---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: narcissistic personality disorder. This…"
description: "\"“narcissistic personality disorder. This is the one you probably know something about. Its primary characteristics are grandiosity and lack of empathy...."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/william-landay-7878_characteristics_narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-i_2307118.png"
---

#  narcissistic personality disorder. This is the one you…

![“narcissistic personality disorder. This is the one you probably know something about. Its primary characteristics are grandiosity and lack of empathy.” quote by William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/william-landay-7878_characteristics_narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-i_2307118.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/william-landay-7878_characteristics_narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-i_2307118.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/william-landay-7878_characteristics_narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-i_2307118.png)

> ““narcissistic personality disorder. This is the one you probably know something about. Its primary characteristics are grandiosity and lack of empathy.””

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The disorder features an inflated self‑image and a profound lack of concern for others’ feelings, leading to selfish behavior.

**In simple terms:** Narcissism = ego + no empathy.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate empathy and realistic self‑view.

Themes

psychology personality mental health ego

Mood

analytical concerned clinical

Type

clinical educational

When to use this quote

- clinical assessment
- therapeutic intervention
- relationship counseling
- workplace dynamics

Key Concepts

narcissism empathy deficit grandiosity

Questions to Reflect On

- What triggers empathy in narcissists?
- How can we set boundaries?

A Different Perspective

Self‑awareness may be limited; change is difficult.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/empathy/) [Lack of empathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lack-of-empathy/) [Narcissist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/narcissist/) [Personality disorder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personality-disorder/)

## Related quotes

> [“narcissistic personality disorder, or NPD. According to DSM-IV, NPD is distinguished by a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), need for admiration,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-krakauer/narcissistic-personality-disorder-or-npd-according-to-dsm-iv-npd-is/)

[Jon Krakauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-krakauer/)

> [“the narcissistic personality disorder are: Grandiosity, extreme self-involvement, and lack of interest and empathy for others, in spite of the pursuit of others to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/the-narcissistic-personality-disorder-are-grandiosity-extreme-self/)

[John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/)

> [“Narcissistic personality disorder is named for Narcissus, from Greek mythology, who fell in love with his own reflection. Freud used the term to describe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-w-black/narcissistic-personality-disorder-is-named-for-narcissus-from-greek/)

Donald W. Black

> [I believe that narcissistic personality disorder is a middle- and upper-class disease because you have to have the means to indulge it; you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-colin-campbell/i-believe-that-narcissistic-personality-disorder-is-a-middle-and/)

[Lady Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-colin-campbell/)

> [There is no cure for narcissistic personality disorder. If you have a relationship with someone who has it, there will be a certain level…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lady-colin-campbell/there-is-no-cure-for-narcissistic-personality-disorder-if-you-have-a/)

[Lady Colin Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lady-colin-campbell/)

> [Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) cannot be medicated. It is treatable only through therapy. The problem is therapy is rarely sought by the afflicted. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dunn/narcissistic-personality-disorder-npd-cannot-be-medicated-it-is/)

[Andy Dunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dunn/)

> [“There came a time in my life when I had to admit to myself that I have some very clear narcissistic tendencies. Ironically, it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-engel/there-came-a-time-in-my-life-when-i-had-to-admit-to-myself-that-i/)

[Beverly Engel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beverly-engel/)

> [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/)

> [“Narcissists only play for their own business, whereas Distortionists play with other’s business only to gain personal advantage. If you are both, then you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashish-patel/narcissists-only-play-for-their-own-business-whereas-distortionists/)

Ashish Patel

> [“A leader who allows their subordinates to suffer as proof of who is the boss likely quenches their thirst with salt water from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/a-leader-who-allows-their-subordinates-to-suffer-as-proof-of-who-is/)

[Donavan Nelson Butler, Master Sergeant US Army](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donavan-nelson-butler-master-sergeant-us-army/)

> [“Simply because a person has a more avoidant attachment style does not in and of itself make them a narcissist. Second, “avoidant” is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-tanasugarn/simply-because-a-person-has-a-more-avoidant-attachment-style-does-not/)

