Why there is a "human " in front of "sympathy" I felt more than ordinary human sympathy for him in his misfortune. I was deeply moved as a fellow sufferer. I am confused , can't I just say ordinary

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Why there is a "human " in front of "sympathy" I felt more than ordinary human sympathy for him in his misfortune. I was deeply moved as a fellow sufferer. I am confused , can't I just say ordinary sympathy ? Thanks.

Dec 22, 2014 2:44 AM

Answers · 7

This sentence is trying to say that he is feeling more than just the average sympathy. As in, if a human is only capable of this much sympathy, he felt more. Does that help?

December 22, 2014

Here /human sympathy/ means /sympathy for another human being/, so a clumsy but clearer rewriting of the beginning of the sentence would be: - I felt more than ordinary sympathy for another human being ... The term /sympathy/ has its origin (from Greek) in the meaning /to share feelings/, and usually /human/ is implied, but we can also /share feelings/ with a dog that is suffering.

December 22, 2014