--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Compassion doesn't, of course, mean…" description: "\"Compassion doesn't, of course, mean feeling sorry for people, or pity, which is how the word has become emasculated in a way.\" — Karen Armstrong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/karen-armstrong-1053_compassion_compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feelin_2669219.jpg" --- # Compassion doesn't, of course, mean feeling sorry for… ![“Compassion doesn't, of course, mean feeling sorry for people, or pity, which is how the word has become emasculated in a way.” quote by Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/karen-armstrong-1053_compassion_compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feelin_2669219.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/karen-armstrong-1053_compassion_compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feelin_2669219.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/karen-armstrong-1053_compassion_compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feelin_2669219.jpg) > “Compassion doesn't, of course, mean feeling sorry for people, or pity, which is how the word has become emasculated in a way.” [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Compassion is more than pity; it requires active empathy and a willingness to alleviate suffering. **In simple terms:** Compassion goes beyond feeling sorry. Key Takeaway Practice active empathy. Themes compassion empathy pity action Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - volunteering - counseling - community service Key Concepts ethics philosophy psychology Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn compassion into action? - What distinguishes empathy from pity? A Different Perspective Pity can be passive and unhelpful. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Compassion Doesn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion-doesn-1412128/) [Feeling sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feeling-sorry/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mean/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [People Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people-pity-1184947/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-word-2489240/) [Sorry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sorry/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [People who pity themselves think, 'Why would I try to do anything? I'll just fail.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/people-who-pity-themselves-think-why-would-i-try-to-do-anything-i-ll/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [Compassion and pity are not the same: pity is looking down on someone, feeling sorry for them and offering nothing; compassion is seeing their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasinda-wilder/compassion-and-pity-are-not-the-same-pity-is-looking-down-on-someone/) [Jasinda Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasinda-wilder/) > [“Feeling sorry for yourself is a universal solvent of salvation.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-hoffman/feeling-sorry-for-yourself-is-a-universal-solvent-of-salvation/) [Paul Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-hoffman/) > [“If there is one thing worse than self-pity, it was other people's pity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-j-duggan/if-there-is-one-thing-worse-than-self-pity-it-was-other-people-s-pity/) [C.J. Duggan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-j-duggan/) > [“Loving people are compassionate towards others. However, if that compassion doesn’t start at home and doesn’t include self-forgiveness, it is incomplete and lopsided.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-vaillancourt/loving-people-are-compassionate-towards-others-however-if-that/) [Annette Vaillancourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-vaillancourt/) > [Culture now spreads at central nervous system speed. It’s a shame that compassion doesn’t.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-cavanagh/culture-now-spreads-at-central-nervous-system-speed-it-s-a-shame-that/) [Dean Cavanagh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-cavanagh/) > [“Compassion doesn't arise from the belief that the evil in the world is somebody else's fault or that it is a result of poor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-sprink/compassion-doesn-t-arise-from-the-belief-that-the-evil-in-the-world/) [Holly Sprink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-sprink/) > [“Its a cold comfort to have people pity you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heather-davis/its-a-cold-comfort-to-have-people-pity-you/) [Heather Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heather-davis/) > [“Compassion doesn't have to be learned. It's part of our fabric. We have just been programmed to neglect it over time, and THAT is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-marques/compassion-doesn-t-have-to-be-learned-it-s-part-of-our-fabric-we-have/) [Joan Marques](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-marques/) > [Compassion doesn't weaken leadership, it makes it stronger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/compassion-doesn-t-weaken-leadership-it-makes-it-stronger/) [Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/) > [“How ugly most people are! It's a pity they don't try to make up for it by being agreeable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-somerset-maugham/how-ugly-most-people-are-it-s-a-pity-they-don-t-try-to-make-up-for-it/) [W. Somerset Maugham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-somerset-maugham/) > [I don't want people's pity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-plum/i-don-t-want-people-s-pity/) [Kelsey Plum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-plum/) > [“I think of so many people who are no more, and I pity them. Yet they are not so much to be pitied, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-cioran/i-think-of-so-many-people-who-are-no-more-and-i-pity-them-yet-they/) [Emil Cioran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-cioran/) > [There are a few things that'll move people to pity, a few, but the trouble is, when they've been used several times, they no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertolt-brecht/there-are-a-few-things-that-ll-move-people-to-pity-a-few-but-the/) [Bertolt Brecht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertolt-brecht/) > [“When people pity you, it's like they don't realize that the exact same thing is coming for them. And then I feel embarrassed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-henry/when-people-pity-you-it-s-like-they-don-t-realize-that-the-exact-same/) [Emily Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-henry/) ## More by Karen Armstrong > [If it is written and read with serious attention, a novel, like a myth or any great work of art, can become an initiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-it-is-written-and-read-with-serious-attention-a-novel-like-a-myth/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [A gentleman is not born but crafted. He had to work on himself in the same way as a sculptor shaped a rough stone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/a-gentleman-is-not-born-but-crafted-he-had-to-work-on-himself-in-the/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [I was a lousy nun. I couldn't do it. I couldn't find God. It wasn't suitable for me. It is suitable for very few…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-was-a-lousy-nun-i-couldn-t-do-it-i-couldn-t-find-god-it-wasn-t/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [I have become convinced, through my studies, that the only way to achieve a safe, just and viable world is to live by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-have-become-convinced-through-my-studies-that-the-only-way-to/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [In the past some of the most influential Jewish, Christian and Muslim theologians, such as Maimonides, Aquinas and Ibn Sina, made it clear that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/in-the-past-some-of-the-most-influential-jewish-christian-and-muslim/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [The great task of our time is to build a global