---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As human beings, why does it take…"
description: "\"As human beings, why does it take somebody to feel like they're close to us for us to see their humanity? Why can't we see the humanity in people that ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/michael-b-jordan-3540_doe_as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebod_2865301.jpg"
---

#  As human beings, why does it take somebody to feel like…

![“As human beings, why does it take somebody to feel like they're close to us for us to see their humanity? Why can't we see the humanity in people that are distant from us?” quote by Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/michael-b-jordan-3540_doe_as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebod_2865301.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/michael-b-jordan-3540_doe_as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebod_2865301.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/michael-b-jordan-3540_doe_as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebod_2865301.jpg)

> “As human beings, why does it take somebody to feel like they're close to us for us to see their humanity? Why can't we see the humanity in people that are distant from us?”

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Questions why empathy often requires personal closeness, highlighting bias toward familiar groups.

**In simple terms:** We see humanity only in those close to us.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate empathy for distant others.

Themes

empathy bias humanity social perception

Mood

thoughtful inspirational

Type

philosophical motivational

When to use this quote

- community service
- global volunteering
- diverse workplaces

Key Concepts

in‑group favoritism psychology of distance cognitive empathy

Questions to Reflect On

- How can we train empathy for strangers?
- What stories broaden our sense of shared humanity?

A Different Perspective

Empathy can be limited by ingrained prejudice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/)

## Related quotes

> [In order to know what he is, a man must first know what the sum of this mysterious humanity is, a humanity made up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-tolstoy/in-order-to-know-what-he-is-a-man-must-first-know-what-the-sum-of/)

[Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/)

> [Never for a moment do we lay aside our mistrust of the ideals established by society, and of the convictions which are kept by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/never-for-a-moment-do-we-lay-aside-our-mistrust-of-the-ideals/)

[Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/)

> [Hurtful words coming from those who are close to us pierce deeper than those coming from people who are distant or unknown.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/hurtful-words-coming-from-those-who-are-close-to-us-pierce-deeper/)

[Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/)

> [“And afterward, in the small cabin, they'd do this, this tangle of bodies, this blurring of the edges that kept people distant and lonely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/libba-bray/and-afterward-in-the-small-cabin-they-d-do-this-this-tangle-of-bodies/)

[Libba Bray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/libba-bray/)

> [You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is like an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-must-not-lose-faith-in-humanity-humanity-is-like-an-ocean-if-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Humanity? Humanity is not concerned with us. Today anything is allowed. Anything is possible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/humanity-humanity-is-not-concerned-with-us-today-anything-is-allowed/)

[Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/)

> [I was deeply interested in conveying what is a deeply felt conviction of my own. This is simply to suggest that human beings must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rod-serling/i-was-deeply-interested-in-conveying-what-is-a-deeply-felt-conviction/)

[Rod Serling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rod-serling/)

> [“When a human life is open to all that humanity can be, humanity and divinity flow together as one. It was and is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/when-a-human-life-is-open-to-all-that-humanity-can-be-humanity-and/)

[John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/)

> [Oh my God, does art engender humanity? It awakens your humanity. But humanity has nothing to do with political theory. Political theory is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/oh-my-god-does-art-engender-humanity-it-awakens-your-humanity-but/)

[Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/)

> [But if I'm it, the last of my kind, the last page of human history, like hell I'm going to let the story end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/but-if-i-m-it-the-last-of-my-kind-the-last-page-of-human-history-like/)

[Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/)

> [Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/human-beings-who-are-almost-unique-in-having-the-ability-to-learn-2/)

[Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/)

> [“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-fuhrman/of-all-the-preposterous-assumptions-of-humanity-over-humanity-nothing/)

[Joel Fuhrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-fuhrman/)

> [Both class and race survive education, and neither should. What is education then? If it doesn't help a human being to recognize that humanity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beah-richards/both-class-and-race-survive-education-and-neither-should-what-is/)

[Beah Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beah-richards/)

> [“Earth can live longer then the humanity or the humanity can live longer than the earth! Both are possible!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/earth-can-live-longer-then-the-humanity-or-the-humanity-can-live/)

[Mehmet Murat ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [Religion belonged to the infancy of humanity. Now that humanity had come of age, it should be left behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/religion-belonged-to-the-infancy-of-humanity-now-that-humanity-had/)

[Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/)

