It has always been my temptation to put myself in other people's shoes: even into a horse's shoes as he strains before the heavy dray; into a ballerina's points as she feels age weigh upon her spring; into Cinderella's slippers as she danced till midnight; into the jackboot that kicks; into the Tommy's boots that tramp; into the magic seven-leaguers. With experience of age I have learned to control this habit of sympathy which deforms truth.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Empathy can lead to distorted truth; the author learns to temper this habit with age.
- In plain terms
- Putting yourself in others' shoes can warp reality, so balance empathy.
- What can you take from it?
- Use empathy wisely, not as a default lens.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- When has empathy misled you?
Another view
Some empathy is essential for connection.
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