Baby Quote by Paul Bloom
“I think there's some evidence that we're empathic by nature. There is some evidence from studies of babies and young children that they resonate with the pain of others, and there's some work by Frans de Waal that other primates also resonate with the pain of others.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Against Empathy, Paul Bloom, 2016
Human beings appear to have an innate capacity to share others’ emotional states, as shown by infant and primate research.
In simple terms: We are naturally attuned to feel others’ pain.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and nurture this natural empathy.
Themes
empathy
human nature
psychology
Mood
compassionate
reflective
Type
psychological
ethical
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- conflict resolution
- mental health care
Key Concepts
mirror neurons
emotional contagion
evolutionary psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does innate empathy shape moral decisions?
- Can we train empathy beyond natural limits?
A Different Perspective
Empathy can be biased toward in‑group members and may lead to emotional burnout.
![“Our best hope for the future [...] lies in an appreciation of the fact that, even if we don’t empathize with distant strangers, their lives have the same value as the lives of those we love.” quote by Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/630/paul-bloom-3720_appreciation_our-best-hope-for-the-future-lies-in-an_177200.jpg)
