Compassion vs. Passion — What's the Difference?

Compassion is feeling sorrow for the misfortunes of others.

Passion is an intense enthusiasm or desire for something.

Compassion is understanding and caring when others are suffering.

Passion is a strong and barely controllable emotion.

Compassion is the desire to help those in pain or suffering.

Passion is the driving force behind ambition and achievement.

Compassion is a deep empathy towards others in distress.

Passion is the fervor that ignites the soul.

Compassion is extending kindness to those in need.

Strong and barely controllable emotion

Compassion motivates people to go out of their way to help the physical, mental, or emotional pains of another and themselves. Compassion is often regarded as having sensitivity, which is an emotional aspect to suffering.

The suffering and death of Jesus

Sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others

Strong or powerful emotion

Deep awareness of the suffering of another accompanied by the wish to relieve it.

A powerful emotion, such as anger or joy

Deep awareness of the suffering of another, coupled with the wish to relieve it.

A state of strong sexual desire or love

(obsolete) To pity.

The object of such desire or love

Literally, suffering with another; a sensation of sorrow excited by the distress or misfortunes of another; pity; commiseration.

Boundless enthusiasm

To pity.

The object of such enthusiasm

A deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering

An abandoned display of emotion, especially of anger

The humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it

The sufferings of Jesus in the period following the Last Supper and including the Crucifixion, as related in the New Testament.

A narrative, musical setting, or pictorial representation of Jesus's sufferings.

Martyrdom

A true desire sustained or prolonged.

Any great, strong, powerful emotion, especially romantic love or extreme hate.

Fervor, determination.

An object of passionate or romantic love or strong romantic interest.

Sexual intercourse, especially when very emotional.

The suffering of Jesus leading up to and during his crucifixion.

A display, musical composition, or play meant to commemorate the suffering of Jesus.

(obsolete) Suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress.

(obsolete) The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external agent or influence; a passive condition

(obsolete) The capacity of being affected by external agents; susceptibility of impressions from external agents.

(obsolete) An innate attribute, property, or quality of a thing.

(obsolete) Disorder of the mind; madness.

(obsolete) To suffer pain or sorrow; to experience a passion; to be extremely agitated.

(transitive) To give a passionate character to.

A suffering or enduring of imposed or inflicted pain; any suffering or distress (as, a cardiac passion); specifically, the suffering of Christ between the time of the last supper and his death, esp. in the garden upon the cross.

The state of being acted upon; subjection to an external agent or influence; a passive condition; - opposed to action.

Capacity of being affected by external agents; susceptibility of impressions from external agents.

The state of the mind when it is powerfully acted upon and influenced by something external to itself; the state of any particular faculty which, under such conditions, becomes extremely sensitive or uncontrollably excited; any emotion or sentiment (specifically, love or anger) in a state of abnormal or controlling activity; an extreme or inordinate desire; also, the capacity or susceptibility of being so affected; as, to be in a passion; the passions of love, hate, jealously, wrath, ambition, avarice, fear, etc.; a passion for war, or for drink; an orator should have passion as well as rhetorical skill.

Disorder of the mind; madness.

Passion week. See Passion week, below.

To give a passionate character to.

To suffer pain or sorrow; to experience a passion; to be extremely agitated.

Strong feeling or emotion

Intense passion or emotion

Something that is desired intensely;

An irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action

A feeling of strong sexual desire

Any object of warm affection or devotion;

The suffering of Jesus at the crucifixion

Passion is a fervent interest in a particular subject or activity.

Yes, compassion often leads to actions that aim to help or support those in distress.

Compassion arises from empathy, which is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

Compassion is primarily focused on understanding and alleviating the suffering of others.

While some inclinations may be innate, most passions are cultivated and developed over time based on experiences and exposures.

Not always. While passion can drive positive pursuits, it can also manifest in negative ways if not channeled properly.

Yes, passions can be fleeting, but they can also be long-lasting, depending on the individual and the subject of their passion.

Zeal, fervor, ardor, and enthusiasm are some common synonyms.

No, animals can also display compassionate behaviors, suggesting it's a universal emotion.

Passion is driven by an intense enthusiasm or desire for something.

Absolutely. One can feel compassion for others while also being passionate about a cause or activity.

By practicing empathy, mindfulness, and active listening, and by seeking to understand others' experiences and emotions.

Absolutely. It's possible to have multiple passions in various areas of life.

Excessive compassion can lead to emotional fatigue or burnout, especially if one neglects self-care.

Compassion can strengthen relationships by fostering understanding, patience, and support between individuals.

Yes, as individuals grow and evolve, their passions can shift and change.