society, where people can live together in peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/the-great-task-of-our-time-is-to-build-a-global-society-where-people/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [We want to create, never mind the leaders or the bishops or chief rabbis or imams, or Popes. We want to create a grassroots…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/we-want-to-create-never-mind-the-leaders-or-the-bishops-or-chief/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [If we don't manage to implement the Golden Rule globally, so that we treat all peoples, wherever and whoever they may be, as though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/if-we-don-t-manage-to-implement-the-golden-rule-globally-so-that-we/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [After I left the convent, for 15 years I was worn out with religion, I wanted nothing whatever to do with it. I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/after-i-left-the-convent-for-15-years-i-was-worn-out-with-religion-i/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“As we have seen, so many of the things we once took for granted have proved unreliable that we may have to “forget” old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/as-we-have-seen-so-many-of-the-things-we-once-took-for-granted-have/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Yet a personal God can become a grave liability. He can be a mere idol carved in our own image, a projection of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/yet-a-personal-god-can-become-a-grave-liability-he-can-be-a-mere-idol/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“I discovered that I felt at home and alive in the silence, which compelled me to enter my interior world and around there. Without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/i-discovered-that-i-felt-at-home-and-alive-in-the-silence-which/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [Each of the world religions has its own particular genius, its own special insight into the nature and requirements of compassion, and has something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/each-of-the-world-religions-has-its-own-particular-genius-its-own/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“all rightly guided religion that submitted wholly to God, refused to worship man-made deities and preached that justice and equality came from the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/all-rightly-guided-religion-that-submitted-wholly-to-god-refused-to/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) > [“advocates of evolutionary theory since Thomas H. Huxley (1825–95) have found altruism problematic.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/advocates-of-evolutionary-theory-since-thomas-h-huxley-1825-95-have/) [Karen Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) [Explore all 296 Karen Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/) ## More Compassion quotes > [Half the misery of human life might be extinguished if men would alleviate the general curse they lie under by mutual offices of compassion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-addison/half-the-misery-of-human-life-might-be-extinguished-if-men-would/) [Joseph Addison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-addison/) > [“I fight with love and kindness as my weapons and compassion as my defense.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debasish-mridha/i-fight-with-love-and-kindness-as-my-weapons-and-compassion-as-my/) [Debasish Mridha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debasish-mridha/) > [I really enjoy making people laugh; I've discovered that's a great technique. That's as powerful as stirring their sorrow, stirring their compassion, because that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/i-really-enjoy-making-people-laugh-i-ve-discovered-that-s-a-great/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [“If you refuse to use physical force, then you will be at the mercy of your oppressor!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/segun-magbagbeola/if-you-refuse-to-use-physical-force-then-you-will-be-at-the-mercy-of/) [Segun Magbagbeola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/segun-magbagbeola/) > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I could not have slept tonight if I had left that helpless little creature to perish on the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/i-could-not-have-slept-tonight-if-i-had-left-that-helpless-little/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“Helpers in every corner, helpers in every hood. That's how we'll make the move, to reform from rude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/helpers-in-every-corner-helpers-in-every-hood-that-s-how-we-ll-make/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [There are a number of qualities which are important for mental peace, but from the little experience I have, I believe that one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/there-are-a-number-of-qualities-which-are-important-for-mental-peace/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [May the gods have mercy on whoever pisses them off, because Zarek and Jericho will have none for them. (Madoc) You’d better be glad…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/may-the-gods-have-mercy-on-whoever-pisses-them-off-because-zarek-and/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [When you need empathy, you cannot give empathy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-b-rosenberg/when-you-need-empathy-you-cannot-give-empathy/) [Marshall B. Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-b-rosenberg/) > [But victimhood was seductive, a release from responsibility and caring. Fear would be transmuted into weary resignation; failure would no longer generate guilt but,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/but-victimhood-was-seductive-a-release-from-responsibility-and-caring/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) > [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/) [Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/) > [“la ilaha ilallah muhammadun rasulullah, alaihi salatullah wa alihi wal ahibba "shine your mercy like the sun, and be gracious as the earth let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-al-habib/la-ilaha-ilallah-muhammadun-rasulullah-alaihi-salatullah-wa-alihi-wal/) [Talib al Habib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-al-habib/) > [The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-darwin/the-love-for-all-living-creatures-is-the-most-noble-attribute-of-man/) [Charles Darwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-darwin/) [Browse all 9,892 Compassion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Compassion doesn't, of course, mean feeling sorry for people, or pity, which is how the word has become emasculated in a way.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Karen Armstrong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feeling-sorry-for-people-or-pity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Compassion" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feeling-sorry-for-people-or-pity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/karen-armstrong-1053_compassion_compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feelin_2669219.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/karen-armstrong-1053_compassion_compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feelin_2669219.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/756/karen-armstrong-1053_compassion_compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feelin_2669219.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Compassion doesn't, of course, mean feeling sorry for people, or pity, which is how the word has become…” — Karen Armstrong", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Karen Armstrong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-armstrong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Compassion doesn't, of course, mean feeling...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feeling-sorry-for-people-or-pity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-armstrong/compassion-doesn-t-of-course-mean-feeling-sorry-for-people-or-pity/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```