Sympathy

Wondering how to tell the difference between kindness and sympathy. Kindness: the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate. Sympathy: feelings of pity and sorrow for someone ele's misfortune.

But how exactly do you know if one's actions are from sympathy or from kindness, if both make sense? Couldn't one's kindness invoke a higher sense of sympathy, that even though used for good purposes, is disorienting? Just in a general sense. Sympathy can either be greatly appreciated, or embarassing and insulting. I mean, it tends to imply, you're in a bad situation, and the other one isn't. But if that sympathy is the kind that accentuates differences and status, it is a horrible trait. It's not "oh, you broke your arm, how horrible" kind of sympathy. Nonetheless, it may be the sweet humaine sympathy that it is, and on a cold October afternoon it can be quite the chicken soup.