You know, “We are all born with the raw materials…” is such a powerful truth. It means our potential for empathy and self-awareness is innate, but our life’s journey is what truly hones it. This isn’t about fixed traits; it’s about the skills we develop through experience.
Share Image Quote:Table of Contents
Meaning
The core message is simple: Emotional intelligence isn’t a gift given to a lucky few. It’s a universal human potential that gets refined, for better or worse, by what we go through.
Explanation
Look, I’ve seen this play out so many times. We all start with the same basic hardware—the capacity to feel, to connect, to empathize. That’s the “raw materials.” But then life happens. A challenging childhood might teach you to be hyper-vigilant to others’ emotions, sharpening that skill. Or a toxic work environment might force you to build resilience. It’s not about what you’re born with; it’s about how your experiences sculpt those innate abilities. The real work is in becoming conscious of that sculpting process.
Quote Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Category | Personal Development (697) |
| Topics | emotion general (105), experience (26), growth (413) |
| Literary Style | clear (348), reflective (255) |
| Emotion / Mood | hopeful (357), realistic (354) |
| Overall Quote Score | 80 (256) |
Origin & Factcheck
This comes straight from Daniel Goleman’s 1995 book, Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ, which really popularized the concept in the United States. You sometimes see similar sentiments floating around, but this phrasing is uniquely Goleman’s.
Attribution Summary
| Context | Attributes |
|---|---|
| Author | Dr Daniel Goleman (50) |
| Source Type | Book (4032) |
| Source/Book Name | Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ (54) |
| Origin Timeperiod | Contemporary (1615) |
| Original Language | English (3668) |
| Authenticity | Verified (4032) |
Author Bio
Daniel Goleman is a psychologist and bestselling author whose journalism at The New York Times brought brain and behavior science to a wide audience. He earned a BA from Amherst and a PhD in psychology from Harvard, and studied in India on a Harvard fellowship. Goleman’s research and writing helped mainstream emotional intelligence, leadership competencies, attention, and contemplative science. He co-founded CASEL and a leading research consortium on EI at work. The Daniel Goleman book list includes Emotional Intelligence, Working with Emotional Intelligence, Primal Leadership, Social Intelligence, Focus, and Altered Traits.
| Official Website
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | We are all born with the raw materials of emotional intelligence; it’s our life experiences that shape how well we use them |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 1995; ISBN: 978-0553375060; Last edition: 2005; Number of pages: 352 |
| Where is it? | Chapter: Family Crucible, Approximate page 150 from 2005 edition |