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About this quote

What does it mean?
Intense personal pain can blind someone to the suffering of others.
In plain terms
Someone in too much pain cannot take others pain seriously.
What can you take from it?
Pain can block empathy.

Where it applies

  • interpersonal conflict
  • counseling
  • support groups

Putting it to work

  • practice patience
  • offer space

Questions to consider

  • How do you help someone in pain?
  • Can pain stop understanding?

Another view

Ignoring pain might worsen isolation.

More from Orson Scott Card

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  3. I looked for perfection, and I found something better.

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