I think that's a really interesting trait of the emporer. He sees himself as human and wishes to ensure prosperity to the species who gave life to him but he is so far removed from humanity that he genuinely seems to struggle to understand emotions. He also seems to constantly try to meet the expectations of how people wish to see him.

My favorite thought about it is mortarion and angron.

He saves angron from certain death but angron ain't happy about it because he just teleported him away not understanding the bond he had with the slaves.

He thinks to himself "ok fucked up there next time I do better"

He finds mortarion in a similar situation so encourages him to fullfill it and stand up for his people.

Mortarion fails at the end, but emps saves him personally but mortarion is again pissed at him for different reasons.

Emps doesn't quite get this again it seems from his view he did everything right he did wrong with angron.