Empathy Quote by Sue Miller
““You might have thought I’d worry about him, about causing him pain or at least embarrassment. I simply didn’t. I felt the kind of desperation, I think, that cancels the possibility of empathy. That makes you unkind. When I described myself as I was at that time to Daniel, I often said to him, “You wouldn’t have liked me then.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Lost Hours, 2015
Desperation can erode empathy, leading to unkind behavior and self‑isolation.
In simple terms: Desperation blocks empathy and kindness.
Key Takeaway
Recognize desperation and seek empathy.
Themes
empathy
desperation
self‑reflection
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
psychological
literary
When to use this quote
- personal crises
- conflict resolution
- self‑awareness
Key Concepts
emotional isolation
relationship strain
Questions to Reflect On
- What drives your desperation?
- How can you rebuild empathy?
A Different Perspective
Empathy can be restored through open dialogue and support.
![“I tried to talk about it to Lily, to make her see that for once, I'd earned a feeling. [p. 174]” quote by Sue Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7c6/sue-miller-18553_feeling_i-tried-to-talk-about-it-to-lily-to-make_368900.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)
