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* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' deconstructs this trope when Harry [=McGill=], a cub who needs to use a wheelchair to get around as a result of a car accident when he was young, moves to Bear Country and joins the same class Brother and his friends are in. Harry refuses to be pitied for being paraplegic, which is understandable, and it's also hard to blame him for being angry at Queenie's DisabledMeansHelpless attitude towards him. The problem comes from how he interprets ''any'' sort of kindness or decent treatment towards him as nothing more than "special treatment" because of his disability. As a result, [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery he's incredibly abrasive and rude to everyone]], even to those who are genuinely trying to befriend him or help him adjust to a new environment regardless of his disability. It takes Brother calling him out on his attitude after Harry [[UngratefulBastard was initially ungrateful]] for Brother defending him from [[BullyingTheDisabled Too-Tall's bullying]] for him to have a JerkassRealization and mellow out.
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* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' deconstructs this trope when ''Literature/TheBerenstainBearsBigChapterBooks'': In ''The Berenstain Bears and the Wheelchair Commando'', Harry [=McGill=], a cub who needs to use a wheelchair to get around as a result of a car accident when he was young, moves to Bear Country and joins the same class Brother and his friends are in. Harry refuses to be pitied for [=McGill=] doesn't like anybody showing sympathy over him being paraplegic, which is understandable, and it's also hard to blame him for being angry at Queenie's DisabledMeansHelpless paraplegic. It gets {{Deconstructed|Trope}} here, where his hostile attitude towards him. The problem comes from how he interprets ''any'' sort of kindness or decent treatment towards him as nothing more than "special treatment" the other cubs because of his disability. As a result, [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery he's incredibly abrasive and rude to everyone]], even to it (not helped by Queenie believing DisabledMeansHelpless) makes it hard for those who are genuinely trying want to befriend him or help him adjust to a new environment regardless of his disability. talk to him. It takes reaches its peak when he accuses Brother calling him out on his attitude after Harry [[UngratefulBastard was initially ungrateful]] for Brother of defending him from [[BullyingTheDisabled Too-Tall's bullying]] gang simply to make himself look good, only to be promptly told by both Brother himself and several bystanders that Brother is famous throughout the school for protecting bullied cubs in general. Afterwards, he has a JerkassRealization, apologizes to Brother, and opens up to him to have a JerkassRealization and mellow out.Freddy, which helps improve his interactions with the other students and helps the other cubs to get to know him more.
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DontYouDarePityMe in {{Literature}}.
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* ''Literature/DemonWorldBobaShop'':
** Lily has been living alone in a hole since her parents died, despite the city having excellent social services (in the form of "everyone has a duty to look out for those in need"). She's simply too proud and stubborn to accept gifts, and has good instincts for when employment is being offered out of pity. Arthur inadvertently starts to lift her out of her circumstances by offering her a job without knowing just how badly she needs it. [[spoiler:Once she's in Ella's clutches, however, her weakness is exposed: she really values her job and feeling useful, allowing Ella to promptly blackmail her into accepting a caring and loving home, by threatening to ban Arthur from employing her.]]
** Arthur is less vehement, but he does feel uncomfortable about how much help is simply given to him on a platter, and he struggles to adjust, typically trying to do and give more in return. Everyone tells him that he's overcompensating and needs to just accept that people have a duty to help each other, but it's a slow process. At one point, Ella gives him the city-provided stipend, and orders him to spend every last coin, or else she's withholding dinner.
** Several characters have opportunities to point out to Arthur just how important it is to let people help him, whether it's Milo overriding his objections and making him accept Mizu's contribution of a private customised well for his food cart ("Have you even considered what it might mean that she's doing this for you? Or what it would mean if you stopped her halfway through, said you didn't want it, and told her to go away?"), or Rhodia getting fed up with his protests that he wouldn't be able to pay her for making more cups, grabbing him by the lapels, and almost growling at him despite being a mouse demon.
---> '''Rhodia:''' Do not. Do not make me beg you to let me make cups for your actual operating business. Cups that will be used by actual customers, and will provide me with tons of experience. Do not do it.
** Lily has been living alone in a hole since her parents died, despite the city having excellent social services (in the form of "everyone has a duty to look out for those in need"). She's simply too proud and stubborn to accept gifts, and has good instincts for when employment is being offered out of pity. Arthur inadvertently starts to lift her out of her circumstances by offering her a job without knowing just how badly she needs it. [[spoiler:Once she's in Ella's clutches, however, her weakness is exposed: she really values her job and feeling useful, allowing Ella to promptly blackmail her into accepting a caring and loving home, by threatening to ban Arthur from employing her.]]
