Literary notes about pity (AI summary)
In literature, “pity” emerges as a multifaceted term that reflects a spectrum of human emotion—from compassion and empathetic sorrow to moral judgment and self-reflection. In sacred texts such as those found in [1] and [2], pity is often linked with divine mercy or righteous condemnation, while in philosophical treatises, it becomes a means of exploring inner conflict and societal decay, as seen in [3] and [4]. Shakespeare, for instance, deploys the word with nuanced irony to capture both deep empathy and the reproach of societal failings ([5], [6], [7]). Romantic and realist narratives further employ “pity” to evoke sympathy for personal misfortune or to critique hypocritical social attitudes, as evidenced by passages in [8], [9], and other works. In this way, “pity” functions as a literary device that encapsulates the complexity of compassion and the often ambivalent response it inspires in both individuals and communities.
- He had not pity on them, destroying the whole nation that extolled themselves in their sins.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - Hear, O Lord, and have mercy, for thou art a merciful God, and have pity on us: for we have sinned before thee.
— from The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Complete - This is my "pity"; despite the fact that no sufferer yet exists with whom I sympathise in this way.
— from The Will to Power: An Attempted Transvaluation of All Values. Book I and II by Nietzsche - Schopenhauer was right in this respect: by means of pity, life is denied and made more worthy of denial, —pity is the praxis of Nihilism.
— from The Twilight of the Idols; or, How to Philosophize with the Hammer. The Antichrist by Nietzsche - Come, I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - Of honourable reckoning are you both, And pity 'tis you liv'd at odds so long.
— from The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare - Villain, thou knowest nor law of God nor man: No beast so fierce but knows some touch of pity.
— from The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare - “Still, one must have pity on a young man in misfortune.
— from War and Peace by graf Leo Tolstoy - But, thank God, he must have been moved to pity, looking at me.
— from Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky