Compare the Difference Between Similar Terms

Difference Between

Home / People / Behaviour / Difference Between Pity and Compassion

Difference Between Pity and Compassion

November 24, 2016 Posted by Hasa

Key Difference – Pity vs Compassion
 

Pity and compassion are strong feelings we experience whenever we see the suffering or misfortune. Although many people assume that there is no difference between pity and compassion, there is a subtle difference between them. Pity only refers to the strong feeling of sorrow and sympathy whereas compassion refers to the awareness and understanding of someone’s suffering as well as the desire to help them. This is the key difference between pity and compassion.

What is Pity?

Pity is a strong feeling of sorrow and sympathy for someone. This feeling is aroused by seeing the misfortune or suffering of another. Pity is a benign feeling. However, in modern usage, the term pity can have unsympathetic connotations of feelings of superiority or condescension. This is because pity is usually a feeling of sadness and sympathy; it doesn’t actually denote the desire to help someone in need. Pity can also make you see helpless or troubled people as victims, which in turn results in you looking at them condescendingly. Moreover, when you pity someone, you only feel sorry for someone, you may not try to understand that person’s problems.

Key Difference -  Pity vs  Compassion

What is Compassion?

Compassion is a deep awareness of the suffering of another which is accompanied by the desire to help or relieve someone from the suffering. For example, if you see someone sick and want to help that person to get better, that feeling can be described as compassion. This wish or desire to help those in need is the main difference between pity and compassion. When you feel compassion towards others, you won’t see them as helpless victims; instead, you’d see them as mere individuals who are in trouble.

Difference Between Pity and Compassion

What is the difference between Pity and Compassion?

Definition:

Pity is a strong feeling of sorrow and sympathy aroused by the misfortunes or sufferings of another.

Compassion is a deep awareness of the suffering of another which is accompanied by the desire to help or relieve someone from the suffering.

Desire to Help Others:

Pity is often not accompanied by the desire to help others.

Compassion is accompanied by a genuine desire to help those in need.

Perspective:

Pity may make you see the person in trouble merely as a helpless victim.

Compassion doesn’t make you see the person trouble as a victim; you’d see that person simply as a person in need.

Connotations:

Pity may be associated with negative connotations such as condescension and superiority.

Compassion is not associated with any negative connotations.

Image Courtesy:

“Acharya Shri Chandanaji – Compassion” By Anupriya19 at English Wikipedia (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

“Sad Man And Rain” (Public Domain) via Public Domain Pictures

 

Related posts:

Difference Between Love and Romance Difference Between Mercy and GraceDifference Between Mercy and Grace Compassion vs ServiceDifference Between Compassion and Service Difference Between Empathy and Sympathy-SympathyDifference Between Empathy and Sympathy Difference Between Passionate and CompassionateDifference Between Passionate and Compassionate

Filed Under: Behaviour Tagged With: Compare Pity and Compassion, Compassion, Compassion Characteristics, Compassion Connotations, Compassion Definition, pity, Pity and Compassion Differences, Pity Characteristics, Pity Connotations, Pity Definition, Pity vs Compassion

About the Author: Hasa

Hasa is a BA graduate in the field of Humanities and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in the field of English language and literature. Her areas of interests include language, literature, linguistics and culture.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Request Article

Featured Posts

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and Cold Symptoms

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and SARS

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Influenza

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

Difference Between Coronavirus and Covid 19

You May Like

Difference Between Xcode and Swift

Difference Between Xcode and Swift

Difference Between Molecule and Mixture

Difference Between Molecule and Mixture

Difference Between Straight and Branched Chain Alkanes

Difference Between Straight and Branched Chain Alkanes

What is the Difference Between Filter Photometer and Spectrophotometer

What is the Difference Between Filter Photometer and Spectrophotometer

Difference Between Abaya and Burqa

Latest Posts

  • What is the Difference Between Papules and Pustules
  • What is the Difference Between Ubiquinol and CoQ10
  • What is the Difference Between Ubiquinone and Plastoquinone
  • What is the Difference Between Heliophytes and Sciophytes
  • What is the Difference Between Alpha Arbutin and Vitamin C
  • What is the Difference Between Liquid Paraffin and Glycerin
  • Home
  • Vacancies
  • About
  • Request Article
  • Contact Us

Copyright © 2010-2018 Difference Between. All rights reserved. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal.