Pity

Pity? It was Pity that stayed his hand. Pity, and Mercy: not to strike without need.

Deserves (death)? I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death, and some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement.

For even the very wise...

(JRRT, not in the public domain yet, but I can't read the word pity without thinking of this passage)

»Gentlemen,« says the fellow that run the tavern, »the drinks is on the house.« So then everybody went back to the bar, and a pleasent evening was had by all. It´s a pity that Alvar and Dragan couldn´t be there to enjoy it.

pity this busy monster, manunkind,

not. Progress is a comfortable disease:
your victim (death and life safely beyond)

plays with the bigness of his littleness
-electrons deify one razorblade
into a mountainrange; lenses extend

unwish through curving wherewhen till unwish
returns on its unself.
____________________ A world of made
is not a world of born – pity poor flesh

and trees,poor stars and stones,but never this
fine specimen of hypermagical

ultraomnipotence. We doctors know

a hopeless case if – listen: there's a hell
of a good universe next door; let's go

-- e. e. cummings

Work, hard work, is a blessing to the soul and the
character of the man that works. No man is more to be
pitied than he that has nothing to do.
Pity that doesn't incude the word »pity«

If pity is not at hand, consider yourself lucky! Pity is a pretty negative emotion, implying the pitier's superiority in some way. I prefer empathy to pity any day!