--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Some argue that there is a spectrum of…" description: "\"“Some argue that there is a spectrum of what we should expect as normal human character flaws. Narcissism seems to be the gray area where most discord ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/shannon-thomas-3888_character-flaws_some-argue-that-there-is-a-spectrum-of-w_842894.jpg" --- # Some argue that there is a spectrum of what we should… ![“Some argue that there is a spectrum of what we should expect as normal human character flaws. Narcissism seems to be the gray area where most discord bubbles up. Common teachings on sociopaths and psychopaths center on their intense lack of empathy.” quote by Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/shannon-thomas-3888_character-flaws_some-argue-that-there-is-a-spectrum-of-w_842894.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/shannon-thomas-3888_character-flaws_some-argue-that-there-is-a-spectrum-of-w_842894.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/008/shannon-thomas-3888_character-flaws_some-argue-that-there-is-a-spectrum-of-w_842894.jpg) > ““Some argue that there is a spectrum of what we should expect as normal human character flaws. Narcissism seems to be the gray area where most discord bubbles up. Common teachings on sociopaths and psychopaths center on their intense lack of empathy.”” [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Narcissism occupies a gray zone between normal flaws and severe personality disorders, marked by empathy deficits. **In simple terms:** Narcissism is a gray area with low empathy. Key Takeaway Recognize and address empathy gaps. Themes personality psychology empathy Mood analytical concerned Type educational psychological When to use this quote - therapy - workplace - relationships Key Concepts narcissism sociopathy gray area Questions to Reflect On - How can we support those with low empathy? - What boundaries help protect yourself? A Different Perspective Labeling can stigmatize. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character flaws](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-flaws/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Flaws Narcissism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flaws-narcissism-663881/) [Gray area](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gray-area/) [Lack Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-empathy/) [Lack of empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-of-empathy/) [Narcissism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissism/) [Teachings Sociopaths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teachings-sociopaths-663882/) ## Related quotes > [Normal people have an incredible lack of empathy. They have good emotional empathy, but they don't have much empathy for the autistic kid who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/normal-people-have-an-incredible-lack-of-empathy-they-have-good/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“I believe that a lot of the sociopath’s traits such as charm, manipulation, lying, promiscuity, chameleonism, mask wearing, and lack of empathy are largely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-e-thomas/i-believe-that-a-lot-of-the-sociopath-s-traits-such-as-charm/) [M.E. Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-e-thomas/) > [When people are really suffering, and we know they're suffering, that question can be a very difficult one. Inadvertently, I think without anyone meaning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/when-people-are-really-suffering-and-we-know-they-re-suffering-that/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [“A lack of empathy is the biggest crime of all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-lack-of-empathy-is-the-biggest-crime-of-all/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“with the staring lack of empathy that belongs to murderers and small children.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/with-the-staring-lack-of-empathy-that-belongs-to-murderers-and-small/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Even worse than seeing women's privacy violated on social media is reading the accompanying comments that show such a lack of empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/even-worse-than-seeing-women-s-privacy-violated-on-social-media-is/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) > [People with antisocial personality disorders aren't automatically bad - they simply approach the world with a more ruthless set of lenses. The lack of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eden-robinson/people-with-antisocial-personality-disorders-aren-t-automatically-bad/) [Eden Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eden-robinson/) > [“Psychopaths didn’t have to kill people, after all. The condition was marked by a sincere lack of empathy and an inability to care about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/v-j-chambers/psychopaths-didn-t-have-to-kill-people-after-all-the-condition-was/) [V.J. Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/v-j-chambers/) > [I am truly passionate and concerned about the lack of empathy that people show towards one another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cross/i-am-truly-passionate-and-concerned-about-the-lack-of-empathy-that/) [David Cross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cross/) > [When you are born without the ordinary feelings and emotions shared by most other human beings, life looks different to you. It seems at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boyd-rice/when-you-are-born-without-the-ordinary-feelings-and-emotions-shared/) [Boyd Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boyd-rice/) > [What I am unable to understand with the people who associate themselves with Trump is their willingness to overlook the dishonesty, the indecency, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pfeiffer/what-i-am-unable-to-understand-with-the-people-who-associate/) [Daniel Pfeiffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pfeiffer/) > [I’ve made my life’s work spotting assholes. And you know, I think it’s harder now than ever before because there’s so many socially acceptable…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/merrill-markoe/i-ve-made-my-life-s-work-spotting-assholes-and-you-know-i-think-it-s/) [Merrill Markoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/merrill-markoe/) > [I hope they're present in their lives and feel some kind of empathy. I think a lot of the mistakes that have been made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-hope-they-re-present-in-their-lives-and-feel-some-kind-of-empathy-i/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) > [I believe that lack of empathy is behind many problems, and I believe that it's disrupting our society. In Great Britain, there is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-believe-that-lack-of-empathy-is-behind-many-problems-and-i-believe/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [All wars derive from lack of empathy: the incapacity of one to understand and accept the likeness or difference of another. Whether in nations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marya-mannes/all-wars-derive-from-lack-of-empathy-the-incapacity-of-one-to/) [Marya Mannes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marya-mannes/) ## More by Shannon Thomas > [“By the time survivors are compelled to leave their psychologically abusive relationships, they do not see any other viable option but to leave. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/by-the-time-survivors-are-compelled-to-leave-their-psychologically/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“This is because in the legalistic church, God (or pronounced “Gawd” if you’re in the southern regions of the country) is coming to smite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/this-is-because-in-the-legalistic-church-god-or-pronounced-gawd-if/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“A psychological abuser will find a survivor’s emotional soft spots and exploit them for control and entertainment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/a-psychological-abuser-will-find-a-survivor-s-emotional-soft-spots/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Toxic people are great actors. They will utilize whichever props are available to maintain control in the relationship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/toxic-people-are-great-actors-they-will-utilize-whichever-props-are/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“If we have a high level of emotional capacity, it predisposes us to stay in abusive environments longer. That is not a great thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/if-we-have-a-high-level-of-emotional-capacity-it-predisposes-us-to/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“A Sociopath will run you over, scold you for being in their way, and have a smirk because secretly they get entertainment out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/a-sociopath-will-run-you-over-scold-you-for-being-in-their-way-and/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Toxic people absolutely refuse to have normal human flaws and weaknesses. They do not see themselves as average people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/toxic-people-absolutely-refuse-to-have-normal-human-flaws-and/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Some people wonder if abusers can feel love or affection for their targets. The answer to that depends on your own definition of love.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/some-people-wonder-if-abusers-can-feel-love-or-affection-for-their/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Some are quietly deteriorating the person’s self-esteem through the emotional game of abandonment. Being present physically but checked out emotionally is not a marriage…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/some-are-quietly-deteriorating-the-person-s-self-esteem-through-the/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Denial is a powerful human component that cannot be ignored in the context of psychological abuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/denial-is-a-powerful-human-component-that-cannot-be-ignored-in-the/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Tenderness from empaths will be used against them time and time again by psychological abusers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/tenderness-from-empaths-will-be-used-against-them-time-and-time-again/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“When an abuser gaslights, he or she sets up situations to make the target doubt their own memories and assessments of situations. This is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/when-an-abuser-gaslights-he-or-she-sets-up-situations-to-make-the/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“I use the term survivor to describe what some might call a victim. I hope you can embrace the word survivor because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/i-use-the-term-survivor-to-describe-what-some-might-call-a-victim-i/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“Unraveling the lies and replacing them with truth is at the heart of the recovery journey for survivors of psychological abuse.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/unraveling-the-lies-and-replacing-them-with-truth-is-at-the-heart-of/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) > [“It is a source of power and entertainment for a toxic person to destroy an originally healthy and happy person. This point is often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-thomas/it-is-a-source-of-power-and-entertainment-for-a-toxic-person-to/) [Shannon Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) [Explore all 120 Shannon Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-thomas/) ## More Character flaws quotes > [“I wanted to show how humans can have ugly feelings that they might prefer not to acknowledge; how we’re all caught up in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling-2/i-wanted-to-show-how-humans-can-have-ugly-feelings-that-they-might/) [J. K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling-2/) > [Liberal child welfare experts decided that child abuse was not evidence of a moral or character flaw in the abusing parent. 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It’s fundamental to the human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/the-power-of-the-group-we-all-want-to-feel-a-sense-of-belonging-this/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [“Women will gladly overlook character flaws or a lack of assets in favor of fucking the physical Alpha while she approaches her own sexual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rollo-tomassi/women-will-gladly-overlook-character-flaws-or-a-lack-of-assets-in/) [Rollo Tomassi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rollo-tomassi/) > [I love it when ugliness is beautiful. I love character flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/i-love-it-when-ugliness-is-beautiful-i-love-character-flaws/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [When I was growing up, we learned our history almost as lives of the saints. And it came as a shock, "Oh, Jefferson had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-shearer/when-i-was-growing-up-we-learned-our-history-almost-as-lives-of-the/) [Harry Shearer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-shearer/) > [Lordy, lordy, lordy do I love money. It is a character flaw, no doubt, one that springs from a panicked childhood in which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ian-black/lordy-lordy-lordy-do-i-love-money-it-is-a-character-flaw-no-doubt-one/) [Michael Ian Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ian-black/) > [“Too many disciples neglect their thorn-like qualities. For instance: Opting for singleness doesn't count if you can't attract a mate. 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When we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/all-of-us-have-areas-of-weakness-god-wants-these-character-flaws-to/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) [Browse all 43 Character flaws quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character-flaws/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Some argue that there is a spectrum of what we should expect as normal human character flaws. Narcissism seems to be the gray area where most discord bubbles up. 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