Empathy Quote by Rebecca Solnit
“We make ourselves large or small, here or there, in our empathies.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Men, Women, and Children, 2012
We can expand or shrink our sense of self through empathy, choosing to feel deeply or remain distant.
In simple terms: Empathy changes our self‑perception.
Key Takeaway
Choose to broaden empathy.
Themes
empathy
identity
perspective
growth
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- relationships
- conflict resolution
- community building
- personal development
Key Concepts
psychology
social connection
Questions to Reflect On
- How does empathy reshape your self‑image?
- When do you shrink your empathy?
A Different Perspective
Empathy can be limited by personal bias or emotional fatigue.
![“[In mountaineering, if] we look for private experience rather than public history, even getting to the top becomes an optional narrative rather than the main point, and those who only wander in high places become part of the story.” quote by Rebecca Solnit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1e6/rebecca-solnit-569_high-places_in-mountaineering-if-we-look-for-private_78831.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)
