I can’t even imagine receiving affection out of pity, for although physically ungainly and unappealing, I’m not organically malformed enough to enter the sphere of those who deserve the world’s pity, nor do I have the winsomeness that attracts pity even when it’s not clearly deserved; and what in me deserves pity can’t have it, for there is no pity for the lame in spirit.
 Fernando Pessoa, The Book of Disquiet (1982). copy citation

add
Author Fernando Pessoa
Source The Book of Disquiet
Topic pity affection
Date 1982
Language English
Reference
Note Translated by Richard Zenith
Weblink