## More by Michael B. Jordan

> [ That's probably why my face was looking so crazy when I was crying \[in "Hardball"\] because it was some real. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/that-s-probably-why-my-face-was-looking-so-crazy-when-i-was-crying-in/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [In terms of experience with the police, everybody got those. It's such a reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/in-terms-of-experience-with-the-police-everybody-got-those-it-s-such/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [The world is a little more diverse in 2015 than when the Fantastic Four comic first came out in 1961.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/the-world-is-a-little-more-diverse-in-2015-than-when-the-fantastic/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [I wanted to start creating opportunities for actors out there that weren't so cut-and-dried... My ultimate goal with Outlier is to give these young…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-wanted-to-start-creating-opportunities-for-actors-out-there-that/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [ \[Chris Evans\] is doing an amazing job with "Captain America." I really enjoy those films as well so that's kind of pretty much where… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/chris-evans-is-doing-an-amazing-job-with-captain-america-i-really/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [As an actor, you never want to feel like a tool. You never want to feel like, "Hey, just come here, say this, stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/as-an-actor-you-never-want-to-feel-like-a-tool-you-never-want-to-feel/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [We were shooting this movie called "Hardball," with Keanu Reeves. We shot in the city, and I just remember I couldn't really do too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/we-were-shooting-this-movie-called-hardball-with-keanu-reeves-we-shot/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [ Working with \[Kyle Chandler\] in the scene was like playing tennis. You work with really talented actors, I think they make other actors look… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/working-with-kyle-chandler-in-the-scene-was-like-playing-tennis-you/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [Watching a really good movie excites me, because it makes we want to get up off the couch and go shoot something and act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/watching-a-really-good-movie-excites-me-because-it-makes-we-want-to/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [Sometimes when you grieve, you grieve at a time where you don't really expect it. You might hear a song or you might smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/sometimes-when-you-grieve-you-grieve-at-a-time-where-you-don-t-really/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [I don't like speaking on things that I don't care about and that I'm not personally invested in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-don-t-like-speaking-on-things-that-i-don-t-care-about-and-that-i-m/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [I'm a tropical weather cruiser. I like surfing, you know. I like being on the beach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/i-m-a-tropical-weather-cruiser-i-like-surfing-you-know-i-like-being/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [Definitely, as I get older and my taste buds change, I want to do different things. I'm not ready for directing yet, you know,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/definitely-as-i-get-older-and-my-taste-buds-change-i-want-to-do/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [ How are people who are young and look like Oscar \[Grant\] portrayed in the media? You gotta think about that. And somebody given a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/how-are-people-who-are-young-and-look-like-oscar-grant-portrayed-in/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

> [Creating the opportunities for other people and solid projects, things that I like, for sure, definitely. Acting I'll do forever, but I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/creating-the-opportunities-for-other-people-and-solid-projects-things/)

[Michael B. Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

[Explore all 128 Michael B. Jordan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/)

## More Doe quotes

> [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/)

[Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/)

> [I cannot forbid a person to marry several wives, for it does not contradict Scripture. MARTIN LUTHER, letter to Chancellor Gregory Brück, January 13,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-de-la-bruyere/i-cannot-forbid-a-person-to-marry-several-wives-for-it-does-not/)

[Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-de-la-bruyere/)

> [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/)

[Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/)

> [The prophet who fails to present a bearable alternative and yet preaches doom is part of the trap that he postulates. Not only does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/the-prophet-who-fails-to-present-a-bearable-alternative-and-yet/)

[Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/)

> [Sometimes a sign or a quote is simply interesting by itself and does not require anything beyond being framed on a page.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-vincent-benet/sometimes-a-sign-or-a-quote-is-simply-interesting-by-itself-and-does/)

[Stephen Vincent Benet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-vincent-benet/)

> [A home is not a museum. It doesn't have to be furnished with Picasso paintings, or Sheraton suites, or Oriental rugs, or Chinese pottery.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-m-cain/a-home-is-not-a-museum-it-doesn-t-have-to-be-furnished-with-picasso/)

[James M. Cain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-m-cain/)

> [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/)

[Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/)

> [He's a fool that marries; but he's a greater fool that does not marry a fool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-wycherley/he-s-a-fool-that-marries-but-he-s-a-greater-fool-that-does-not-marry/)

[William Wycherley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-wycherley/)

> [Nothing old is ever reborn but neither does it totally disappear. And that which has once been born, will always reappear in a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/nothing-old-is-ever-reborn-but-neither-does-it-totally-disappear-and/)

[Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/)

> [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/)

[Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/)

> [Preaching to the choir actually arms the choir with arguments and elevates the choir's discourse. There's a reason the right does it and does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-savage/preaching-to-the-choir-actually-arms-the-choir-with-arguments-and/)

[Dan Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-savage/)

> [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/)

[Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [If Wall Street crashes, does Main Street follow? Not necessarily.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-bernanke/if-wall-street-crashes-does-main-street-follow-not-necessarily/)

[Ben Bernanke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-bernanke/)

> [It does not seem to me to be sufficiently recognized everywhere among the officials that the existence or non-existence of our people and Empire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-von-hindenburg/it-does-not-seem-to-me-to-be-sufficiently-recognized-everywhere-among/)

[Paul von Hindenburg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-von-hindenburg/)

Browse all 25,574 Doe quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "As human beings, why does it take somebody to feel like they're close to us for us to see their humanity? Why can't we see the humanity in people that are distant from us?",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael B. Jordan"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebody-to-feel-like-they-re-close/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Doe"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebody-to-feel-like-they-re-close/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/michael-b-jordan-3540_doe_as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebod_2865301.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/michael-b-jordan-3540_doe_as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebod_2865301.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0a7/michael-b-jordan-3540_doe_as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebod_2865301.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“As human beings, why does it take somebody to feel like they're close to us for us to see their humanity?…” — Michael B. Jordan",
                "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": "Michael B. Jordan",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-b-jordan/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "As human beings, why does it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebody-to-feel-like-they-re-close/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-b-jordan/as-human-beings-why-does-it-take-somebody-to-feel-like-they-re-close/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
