"There are two kinds of pity. One, the weak and sentimental kind, which is really no more than the heart's impatience to be rid as quickly as possible of the painful emotion aroused by the sight of another's unhappiness, that pity which is not compassion, but only an instinctive desire to fortify one's own soul agains the sufferings of another; and the other, the only one at counts, the unsentimental but creative kind, which knows what it is about and is determined to hold out, in patience and forbearance, to the very limit of its strength and even beyond."

33 likes

Source: Beware of Pity. Book by Stefan Zweig, 1939.

About the author

Stefan Zweig

Writer

Stefan Zweig was an Austrian writer known for his psychological insight and exploration of human emotions, particularly in works like 'The World of Yesterday.'

All quotes by Stefan Zweig →

Same author

More quotes by Stefan Zweig

See all →
Stefan Zweig Writer

"In history as in human life, regret does not bring back a lost moment and a thousand years will not recover something lost in a single hour."

Read quote
Stefan Zweig Writer

"Time to leave now, get out of this room, go somewhere, anywhere; sharpen this feeling of happiness and freedom, stretch your limbs, fill your eyes, be awake, wider awake, vividly awake in every sense and every pore."

Read quote
Stefan Zweig Writer

"Freedom is not possible without authority - otherwise it would turn into chaos and authority is not possible without freedom - otherwise it would turn into tyranny."

Read quote