** Arthur is less vehement, but he does feel uncomfortable about how much help is simply given to him on a platter, and he struggles to adjust, typically trying to do and give more in return. Everyone tells him that he's overcompensating and needs to just accept that people have a duty to help each other, but it's a slow process. At one point, Ella gives him the city-provided stipend, and orders him to spend every last coin, or else she's withholding dinner.
** Several characters have opportunities to point out to Arthur just how important it is to let people help him, whether it's Milo overriding his objections and making him accept Mizu's contribution of a private customised well for his food cart ("Have you even considered what it might mean that she's doing this for you? Or what it would mean if you stopped her halfway through, said you didn't want it, and told her to go away?"), or Rhodia getting fed up with his protests that he wouldn't be able to pay her for making more cups, grabbing him by the lapels, and almost growling at him despite being a mouse demon.
---> '''Rhodia:''' Do not. Do not make me beg you to let me make cups for your actual operating business. Cups that will be used by actual customers, and will provide me with tons of experience. Do not do it.
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* Franchise/MonsterVerse: In the ''[[Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' and ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'' official novelizations, [[Characters/MonsterVerseMadisonRussell Madison]] doesn't like being treated as a child or a victim.
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* Franchise/MonsterVerse: In the ''[[Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' and ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'' official novelizations, [[Characters/MonsterVerseMadisonRussell Madison]] [[Characters/MonsterVerseRussellFamily Madison Russell]] doesn't like being treated as like she's a child or a victim.
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* In ''Literature/ComradeDeath'', Sarek arranges to MurderTheHypotenuse when his rival Janos is arrested as a spy. Sarek is an ArmsDealer speaking with the nation's paranoid leader and refuses to acknowledge that he knows Janos is an innocent artist. He returns home spinning the tale to Cosima of how he couldn't save her husband and offering to marry her to support her children when she refuses Sarek throws the truth in her face. He expected hatred after confessing to let her husband die, but instead, he receives pity -- Cosima is such a WideEyedIdealist that she can't see Sarek for who he really is, believing that he's trying to punish himself for being unable to save Janos.
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* In ''Literature/ComradeDeath'', Sarek arranges to MurderTheHypotenuse when his rival Janos is arrested as a spy. Sarek is an ArmsDealer speaking with the nation's paranoid leader leader, and refuses to acknowledge that he knows Janos is an innocent artist. He returns home home, spinning the tale to Cosima of how he couldn't save her husband and offering to marry her to support her children when children. When she refuses refuses, Sarek throws the truth in her face. He expected expects hatred after confessing to that he let her husband die, but instead, he receives pity -- Cosima is such a WideEyedIdealist that she can't see Sarek for who he really is, believing that he's trying to punish himself for being unable to save Janos.
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* ''Literature/ACourtOfThornsAndRoses'': Nesta is very adamant when it comes refusing Feyre's and the Inner Circle's help in ''A Court of Frost and Starlight''. Mainly because she knows that it's their fault for dragging her into this in the first place.
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* ''Literature/ACourtOfThornsAndRoses'': Nesta is very adamant when it comes to refusing Feyre's and the Inner Circle's help in ''A Court of Frost and Starlight''. Mainly because she knows that it's their fault for dragging her into this in the first place.
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* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/SmallFavor'', Harry is angry with Michael's pity partly because he can tell that Michael thinks he's deluded, and he knows he's not.
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* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/SmallFavor'', Harry is angry with at Michael's pity partly because he can tell that Michael thinks he's deluded, and he knows he's not.
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* In ''Literature/TheFullMatilda'' by David Haynes, Matilda refuses the pity of whoever [[SecondPersonNarration "you"]] is when she tells the story of how at the age of 16 [[spoiler: slept with the senator her family worked for so she could secure her father a house of his own.]]
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* In ''Literature/TheFullMatilda'' by David Haynes, Matilda refuses the pity of whoever [[SecondPersonNarration "you"]] is when she tells the story of how at the age of 16 [[spoiler: she slept with the senator her family worked for so she could secure her father a house of his own.]]