Annie Tanasugarn

> [Narcissism, like the other personality disorders, is a condition that's known as ego-syntonic. In other words, the paranoid person really does believe that people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/narcissism-like-the-other-personality-disorders-is-a-condition-that-s/)

[Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/)

> [“The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, which is the reference manual used by mental health professionals to diagnose psychological problems, defines the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-berent/the-diagnostic-and-statistical-manual-of-mental-disorders-which-is/)

[Jonathan Berent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-berent/)

> [Narcissism falls along the axis of what psychologists call personality disorders, one of a group that includes antisocial, dependent, histrionic, avoidant and borderline personalities.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-kluger/narcissism-falls-along-the-axis-of-what-psychologists-call/)

[Jeffrey Kluger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-kluger/)

> [I know," he said in almost bored contemplation. "My manners suck. I like to chalk it up to a dissatisfying childhood." "I'd chalk it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darynda-jones/i-know-he-said-in-almost-bored-contemplation-my-manners-suck-i-like/)

[Darynda Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darynda-jones/)

## More by William Landay

> [“no one worth knowing can be quite known, no one worth possessing can be quite possessed—but”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/no-one-worth-knowing-can-be-quite-known-no-one-worth-possessing-can/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“I do not believe in the court system, at least I do not think it is especially good at finding the truth. No lawyer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/i-do-not-believe-in-the-court-system-at-least-i-do-not-think-it-is/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [An emotion is a thought, yes, an idea, but it is also a sensation, an ache in your body. Desire, love, hate, fear, repulsion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/an-emotion-is-a-thought-yes-an-idea-but-it-is-also-a-sensation-an/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“You can’t do it alone, that’s the thing. You have to remember there are other people out there who have gone through it, who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/you-can-t-do-it-alone-that-s-the-thing-you-have-to-remember-there-are/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“All they got locked up in this hole is my body. That's all they got, my body, not me. I'm everywhere, see? Everywhere you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/all-they-got-locked-up-in-this-hole-is-my-body-that-s-all-they-got-my/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“I rather doubt he had the sense to see the truth: that there are wounds worse than fatal, which the law's little binary distinctions-guilty/innocent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/i-rather-doubt-he-had-the-sense-to-see-the-truth-that-there-are/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“They were chosen for their perfect ignorance of these things. That is how the system works. In the end, the lawyers and judges happily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/they-were-chosen-for-their-perfect-ignorance-of-these-things-that-is/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [Crime and legal stories, broadly speaking, are just where my interest happens to lie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/crime-and-legal-stories-broadly-speaking-are-just-where-my-interest/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [When I was 30 or so - by that time I had become an assistant D.A. - I decided I would try to write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/when-i-was-30-or-so-by-that-time-i-had-become-an-assistant-d-a-i/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“It was a limitation of human consciousness: We live only in the future and past, we cannot perceive now. Now occupies no space, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/it-was-a-limitation-of-human-consciousness-we-live-only-in-the-future/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“You're staring.' 'You're my wife. I'm allowed to stare.' 'Is that the rule?' 'Yes. Stare, leer, ogle, anything I want. Trust me. I'm a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/you-re-staring-you-re-my-wife-i-m-allowed-to-stare-is-that-the-rule/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“It is a common architectural strategy to build courtrooms without windows, to enhance the effect of a chamber isolated from the everyday world, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/it-is-a-common-architectural-strategy-to-build-courtrooms-without/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“but good friendships require complementary personalities, not identical ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/but-good-friendships-require-complementary-personalities-not/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“…I never expected to lose in court. In practice, I did lose, of course. Every lawyer loses, just as every baseball player makes an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/i-never-expected-to-lose-in-court-in-practice-i-did-lose-of-course/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

> [“Next to me was Jacob, this riddle Laurie and I had made. His size, his resemblance to me, the likelihood that he would fill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/next-to-me-was-jacob-this-riddle-laurie-and-i-had-made-his-size-his/)

[William Landay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

[Explore all 86 William Landay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/)

