Empathy Quote by Peter S. Beagle
““...I was one of the haves, and one of the secrets of being a have is not wasting your time on empathy.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, 1968
Those in privileged positions may dismiss empathy as a waste of time, overlooking its societal value.
In simple terms: Privilege can ignore empathy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize empathy’s importance despite status.
Themes
social class
empathy
ethics
Mood
critical
inspirational
Type
ethical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- leadership
- policy making
- community work
Key Concepts
human connection
social responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- Why is empathy valuable for leaders?
- How can you cultivate empathy without feeling vulnerable?
A Different Perspective
Empathy may be seen as weakness in competitive cultures.
![“The Lady Amalthea beckoned, and the cat wriggled all over, like a dog, but he would not come near... She was offering her open palm to the crook-eared cat, but he stayed where he was, shivering with the desire to go to her"...[later, Molly asked the cat] "Why were you afraid to let her touch you?…” quote by Peter S. Beagle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/59b/peter-s-beagle-1665_cat_the-lady-amalthea-beckoned-and-the-cat-w_254271.jpg)
![“That is another theme in the book [Dreams from My Father]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we get the black to see through the eyes of the white? Or the citizen to see through the eyes of the immigrant? Or the straight to see through the eyes of the gay? That has…” quote by Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/00d/barack-obama-17_black_that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams_10185.jpg)
