--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a citizen of the republic of empathy." description: "\"I'm a citizen of the republic of empathy.\" — Sam Lipsyte" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/sam-lipsyte-11160_citizen_i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy_551718.jpg" --- # I'm a citizen of the republic of empathy. ![“I'm a citizen of the republic of empathy.” quote by Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/sam-lipsyte-11160_citizen_i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy_551718.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/sam-lipsyte-11160_citizen_i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy_551718.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/sam-lipsyte-11160_citizen_i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy_551718.jpg) > “I'm a citizen of the republic of empathy.” [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The statement frames empathy as a civic identity, suggesting that caring for others is a fundamental part of belonging to a community. **In simple terms:** Empathy is a civic duty. Key Takeaway Practice empathy in daily interactions. Themes community empathy citizenship Mood reflective optimistic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - teamwork - conflict resolution - public service Key Concepts social responsibility human connection ethical living Questions to Reflect On - How does empathy influence societal decisions? - Can empathy replace policy in addressing injustice? A Different Perspective Empathy alone may not solve systemic issues without structural change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Passport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passport/) [Republic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/republic/) ## Related quotes > [The first requisite of a good citizen in this republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-first-requisite-of-a-good-citizen-in-this-republic-of-ours-is/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [The era of big government is over, but the era of big challenge is not. We need an era of big citizenship. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/the-era-of-big-government-is-over-but-the-era-of-big-challenge-is-not/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The first requisite of a good citizen in this Republic of ours is that he shall be able and willing to pull his weight;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/the-first-requisite-of-a-good-citizen-in-this-republic-of-ours-is-2/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [Every citizen of the republic ought to consider himself an unofficial policeman, and keep unsalaried watch and ward over the laws and their execution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/every-citizen-of-the-republic-ought-to-consider-himself-an-unofficial/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [I am privileged to be a citizen of the single greatest society in all of human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-am-privileged-to-be-a-citizen-of-the-single-greatest-society-in-all/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I am a Citizen of the World, and my Nationality is Goodwill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/socrates/i-am-a-citizen-of-the-world-and-my-nationality-is-goodwill/) [Socrates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/socrates/) > [I am a citizen of the world first, and of this country at a later and more convenient hour.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/i-am-a-citizen-of-the-world-first-and-of-this-country-at-a-later-and/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I have an American passport, but I don't always remember I'm an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-hawley-weld/i-have-an-american-passport-but-i-don-t-always-remember-i-m-an/) [Sophie Hawley-Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-hawley-weld/) > [I consider myself a legal citizen of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pavel-durov/i-consider-myself-a-legal-citizen-of-the-world/) [Pavel Durov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pavel-durov/) > [I'm a citizen of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-a-citizen-of-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a Canadian citizen, but I do have a green card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sami-zayn/i-m-a-canadian-citizen-but-i-do-have-a-green-card/) [Sami Zayn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sami-zayn/) > [Asked where he came from, he said, "I am a citizen of the world."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes/asked-where-he-came-from-he-said-i-am-a-citizen-of-the-world/) [Diogenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes/) > [I consider myself a free man and a citizen of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerard-depardieu/i-consider-myself-a-free-man-and-a-citizen-of-the-world/) [Gerard Depardieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerard-depardieu/) > [I'm not an American citizen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-browder/i-m-not-an-american-citizen/) [Bill Browder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-browder/) > [I'm just a citizen of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-berwick/i-m-just-a-citizen-of-the-world/) [Jeff Berwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-berwick/) ## More by Sam Lipsyte > [When you work at home, fellow alums, discipline is the supreme virtue. Suicidal self-loathing lurks behind every coffee break. Activities must be expertly scheduled,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/when-you-work-at-home-fellow-alums-discipline-is-the-supreme-virtue/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [“It was early, late, lockjaw hour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/it-was-early-late-lockjaw-hour/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [You think you know yourself, the world. You believe you've got a bead on everybody else's bullshit, but what about your own?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/you-think-you-know-yourself-the-world-you-believe-you-ve-got-a-bead/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [“Our friendship, for example, and how quickly we passed through each other, from fascinated strangers to loyal chums to relics of each other's world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/our-friendship-for-example-and-how-quickly-we-passed-through-each/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [I'd become one of those mistakes you sometimes find in an office, a not unpleasant but mostly unproductive presence bobbing along on the energy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/i-d-become-one-of-those-mistakes-you-sometimes-find-in-an-office-a/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [“Tomorrow she’d look up tattoo removal. They were doing big things with lasers now. When Cal was just a little more stable, she’d break…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/tomorrow-she-d-look-up-tattoo-removal-they-were-doing-big-things-with/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [“I looked for Gary in all of the Gary places, but I was too early. These places were all haunted by the future of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/i-looked-for-gary-in-all-of-the-gary-places-but-i-was-too-early-these/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [Dept. of