## More Characteristics quotes

> [One of the key characteristics of the comic book medium is that it is not brought to life by just one voice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-lee/one-of-the-key-characteristics-of-the-comic-book-medium-is-that-it-is/)

[Jim Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-lee/)

> [“What makes a good leader? I ask myself this every day, and then as I begin to list off characteristics I realize I’m describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/what-makes-a-good-leader-i-ask-myself-this-every-day-and-then-as-i/)

[Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/)

> [Those who know New York City primarily through tourism or mass culture may think of us natives as possessing certain shared characteristics, not all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-dee/those-who-know-new-york-city-primarily-through-tourism-or-mass/)

[Jonathan Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-dee/)

> [Sometimes, Ms. Lane," he said, "one must break with one's past to embrace one's future. It is never an easy thing to do. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-marie-moning/sometimes-ms-lane-he-said-one-must-break-with-one-s-past-to-embrace/)

[Karen Marie Moning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-marie-moning/)

> [Just because someone thinks they remember something in detail, with confidence and with emotion, does not mean that it actually happened, .. False memories…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-loftus/just-because-someone-thinks-they-remember-something-in-detail-with/)

[Elizabeth Loftus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-loftus/)

> [Consequently, citizen legislators, rotating back to their communities after a short period of public service—considered an indispensable and routine characteristic and design of representative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/consequently-citizen-legislators-rotating-back-to-their-communities/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A second characteristic of the process which for me is the good life, is that it involves an increasingly tendency to live fully in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/a-second-characteristic-of-the-process-which-for-me-is-the-good-life/)

[Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/)

> [Philanthropy is one of the most hopeful characteristics of our time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-livermore/philanthropy-is-one-of-the-most-hopeful-characteristics-of-our-time/)

Mary Livermore

> [God has given this way of life to Israel: to abstain from everything which is contrary to nature, that is to say, anger, fits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poemen/god-has-given-this-way-of-life-to-israel-to-abstain-from-everything/)

[Poemen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poemen/)

> [The most significant moment will be when we stop referring to the hiring of qualified women (and racial, ethnic and religious minorities) as significant.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-trask/the-most-significant-moment-will-be-when-we-stop-referring-to-the/)

Amy Trask

> [Iron and coal dominated everywhere, from grey to black: the black boots, the black stove-pipe hat, the black coach or carriage, the black iron…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-mumford/iron-and-coal-dominated-everywhere-from-grey-to-black-the-black-boots/)

[Lewis Mumford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-mumford/)

> [The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. What is called resignation is confirmed desperation. From the desperate city you go into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/the-mass-of-men-lead-lives-of-quiet-desperation-what-is-called/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [I think it would be just to say the most essential characteristic of mind is memory, using this word in its broadest sense to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/i-think-it-would-be-just-to-say-the-most-essential-characteristic-of/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [ \[Joseph\] Stalin closes the exposition of these \[Leon Trotsky\] ideas with the words, "Such are in general the characteristic features of \[Vladimir\] Lenin's conception… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-trotsky/joseph-stalin-closes-the-exposition-of-these-leon-trotsky-ideas-with/)

[Leon Trotsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-trotsky/)

> [It is true that 'I seem to see a table' does not entail 'I see a table'; but 'I seem to feel a pain'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/galen-strawson/it-is-true-that-i-seem-to-see-a-table-does-not-entail-i-see-a-table/)

[Galen Strawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/galen-strawson/)

Browse all 1,325 Characteristics quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“narcissistic personality disorder. This is the one you probably know something about. Its primary characteristics are grandiosity and lack of empathy.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "William Landay"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-is-the-one-you-probably-know/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Characteristics"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-is-the-one-you-probably-know/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/william-landay-7878_characteristics_narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-i_2307118.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/william-landay-7878_characteristics_narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-i_2307118.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/700/william-landay-7878_characteristics_narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-i_2307118.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“narcissistic personality disorder. This is the one you probably know something about. Its primary…” — William Landay",
                "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": "William Landay",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-landay/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“narcissistic personality disorder. This is the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-is-the-one-you-probably-know/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-landay/narcissistic-personality-disorder-this-is-the-one-you-probably-know/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
