Assistance Quote by Oliver Goldsmith
“Pity, though it may often relieve, is but, at best, a short-lived passion, and seldom affords distress more than transitory assistance; with some it scarce lasts from the first impulse till the hand can be put into the pocket.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Moral Reflections, 1765
Describes pity as a fleeting, superficial relief that rarely provides lasting comfort.
In simple terms: Pity is short‑lived and often ineffective.
Key Takeaway
Seek deeper empathy beyond fleeting pity.
Themes
empathy
humanity
emotion
Mood
reflective
somber
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- comforting grieving friends
- volunteering
- listening without judgment
- providing practical aid
Key Concepts
transience
superficial comfort
psychology
Questions to Reflect On
- Can pity become lasting support?
- When does pity turn into help?
A Different Perspective
Pity can become performative without action.
![“[T]here are depths of thousands of miles which are hidden from our inquiry. The only tidings we have from those unfathomable regions are by means of volcanoes, those burning mountains that seem to discharge their materials from the lowest abysses of the earth.” quote by Oliver Goldsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b7d/oliver-goldsmith-772_abyss_t-here-are-depths-of-thousands-of-miles_88121.jpg)
