"There is something in our human nature which engages us to take part in every accident to which man is subject, from what cause soever it may have happened; but in such calamities as a man has fallen into through mere misfortune, to be charged upon on no fault or indiscretion of himself, there is something then so truly interesting -- that at the first sight we generally make them our own, not altogether from a reflection that they might have been, or may be so, but oftener from a certain generosity and readiness of nature which disposes us for compassion, abstracted from all considerations of self; so that without any observable act of the will, we suffer with the unfortunate, and feel a weight upon our spirits, we know not why, on seeing the most common instances of their distress. 

 Now where the spectacle is uncommonly tragic and complicated with many circumstances of misery, the mind is then taken captive at once, and, were it inclined to it, has not power to make resistance, but surrenders itself to all the tender emotions of pity and deep concern. 

So that when one considers this friendly part of our nature, without looking farther, one would think it impossible for man to look upon misery without finding himself in some measure attached to the interest of him who suffers it -- I say, one would think it impossible -- but there are some tempers - how shall I describe them? formed either of such impenetrable matter, or wrought up by habitual selfishness to such an utter insensibility of what becomes of the fortunes of their fellow creatures, as if they were not partakers of the same nature, or had no lot or connection with the species." Sterne.