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** Harry also suffers from this, usually justified but sometimes to TooDumbToLive levels. He hates being famous partly because it's annoying, partly because his parents' double murder is part of his fame, and therefore a good bit of the attention he gets is pity, which he hates. He goes further, however, in frequently not telling Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione) his problems, even if it would do a lot of good because he doesn't want them to pity him. For example, he wouldn't tell them that his detentions with Umbridge involved writing lines with his own blood, provoking an outraged response when Ron found out.
** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status. And he spends the rest of his life regretting it, to the point where he hates even hearing the word “Mudblood”.
** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status. And he spends the rest of his life regretting it, to the point where he hates even hearing the word “Mudblood”.
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** Harry also suffers from this, usually justified but sometimes to TooDumbToLive levels. He hates being famous partly because it's annoying, partly because his parents' double murder is part of his fame, and therefore a good bit of the attention he gets is pity, which he hates. He goes further, however, in frequently not telling Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione) his problems, even if it would do a lot of good good, because he doesn't want them to pity him. For example, he wouldn't tell them that his detentions with Umbridge involved writing lines with his own blood, provoking an outraged response when Ron found out.
** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive termtowards for Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status. And he spends the rest of his life regretting it, to the point where he hates even hearing the word “Mudblood”.
** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term
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* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan - who has been tortured to the point of developing a personality disorder, suffered serious injuries in his escape, and [[spoiler: kicked his tormentor to death with his bare feet]] tells off Elena Bothari, who's no slouch in the deep and lasting pain department herself; "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
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* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan - who Vorkosigan--who has been tortured to the point of developing a personality disorder, suffered serious injuries in his escape, and [[spoiler: kicked his tormentor to death with his bare feet]] tells feet]]--tells off Elena Bothari, who's no slouch in the deep and lasting pain department herself; "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
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* In the ''Literature/SinisterSixTrilogy'', a character who is named Pity [[spoiler:so named because a [[MoralEventHorizon old man]] decided that she should be miserable her entire life and all she'll ever have is pity]] decides at the end that she won't take pity from anyone anymore.
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* In the ''Literature/SinisterSixTrilogy'', ''Literature/SpiderManSinisterSixTrilogy'', a character who is named Pity [[spoiler:so named because a [[MoralEventHorizon old man]] decided that she should be miserable her entire life and all she'll ever have is pity]] decides at the end that she won't take pity from anyone anymore.
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* ''Literature/ACourtOfThornsAndRoses'': Nesta is very adamant when it comes refusing Feyre's and the Inner Circle's help in ''A Court of Frost and Starlight''. Mainly because she knows that it's their fault for dragging her into this in the first place.
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* One of Nicol's hangups in ''Literature/MyNextLifeAsAVillainessAllRoutesLeadToDoom'' is that people tend to pity him for [[CaregiverAngst being burdened by having to constantly care for and protect his sister]]. In an interesting twist, this attitude infuriates him not because of his pride, but because as he sees it, having such a wonderfully kind and gentle sister is no burden at all, but a blessing. Katarina first catches his interest by being the first person to match this sentiment, complimenting him for having such a blessed family.
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* ''Literature/Dive2003'': Expressing concern for Star or wondering if she can keep up with the others due to her disability infuriates her and makes her double her efforts.
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** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status.
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** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status. And he spends the rest of his life regretting it, to the point where he hates even hearing the word “Mudblood”.
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* ''Literature/{{Dragonvarld}}'': Ven is thought to have a disability as a result of his odd gait from having dragon legs. Among all the reactions this gets him, the pity is the worst in his view.
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* Franchise/MonsterVerse: In the ''[[Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' and ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'' official novelizations, [[Characters/MonsterVerseFamilies Madison]] doesn't like being treated as a child or a victim.
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* Franchise/MonsterVerse: In the ''[[Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' and ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'' official novelizations, [[Characters/MonsterVerseFamilies [[Characters/MonsterVerseMadisonRussell Madison]] doesn't like being treated as a child or a victim.
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* Shouxue the Raven Consort, in ''Literature/RavenOfTheInnerPalace'', is less than pleased when Emperor Koshun explains that he wants to know more about the Raven Consort's history because he pities her. She splashes him with cold tea and angrily explains the history of her position.
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* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic -- all preferring to get out of the pitiful situation, instead. SEE: ''Literature/TheFountainhead'', ''Theatre/ThinkTwice'', and of course ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''.
* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to his family in order to rejoin his apprentice Skeeve and finds out that Skeeve is evidently coping [[JustFineWithoutYou just fine without him]]. Skeeve quickly realizes how crushing this is, but other characters happily burble about how well Skeeve is doing before coming to belated awareness. Panic-stricken, they look to Skeeve to convince Aahz that [[ICantDoThisByMyself he really is still needed]], and they aren't saying so out of pity.
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* ''Creator/DorothyLSayers''' Harriet Vane found it difficult to accept Literature/LordPeterWimsey because he had fallen in love with her after she had been arrested for murder and was in serious danger of execution. The class difference didn't help.
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* ''Creator/DorothyLSayers''' ''Literature/LordPeterWimsey'': Creator/DorothyLSayers' Harriet Vane found it difficult to accept Literature/LordPeterWimsey the title character because he had fallen in love with her after she had been arrested for murder and was in serious danger of execution. The class difference didn't help.
* Franchise/MonsterVerse: In the ''[[Film/GodzillaKingOfTheMonsters2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters]]'' and ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'' official novelizations, [[Characters/MonsterVerseFamilies Madison]] doesn't like being treated as a child or a victim.
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* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to his family in order to rejoin his apprentice Skeeve and finds out that Skeeve is evidently coping [[JustFineWithoutYou just fine without him]]. Skeeve quickly realizes how crushing this is, but other characters happily burble about how well Skeeve is doing before coming to belated awareness. Panic-stricken, they look to Skeeve to convince Aahz that [[ICantDoThisByMyself he really is still needed]], and they aren't saying so out of pity.
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* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic -- all preferring to get out of the pitiful situation, instead. SEE: ''Literature/TheFountainhead'', ''Theatre/ThinkTwice'', and of course ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''.
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* In Steven Lyons's ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' novel ''Ice Guard'', Anakora joined the [[Characters/Warhammer40000ImperialGuard Imperial Guard]] to avoid the pity. She is convinced that her subsequent survival -- two and a half years, where normal life expectancy is measured in hours -- resulted from others pitying her.
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* ''Literature/{{Others}}'': Private investigator Nick "Dis" Dismas, born with a curved spine, withered leg and overlapping brow, laments conspicuous gestures of acceptance.
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* And how in ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''. All the rats seem to be like this.
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* ''Literature/{{Underground}}'': Robyn detests any and all forms of pity, and her first thought to anyone caring about her or Lucy is that they pity them, which usually leads to her yelling at the person that she doesn't want anyone's pity.
%%* And how in ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''. All the rats seem to be like this.
%%* And how in ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''. All the rats seem to be like this.
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DontYouDarePityMe in {{Literature}}.
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* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan - who has been tortured to the point of developing a personality disorder, suffered serious injuries in his escape, and [[spolier: kicked his tormentor to death with his bare feet]] tells off Elena Bothari, who's no slouch in the deep and lasting pain department herself; "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
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* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan - who has been tortured to the point of developing a personality disorder, suffered serious injuries in his escape, and [[spolier: [[spoiler: kicked his tormentor to death with his bare feet]] tells off Elena Bothari, who's no slouch in the deep and lasting pain department herself; "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
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* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan says to Elena, "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
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* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan says - who has been tortured to Elena, the point of developing a personality disorder, suffered serious injuries in his escape, and [[spolier: kicked his tormentor to death with his bare feet]] tells off Elena Bothari, who's no slouch in the deep and lasting pain department herself; "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
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* Amy from ''Literature/GoneGirl'' really hates being pitied. [[spoiler:Even though she [[TheBadGuyWins gets everything she wanted in the end]], her husband Nick bluntly says he feels sorry for her. When she asks why, he responds that every day, Amy has to wake up and ''[[BeingEvilSucks be Amy]]''. She then admits to the reader that she can't stop thinking about this, and wishes she could, before admitting she has nothing more to add to the story; she just couldn't stand to let Nick have the last word.]]
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* In ''Literature/TheOregonFiles'' book ''Skeleton Coast'', protagonist and captain of the titular ''Oregon'' Juan Cabrillo reflects on this; after getting his leg blown off by a Chinese gunboat, he was taken out of the hospital in a wheelchair, with one of his pants legs neatly pinned up from the missing limb--and he absolutely ''loathed'' the looks of pity he got from the hospital staff and other patrons; from that day forward, he practically ''threw'' himself into physical therapy, and commissioned a series of advanced "combat" legs that could allow him to keep pace with even the fittest of the ''Oregon'''s crew without even the hint of having a prosthetic, just so that he would never be a liability, or pitiable, ever again. In his own thoughts, he may have a handicap, but he is '''not''' handicapped. To his credit, his leg only slows him down once, performing an activity that admittedly requires almost total awareness in all four of your limbs (skydiving/HALO jumping), but even then there were other factors at play, and he managed to turn the situation to an advantage for him and his team, partially ''because'' of his prosthetic leg.
