Narcissistic Injury Quote by Wendy T. Behary
““This limits, or even eliminates, their capacity to be empathic and remorseful. You may have heard the term “narcissistic injury.” This refers to the dynamic wherein, for a narcissist, saying a simple “I’m sorry” is like saying, “I am the worst human being on earth.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Narcissist's Playbook by Wendy T. Behary, 2017
Narcissists struggle to feel empathy or guilt; a simple apology feels like admitting they are wholly terrible.
In simple terms: Narcissists can’t easily feel remorse.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the limitation and set boundaries.
Themes
empathy
remorse
narcissism
psychology
Mood
frustrated
concerned
Type
psychological
advice
When to use this quote
- therapy sessions
- family conflicts
- workplace disputes
- personal relationships
Key Concepts
Narcissistic injury
self‑concept
defense mechanisms
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this affect your ability to set limits?
- Can empathy be taught to a narcissist?
A Different Perspective
Narcissists may eventually learn empathy with intensive therapy.
![“Since [narcissists] deep down, feel themselves to be faultless, it is inevitable that when they are in conflict with the world they will invariably perceive the conflict as the world's fault. Since they must deny their own badness, they must perceive others as bad. They project their own evil onto…” quote by M. Scott Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/055/m-scott-peck-1921_badness_since-narcissists-deep-down-feel-themsel_1410275.jpg)
