Empathy — Thich Nhat Hanh

EMPATHY
When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you
don’t blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not
doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or
less sun. You never blame the lettuce. Yet, it we have
problems with our friends or family, we blame the
other person. But if we know how to take care of them,
they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no
positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using
reason and argument. That is my experience. No
blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understand-
ing. It you understand, and you show that you under-
stand, you can love, and the situation will change.

Thich Nhat Hanh