Pity

»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? 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)

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

I am instinctively afraid of all these...who feel they are too good for pity or shame. Without feeling oneself wretched, how can one expect to help others thrive?

pity is never enough. Nor would a handful of these little off-the-cuff responses be...