To make a difference, we need the practical empathy to realize that the other person doesn’t know what you know, doesn’t believe what you believe and might not want what you want. We have to move from where we are and momentarily understand where they are.
If there's one thing I've learned from working in retail for more than ten years and meeting so many people thanks to my camera, it's that understanding is the final thread that binds us all together. There is no harmony without comprehension, and without harmony, your ability to appreciate individuals is severely limited.
Seth Godin always has the remarkable ability to put into few words the most thought-provoking thoughts.