--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Many people seeing the sensory homunculus…" description: "\"“Many people seeing the sensory homunculus for the first time comment on (even object to) how small the genitals are. They expect that these organs wou..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/sandra-blakeslee-275999_empathy_many-people-seeing-the-sensory-homunculu_2316647.jpg" --- # Many people seeing the sensory homunculus for the first… ![“Many people seeing the sensory homunculus for the first time comment on (even object to) how small the genitals are. They expect that these organs would merit an allotment of territory commensurate with their sensitivity and the disproportionate mindshare they command. The confusion comes from the…” quote by Sandra Blakeslee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/sandra-blakeslee-275999_empathy_many-people-seeing-the-sensory-homunculu_2316647.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/sandra-blakeslee-275999_empathy_many-people-seeing-the-sensory-homunculu_2316647.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/140/sandra-blakeslee-275999_empathy_many-people-seeing-the-sensory-homunculu_2316647.jpg) > ““Many people seeing the sensory homunculus for the first time comment on (even object to) how small the genitals are. They expect that these organs would merit an allotment of territory commensurate with their sensitivity and the disproportionate mindshare they command. The confusion comes from the multiple meanings of the word "sensitive." Sensitive can refer to high acuity. Your fingers, lips, and tongue are sensitive in this sense: generously packed with somatic receptors of every type, able to make extremely fine discriminations. Your genitals are extremely sensitive in a different sense. A penis and a clitoris can tell the difference between one finger and two, but they can't read Braille.”” [Sandra Blakeslee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-blakeslee/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The term “sensitive” has multiple meanings; sensory organs like genitals are highly sensitive in a different way than fine tactile discrimination. **In simple terms:** “Sensitivity” varies; genitals detect broad differences, not fine detail. Key Takeaway Recognize context when discussing sensitivity. Themes language perception biology semantics Mood educational analytical precise Type Empathy:0 First time:0 Sensitive:1 Sensitivity:1 Time:0 Sensitive Sensitive:0 Sensitive Sense:0 Discriminations Genitals:0 When to use this quote - medical education - public health - interpersonal dialogue Key Concepts neuroscience communication clarity Questions to Reflect On - How does context change meaning? - Why is precise language important in science? A Different Perspective Confusing terminology can lead to misunderstanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discriminations Genitals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discriminations-genitals-5522894/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [First time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-time/) [Sensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitive/) [Sensitive Sense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitive-sense-5522893/) [Sensitive Sensitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitive-sensitive-637392/) [Sensitivity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensitivity/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Differences in race, differences in sex, somebody doesn’t look at you right, somebody says something. Everybody is sensitive. If I had been as sensitive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-thomas/differences-in-race-differences-in-sex-somebody-doesn-t-look-at-you/) [Clarence Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-thomas/) > [I began to use my sensitivity. And I realized I wasn't weird because I cried a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherilyn-fenn/i-began-to-use-my-sensitivity-and-i-realized-i-wasn-t-weird-because-i/) [Sherilyn Fenn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherilyn-fenn/) > [“Why is sensitivity perceived as being dangerous? When we’re sensitive, we feel things we were taught not to feel. When we’re sensitive, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aletheia-luna/why-is-sensitivity-perceived-as-being-dangerous-when-we-re-sensitive/) [Aletheia Luna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aletheia-luna/) > [My biggest weakness is my sensitivity. I am too sensitive a person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tyson/my-biggest-weakness-is-my-sensitivity-i-am-too-sensitive-a-person/) [Mike Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tyson/) > [I'm very sensitive in real life. I cannot not cry if someone around me is crying. I will start to cry if someone is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-chastain/i-m-very-sensitive-in-real-life-i-cannot-not-cry-if-someone-around-me/) [Jessica Chastain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-chastain/) > [There are a lot of people who want to be famous nowadays: singers, actors and, you know, it's like a roller-coaster. And when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-green/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-be-famous-nowadays-singers/) [Eva Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-green/) > [“A man doesn't want to be rejected. We're really quite sensitive. 'Sensitive?' She laughed, her head on one side. 'Sensitive egos you mean. Never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helene-young/a-man-doesn-t-want-to-be-rejected-we-re-really-quite-sensitive/) [Helene Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helene-young/) > [Women anchor me. They're there when I need them. They're sensitive to me, and I'm sensitive to them. I'm not saying I've loved that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-charles/women-anchor-me-they-re-there-when-i-need-them-they-re-sensitive-to/) [Ray Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-charles/) > [“The more you wake up, the more sensitive you become. The more sensitive you become to people around you, the more open you become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-haris/the-more-you-wake-up-the-more-sensitive-you-become-the-more-sensitive/) [Lee Haris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-haris/) > [A sensitive person receives fifty impressions where somebody else may only get seven. Sensitive people are so vulnerable; they're so easily brutalized and hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlon-brando/a-sensitive-person-receives-fifty-impressions-where-somebody-else-may/) [Marlon Brando](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlon-brando/) > [“Some people take offense like it's a limited time offer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/some-people-take-offense-like-it-s-a-limited-time-offer/) [Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/) > [“Such a nasty bruise,” he says, staring straight into my eyes. I am stunned he can see it. Delicate to the touch and tender…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/such-a-nasty-bruise-he-says-staring-straight-into-my-eyes-i-am/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [Either I'm too sensitive, or else I'm gettin' soft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-dylan/either-i-m-too-sensitive-or-else-i-m-gettin-soft/) [Bob Dylan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-dylan/) > [“The more sensitive the lunatic, the less able is he to resist this prying interest of the normal human being. I felt that Renée's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colette/the-more-sensitive-the-lunatic-the-less-able-is-he-to-resist-this/) [Colette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colette/) > [There is no doubt that the princess did become a queen---not only on the screen. One of the most loved, one of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-peck/there-is-no-doubt-that-the-princess-did-become-a-queen-not-only-on/) [Gregory Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-peck/) ## More Empathy quotes > [I have a lot of empathy, and I think that's where mothering starts. You are there to empathise and facilitate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/i-have-a-lot-of-empathy-and-i-think-that-s-where-mothering-starts-you/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. 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If you don't enter that world, hold your breath with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azar-nafisi/a-novel-is-not-an-allegory-it-is-a-sensual-experience-of-another/) [Azar Nafisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/azar-nafisi/) > [Empathic listening takes time, but it doesn't take anywhere near as much time as it takes to back up and correct misunderstandings when you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/empathic-listening-takes-time-but-it-doesn-t-take-anywhere-near-as/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [I try to treat every job with the exact same level of respect. 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I need advice from Elizabeth Bennett.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melina-marchetta/i-need-voices-of-reason-and-of-hysteria-and-of-empathy-i-need-to-have/) [Melina Marchetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melina-marchetta/) [Browse all 2,480 Empathy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Many people seeing the sensory homunculus for the first time comment on (even object to) how small the genitals are. They expect that these organs would merit an allotment of territory commensurate with their sensitivity and the disproportionate mindshare they command. The confusion comes from the multiple meanings of the word \"sensitive.\" Sensitive can refer to high acuity. Your fingers, lips, and tongue are sensitive in this sense: generously packed with somatic receptors of every type, able to make extremely fine discriminations. 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