheerleading-and-boys-and-later/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Life is all about making choices and I'm very happy with mine. I have had a wonderful time raising four children and I've also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/life-is-all-about-making-choices-and-i-m-very-happy-with-mine-i-have/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [Leave me to the thing I love. I love acting. But being called 'the greatest living actress' - a designation not even my mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/leave-me-to-the-thing-i-love-i-love-acting-but-being-called-the/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I have a very busy life, and not many people who have a career and four kids go out a lot to the movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-have-a-very-busy-life-and-not-many-people-who-have-a-career-and/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [I go to a lot of movies where people are all around me laughing, and I feel like I'm from outer space because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/i-go-to-a-lot-of-movies-where-people-are-all-around-me-laughing-and-i/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [People say, When you have children, everything changes. But maybe things are awakened that were already there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/people-say-when-you-have-children-everything-changes-but-maybe-things/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [You have to embrace getting older](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/you-have-to-embrace-getting-older/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) [Explore all 296 Meryl Streep quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The greatest gift given to man by God - is the ability to empathize.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Meryl Streep" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is-the-ability-to-empathize/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is-the-ability-to-empathize/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/meryl-streep-1078_ability_the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is_2699349.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/meryl-streep-1078_ability_the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is_2699349.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b67/meryl-streep-1078_ability_the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is_2699349.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The greatest gift given to man by God - is the ability to empathize.” — Meryl Streep", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Meryl Streep", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The greatest gift given to man...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is-the-ability-to-empathize/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-greatest-gift-given-to-man-by-god-is-the-ability-to-empathize/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```