Speculation is gorgeous, funny, a profound and profoundly moving work of art. Jenny Offill is a master of form and feeling, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/dept-of-speculation-is-gorgeous-funny-a-profound-and-profoundly/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [“The Rough Beast snorted. “You don’t get it at all, buddy. It’s not about wrestling. It’s about stories. We’re storytellers.” Caperton studied him. “Somebody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/the-rough-beast-snorted-you-don-t-get-it-at-all-buddy-it-s-not-about/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [“I needed to talk to Vargina, to straighten this out, but felt suddenly faint, headed for the deli across the street. Just standing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/i-needed-to-talk-to-vargina-to-straighten-this-out-but-felt-suddenly/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [“You’re growing up. All you need to remember is that nothing changes. New technology, new markets, global interconnectivity, doesn’t matter. It’s still the rulers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/you-re-growing-up-all-you-need-to-remember-is-that-nothing-changes/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [This country was built on the backs of dudes who drank on buses. What we do honors them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/this-country-was-built-on-the-backs-of-dudes-who-drank-on-buses-what/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [The bullshit never ends. That’s the main thing to remember. It never ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/the-bullshit-never-ends-that-s-the-main-thing-to-remember-it-never/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [Stuff me in a tutu and let's screen experimental videos all day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/stuff-me-in-a-tutu-and-let-s-screen-experimental-videos-all-day/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) > [“She liked reality shows the best, and then the shows that purported to be about reality.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/she-liked-reality-shows-the-best-and-then-the-shows-that-purported-to/) [Sam Lipsyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) [Explore all 61 Sam Lipsyte quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/) ## More Citizen quotes > [Politics is not an issue whether you like or dislike , but every citizen must involve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khem-veasna/politics-is-not-an-issue-whether-you-like-or-dislike-but-every/) [Khem Veasna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khem-veasna/) > [I will be a model prisoner, as I have been a model citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-edwards/i-will-be-a-model-prisoner-as-i-have-been-a-model-citizen/) [Edwin Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-edwards/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [I'm less concerned about whether being a good corporate citizen burnishes a company's reputation. That's just an added benefit. I believe it's a responsibility,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/i-m-less-concerned-about-whether-being-a-good-corporate-citizen/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [As a citizen, hopefully I'm humanist. As an artist, I'm free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-smith/as-a-citizen-hopefully-i-m-humanist-as-an-artist-i-m-free/) [Patti Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-smith/) > [The typical American citizen is the business man. The typical business man is a bad citizen; he is busy. If he is a 'big…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-steffens/the-typical-american-citizen-is-the-business-man-the-typical-business/) [Lincoln Steffens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-steffens/) > [I am here, a citizen of this country, and I'm saying, 'Hey, the system failed me. I am a good citizen. I contribute to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/i-am-here-a-citizen-of-this-country-and-i-m-saying-hey-the-system/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [“An anarchist government somehow creates an impression in the hearts of citizens that no one cares.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/an-anarchist-government-somehow-creates-an-impression-in-the-hearts/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [If the many allegations made to this date are true, then the burglars who broke into the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-ervin/if-the-many-allegations-made-to-this-date-are-true-then-the-burglars/) [Sam Ervin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-ervin/) > [Individuality is the aim of political liberty. By leaving to the citizen as much freedom of action and of being as comports with order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-f-cooper/individuality-is-the-aim-of-political-liberty-by-leaving-to-the/) [James F. Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-f-cooper/) > [Up until the point that you're a citizen, we wanna continue to make sure we understand who you are and why you're here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirstjen-nielsen/up-until-the-point-that-you-re-a-citizen-we-wanna-continue-to-make/) [Kirstjen Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirstjen-nielsen/) > [To be a good citizen, it's important to be able to put yourself in other people's shoes and see the big picture. If everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-pariser/to-be-a-good-citizen-it-s-important-to-be-able-to-put-yourself-in/) [Eli Pariser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-pariser/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [“In a country of ideas, consciousness is its' citizen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toba-beta/in-a-country-of-ideas-consciousness-is-its-citizen/) [Toba Beta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toba-beta/) > [“I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-have-no-country-to-fight-for-my-country-is-the-earth-i-am-a-citizen/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) [Browse all 464 Citizen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizen/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm a citizen of the republic of empathy.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sam Lipsyte" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Citizen" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/sam-lipsyte-11160_citizen_i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy_551718.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/sam-lipsyte-11160_citizen_i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy_551718.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ef/sam-lipsyte-11160_citizen_i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy_551718.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm a citizen of the republic of empathy.” — Sam Lipsyte", "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": "Sam Lipsyte", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-lipsyte/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm a citizen of the republic...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-lipsyte/i-m-a-citizen-of-the-republic-of-empathy/#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 } } ] } ```