Quotations

"There is a story of a man on all fours under a street lamp, searching for something. A policeman passing by asked what he was doing. “Looking for my car keys,” replied the man, who appeared slightly drunk. “Did you drop them here?” inquired the officer. “No,” answered the man, “I dropped them in the alley.” Seeing the policeman’s baffled expression, the man hastened to explain, “But the light is much better here."

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"Your presence is the most precious gift you can give to another human being."

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"Empathy is a respectful understanding of what others are experiencing. Instead of offering empathy, we often have a strong urge to give advice or reassurance and to explain our own position or feeling. Empathy, however, calls upon us to empty our mind and listen to others with our whole being."

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"We are never angry because of what others say or do. It is our thinking that makes us angry."

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"In empathy, you don't speak at all. You speak with the eyes. You speak with your body. If you say any words at all, it's because you are not sure you are with the person. So you may say some words. But the words are not empathy. Empathy is when the other person feels the connection with what's alive in you."

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"Regardless of our many differences, we all have the same needs. What differs is the strategy for fulfilling these needs."

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"When we listen for their feelings and needs, we no longer see people as monsters."

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"Instead of playing the game 'Making Life Wonderful', we often play the game called 'Who's Right'. Do you know that game? It's a game where everybody loses."

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"The best way I can get understanding from another person is to give this person the understanding, too. If I want them to hear my needs and feelings, I first need to empathize."

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"In Nonviolent Communication, we recognize that when people say 'no' to us, they are saying 'yes' to something else. We listen for the 'yes'. Then we can stay connected to others, understanding what's alive for them. And we don't have to take the 'no' personally!"

— Marshall Rosenberg, American psychologist, born 1934

"And still the brain continues to yearn, continues to burn, foolishly, with desire. My old man's brain is mocked by a body that still longs to stretch in the sun and form a beautiful shape in someone else's gaze, to lie under a blue sky and dream of helpless, selfless love, to behold itself, illuminated, in the golden light of another's eyes."

— Meg Rosoff, American writer, born 1956

"Women who stay true to themselves are always more interesting and beautiful to me: women like Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keeffe and Anna Magnani - women who have style, chic, allure and elegance. They didn't submit to any standard of beauty - they defined it."

— Isabella Rossellini, Italian model, born 1952

"I always encourage women to let their individuality show by not covering up what they perceive as flaws. When I see a woman with the natural wrinkles of time on her face, I do not see the wrinkles at all, but when I see a woman trying to cover them up with too much foundation or concealer, all I see are her wrinkles."

— Isabella Rossellini, Italian model, born 1952

"I loved modeling. I absolutely loved it. I was so happy to get the cover of 'Vogue' - 23 times. I keep each copy. I made more money as a model than as an actress or as a filmmaker. In monetary terms, beauty pays more than anything."

— Isabella Rossellini, Italian model, born 1952