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Pity means feeling for others, particularly feelings of sadness or sorrow. In a positive sense it means "sympathy" and "empathy". More commonly Pity is a negative judgement of others and their situation.[1] An example of pity is how most people feel about the homeless.[1] Pity and compassion are closely related words but have subtle differences. The difference is that compassion usually involves some commitment to help. Pity does not usually require any personal involvement.[2] Sometimes pity can also have feelings of contempt and dislike that go with it.[3] In a positive sense, and especially as practiced in many religions, it can involve feelings the person does not deserve what has happened to him or her.[3] In this case the person feeling pity feels sorry it happened.

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  1. 1.0 1.1 Aaron Ben-Zeév Ph.D.14 August 2010. "Do Not Pity Me". Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/in-the-name-love/201008/do-not-pity-me. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  2. David Konstan, Pity Transformed (London: Duckworth, 2001), pp. 21–22
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Difference Between Pity and Compassion". Difference Between. http://www.differencebetween.net/science/nature/difference-between-pity-and-compassion/. Retrieved 17 September 2015.