Parker Palmer Quotes

If I stayed angry at other people, I would miss finding friends among those I was angry with.

I'm sensitive to how people are feeling if they feel like they got it wrong, and sensitive to the people who are kind of gloating that they knew all along, they figured it out. I'm loving them through this process, because I know that it took me a while once I found out that it was me.

I fear that we are living in a society, living in a world where forgiving people is becoming more and more difficult to do.

The three most difficult things for a human being are not physical feats or intellectual achievements. They are, first, returning love for hate; second, including the excluded; third, admitting that you are wrong.

I've never been interested in things that sparkle and shine; I'm more interested in people.

If I hadn't read all of Jane Austen and DH Lawrence, Tolstoy and Proust, as well as the more fun stuff, I wouldn't know how to break bad news, how to sympathise, how to be a friend or a lover, because I wouldn't have any idea what was going on in anybody else's mind.

On many issues, empathy can pull us in the wrong direction. The outrage that comes from adopting the perspective of a victim can drive an appetite for retribution.

I think that people who are famous tend to be underdeveloped in their humanity skills.

Even if people do wrong, we're social animals, so what can we do about stopping them doing the same things in future? Saying people are 'bad' or 'evil' is just an unwillingness to engage; an unwillingness to try to empathise. That sanctimonious attitude doesn't help anyone.

I would like to be George Clooney diplomatic. I just don't have the wherewithal yet or the inner serenity.

If you have an ongoing relationship with a person, think of everything positive about that person that you possibly can and enter your interaction from that space. Ignore all the crap that used to drive you up the wall before. You will be amazed at what a change this attitude shift brings about.

People tend to become more emotionally intelligent as they age and mature.

I would never talk bad about anybody, even if they have something derogatory to say about me. I'm the bigger person.

I know I lost my temper, but I tried to be human along the way.

It's good for everyone to understand that they are to love their enemies, simply because your enemies show you things about yourself you need to change. So in actuality enemies are friends in reverse.

As you get older, you realize just figuring out how to be nice to the people in your personal sphere is almost more challenging than trying to change the bigger culture.

A mature person is one who does not think only in absolutes, who is able to be objective even when deeply stirred emotionally, who has learned that there is both good and bad in all people and all things, and who walks humbly and deals charitably with the circumstances of life, knowing that in this world no one is all-knowing and therefore all of us need both love and charity.

As I grow up, the lessons I learn in love and relationships and how we treat each other are hopefully maturing - hopefully.

Love is something that we need to learn.

For most of your career, what you're trying to do is to step into other people's shoes.

If someone is misrepresenting my playing career, I try to correct them. If they say something mean about me I'll let them know it hurts my feelings. But I've noticed that the best thing for me is to show love back to them and show positivity and by doing that you gain a fan.

I'm a believer in forgiveness. I have worked with people who have been in gangs and now dedicate their lives to helping inner city kids. I've run offender services with teachings of responsibility, empathy and understanding of the victims at their heart. I've seen people change.

A lot of people out there are bullies, and they pick on people and call people names. You need to grow up from that, and you need to become a better person.

To get rid of an enemy one must love him.

When you're frustrated with people, when they've made you angry, it just may be because you haven't given them enough time.