Full Idea
Pity, like shame, although it is not a virtue, is nevertheless good, in so far as it shows that a desire of living uprightly is present in the man who is possessed with shame.
Gist of Idea
Pity is not a virtue, but at least it shows a desire to live uprightly
Source
Baruch de Spinoza (The Ethics [1675], IV Pr 58)
Book Reference
Spinoza,Benedict de: 'Ethics', ed/tr. White,WH/Stirling,AH [Wordsworth 2001], p.205
A Reaction
And yet, in so far as I am rational, it seems that I should endeavour to suppress pity and replace it with right reason. Does Spinoza feel loyalty to the human race, I wonder?
Related Ideas
Idea 17218 People who live according to reason should avoid pity [Spinoza]
Idea 17219 A person unmoved by either reason or pity to help others is rightly called 'inhuman' [Spinoza]