--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Pity can purge us of hostility and arouse…" description: "\"Pity can purge us of hostility and arouse feelings of identification with the characters, but it can also be a consoling reassurance which leads us to ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/richard-wright-4088_believe_pity-can-purge-us-of-hostility-and-arous_1496174.jpg" --- # Pity can purge us of hostility and arouse feelings of… ![“Pity can purge us of hostility and arouse feelings of identification with the characters, but it can also be a consoling reassurance which leads us to believe that we have understood, and that, in pitying, we have even done something to right a wrong.” quote by Richard Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/richard-wright-4088_believe_pity-can-purge-us-of-hostility-and-arous_1496174.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/richard-wright-4088_believe_pity-can-purge-us-of-hostility-and-arous_1496174.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3f/richard-wright-4088_believe_pity-can-purge-us-of-hostility-and-arous_1496174.jpg) > “Pity can purge us of hostility and arouse feelings of identification with the characters, but it can also be a consoling reassurance which leads us to believe that we have understood, and that, in pitying, we have even done something to right a wrong.” [Richard Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-wright/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes how pity can both connect us to others and give false reassurance of moral resolution, while also prompting identification with characters. **In simple terms:** Pity can unite and comfort, but may also be superficial. Key Takeaway Use empathy to act, not just feel. Themes empathy pity morality identification reflection Mood thoughtful empathetic Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - reading literature - volunteering - conflict resolution - personal growth Key Concepts ethical responsibility emotional intelligence literary analysis Questions to Reflect On - When has pity led you to real change? - How can you turn feeling into doing? A Different Perspective Risk of complacency if pity replaces action. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believe/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Consoling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consoling/) [Consoling Reassurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consoling-reassurance-5474028/) [Done](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/done/) [Feelings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feelings/) [Hostility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostility/) [Identification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/identification/) [Pity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity/) [Pity Purge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pity-purge-5474029/) [Pitying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitying-648156/) [Pitying Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pitying-right-5474027/) [Reassurance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reassurance/) [Right A Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right-a-wrong/) [Understood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood/) [Understood Pitying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understood-pitying-5474026/) ## Related quotes > [“No matter how slow or long it takes, it is never too late to right a wrong.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-w-boyer/no-matter-how-slow-or-long-it-takes-it-is-never-too-late-to-right-a/) [Mark W Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-w-boyer/) > [“When you have the chance to right a wrong, in whatever small or large way, you have a duty to step up and do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-d-wolf/when-you-have-the-chance-to-right-a-wrong-in-whatever-small-or-large/) [Steven D. 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