Compassion Quote by Stefan Zweig
“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.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The World of Yesterday by Stefan Zweig, 1942
True pity involves patient endurance of another’s suffering, not a fleeting desire to escape discomfort.
In simple terms: Real compassion endures, not avoids pain.
Key Takeaway
Practice sustained empathy.
Themes
compassion
patience
empathy
Mood
reflective
serious
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- counseling
- volunteering
- conflict resolution
- grief support
Key Concepts
philosophy
humanism
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you balance self-care with deep empathy?
- When does patience become self‑neglect?
A Different Perspective
It can be emotionally draining to stay with suffering.
