PITY

 PITY

Is pity a feeling or an emotion? I think I have sufficiently confused the reader. It is a feeling borne out of emotion if my perception is right. Obviously emotions are products of perception. Perceptions have their origin in observation. A mere observation may not trigger the perception to evolve or derive an emotion. So, the observation should help our ‘figuring out’ the state of the sufferer. So, the observed fact or facet should be ‘connected’ to an event of misery to develop a sense of pity. The Shakespearean quote “TRUE IT IS PITY, PITY IT IS TRUE” is a power-studded interpretation by ‘true it is pity’- the winding part. It may be inferred that “when pity becomes true in one’s life, the person lives through misery”.  When pity is an integral component of a living state, the life of such members is ‘pitiable’. Now, the term ‘pitiable‘[an adjective]  is the feeling of observers’ more than that of the victims of those circumstances. Such is the elegant play of terms in English.

Pity means ‘the sense of sorrow’ for someone’s difficulties. ‘Pity’ is a noun; Eg. I took pity on your suffering.

‘Pity’ can be used as a verb too. I do not understand if I should ‘pity’ him or hate him.

‘Pitiable’ is an adjective; it means ‘deserving pity’.

PITHY

‘PITHY’ is a derivation from the noun ‘pith’.

If ‘pity’ is a reference to some ‘sorry state’, a slightly ‘modified’ expression ‘PITHY’ connotes a different idea that need not be associated with a sense of sorrow. ‘Pithy’ implies that the statement or observation, rich in idea or facts in support of a contention. For any view point, It is impossible to convince an opponent except through’ pithy argument. Audience gets easily convinced if argument presented is pithy [backed by facts / data]. Incidentally ‘pithy’ is an adjective; it suggests brevity in words and forthright emphasis of a contention.

From Hansard archive

‘The number of pithy phrases contained in this introduction, phrases which set out principles of the highest value, is really remarkable’

The above clearly portrays what precisely pertains to being ‘Pithy’.

Let us try to use ‘pity, pithy’ and ‘pitiable’ in sequence just to recognize the role of these words in the context.  It is a pity that the pithy argument of his presentation failed to convince the jury. It is pitiable that even pithy pronouncements fail to evoke due response from the authority. Pitiable is an adjective of ‘pity’.

At times emotions ruin clear reading of truth.

Prof. K. Raman