Several moral virtues or qualities attributed to people are abstract, which makes identifying or properly understanding them difficult. Compassion, then, is one of such qualities. It can be most quickly described as a mix of feelings about the trouble of others. Usually, compassion entails feeling concerned, worried, and pitying the object of one’s compassion. However, compared to a more general feeling of pity, compassion is born out of a desire for a better outcome for another person, a desire for there to be more good in the world. Pity is often more condescending, reserved for those that are in any way “below” the one that displays it. Compassion, on the other hand, works from the basis of understanding and relation.
Individuals can be compassionate towards other individuals, animals, or even inanimate objects, depending on their degree of empathy or understanding. As a feeling, compassion can take a form of both direct action and a general attitude towards specific events. When another person is going through hardship, comforting them or trying to cheer them up could often be considered an act of compassion. Alternatively, donating money to victims of natural disasters or other charities can also be seen as compassionate. As a feeling, it is rooted in the emotional nature of people, the inherent goodness and worry most individuals can feel towards others around them. Generally, displaying compassion or acting on the desire to help others is a positive force in society, allowing individuals to connect on deeper emotional and spiritual levels. The principles of mutual support and compassion are imbued into the many aspects of social policy, justice, and even legislation, as it remains one of the core aspects of being a human.