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* In ''Literature/TheOregonFiles'' book ''Skeleton Coast'', protagonist and captain of the titular ''Oregon'' Juan Cabrillo reflects on this; after getting his leg blown off by a Chinese gunboat, he was taken out of the hospital in a wheelchair, with one of his pants legs neatly pinned up from the missing limb--and he absolutely ''loathed'' the looks of pity he got from the hospital staff and other patrons; from that day forward, he practically ''threw'' himself into physical therapy, and commissioned a series of advanced "combat" legs that could allow him to keep pace with even the fittest of the ''Oregon'''s ''Oregon's'' crew without even the hint of having a prosthetic, just so that he would never be a liability, or pitiable, ever again. In his own thoughts, he may have a handicap, but he is '''not''' handicapped. To his credit, his leg only slows him down once, performing an activity that admittedly requires almost total awareness in all four of your limbs (skydiving/HALO jumping), but even then there were other factors at play, and he managed to turn the situation to an advantage for him and his team, partially ''because'' of his prosthetic leg.
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* In ''Literature/TheOregonFiles'' book ''Skeleton Coast'', protagonist and captain of the titular ''Oregon'' Juan Cabrillo reflects on this; after getting his leg blown off by a Chinese gunboat, he was taken out of the hospital in a wheelchair, with one of his pants legs neatly pinned up from the missing limb--and he absolutely ''loathed'' the looks of pity he got from the hospital staff and other patrons; from that day forward, he practically ''threw'' himself into physical therapy, and commissioned a series of advanced "combat" legs that could allow him to keep pace with even the fittest of the ''Oregon'''s crew without even the hint of having a prosthetic, just so that he would never be a liability, or pitiable, ever again. In his own thoughts, he may have a handicap, but he is '''not''' handicapped. To his credit, his leg only slows him down once, performing an activity that admittedly requires almost total awareness in all four of your limbs (skydiving/HALO jumping), but even then there were other factors at play, and he managed to turn the situation to an advantage for him and his team, partially ''because'' of his prosthetic leg.
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* ''Literature/NightfallSeries'': Tristan is always in pain because of something that happened in his past, and he hates being pitied. He hides his condition from almost everyone, which is partly justified as he has many enemies at court.
* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic--all preferring to get out of the pitiful situation, instead. SEE: ''Literature/TheFountainhead'', ''Theatre/ThinkTwice'', and of course ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''.
* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic--all preferring to get out of the pitiful situation, instead. SEE: ''Literature/TheFountainhead'', ''Theatre/ThinkTwice'', and of course ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''.
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*''Literature/NightfallSeries'': Tristan In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', Marco presents the facade of aloofness because he hates feeling pitied, which ultimately fails when his teammates find out that [[spoiler:his mother is always Visser One, leader of the Yeerk Invasion.]] Likewise, teammate Tobias eventually becomes accustomed to being a hawk, but still tries to avoid the feelings of pity from his friends. That said, he is Emohawk, so he spends most of the time wangsting. Jake, similarly, can't stand pity, because he feels that as the leader, he should appear flawless and confident in pain every decision he makes and therefore tries never to let the others see him second-guessing himself.
* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' deconstructs this trope when Harry [=McGill=], a cub who needs to use a wheelchair to get around as a result of a car accident when he was young, moves to Bear Country and joins the same class Brother and his friends are in. Harry refuses to be pitied for being paraplegic, which is understandable, and it’s also hard to blame him for being angry at Queenie's DisabledMeansHelpless attitude towards him. The problem comes from how he interprets ''any'' sort of kindness or decent treatment towards him as nothing more than "special treatment" because ofsomething that happened in his past, disability. As a result, [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery he's incredibly abrasive and he hates being pitied. He hides rude to everyone]], even to those who are genuinely trying to befriend him or help him adjust to a new environment regardless of his condition disability. It takes Brother calling him out on his attitude after Harry [[UngratefulBastard was initially ungrateful]] for Brother defending him from almost everyone, which is partly justified as he has many enemies at court.
* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic--all preferring[[BullyingTheDisabled Too-Tall's bullying]] for him to get out of the pitiful situation, instead. SEE: ''Literature/TheFountainhead'', ''Theatre/ThinkTwice'', have a JerkassRealization and of course ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''.mellow out.
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----
*
* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' deconstructs this trope when Harry [=McGill=], a cub who needs to use a wheelchair to get around as a result of a car accident when he was young, moves to Bear Country and joins the same class Brother and his friends are in. Harry refuses to be pitied for being paraplegic, which is understandable, and it’s also hard to blame him for being angry at Queenie's DisabledMeansHelpless attitude towards him. The problem comes from how he interprets ''any'' sort of kindness or decent treatment towards him as nothing more than "special treatment" because of
* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic--all preferring
* Belle in Creator/CharlesDickens's ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' breaks up with Scrooge when she realizes that his personality has changed and his love of wealth now overshadows any feelings he has for her. When Scrooge points out that he has never asked to break off their engagement, she rejects it as pity or a sense of obligation.
** Scrooge himself also has a moment like this in the 1984 TV adaptation starring George C. Scott. In the scene following the one above, an older Belle, now {{Happily Married}} with many children, expresses pity for Scrooge when she learns that he's alone in the world. Scrooge, forgetting that Belle can neither see nor hear him, exclaims "Spare me your pity! [[BlatantLies I have no need of it!]]"
* In ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'', Briar and Daja make themselves rich with plant and smith magic, and Sandry's an heiress who lives with her uncle the Duke of Emelan. Tris is the odd one out since she can't profit from her magic without sacrificing her ethics. When Daja asks her to move into her new forge/house in ''The Will of the Empress'', Tris immediately insists that she'll work as Daja's maid rather than accepting "charity."
* In the final ''Literature/CodexAlera'' novel, when Tavi finds out Kitai [[spoiler:is pregnant]], she starts to cry, uses watercrafting to remove the tears, and Tavi holds her close and says:
--> Don't hide those tears from me.
* In ''Literature/ComradeDeath'', Sarek arranges to MurderTheHypotenuse when his rival Janos is arrested as a spy. Sarek is an ArmsDealer speaking with the nation's paranoid leader and refuses to acknowledge that he knows Janos is an innocent artist. He returns home spinning the tale to Cosima of how he couldn't save her husband and offering to marry her to support her children when she refuses Sarek throws the truth in her face. He expected hatred after confessing to let her husband die, but instead, he receives pity -- Cosima is such a WideEyedIdealist that she can't see Sarek for who he really is, believing that he's trying to punish himself for being unable to save Janos.
* Vlad Tepes in ''Literature/CountAndCountess''. God help you if you try to point out his awful childhood or show him sympathy over having lost his entire family to a pointless war.
** Scrooge himself also has a moment like this in the 1984 TV adaptation starring George C. Scott. In the scene following the one above, an older Belle, now {{Happily Married}} with many children, expresses pity for Scrooge when she learns that he's alone in the world. Scrooge, forgetting that Belle can neither see nor hear him, exclaims "Spare me your pity! [[BlatantLies I have no need of it!]]"
* In ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'', Briar and Daja make themselves rich with plant and smith magic, and Sandry's an heiress who lives with her uncle the Duke of Emelan. Tris is the odd one out since she can't profit from her magic without sacrificing her ethics. When Daja asks her to move into her new forge/house in ''The Will of the Empress'', Tris immediately insists that she'll work as Daja's maid rather than accepting "charity."
* In the final ''Literature/CodexAlera'' novel, when Tavi finds out Kitai [[spoiler:is pregnant]], she starts to cry, uses watercrafting to remove the tears, and Tavi holds her close and says:
--> Don't hide those tears from me.
* In ''Literature/ComradeDeath'', Sarek arranges to MurderTheHypotenuse when his rival Janos is arrested as a spy. Sarek is an ArmsDealer speaking with the nation's paranoid leader and refuses to acknowledge that he knows Janos is an innocent artist. He returns home spinning the tale to Cosima of how he couldn't save her husband and offering to marry her to support her children when she refuses Sarek throws the truth in her face. He expected hatred after confessing to let her husband die, but instead, he receives pity -- Cosima is such a WideEyedIdealist that she can't see Sarek for who he really is, believing that he's trying to punish himself for being unable to save Janos.
* Vlad Tepes in ''Literature/CountAndCountess''. God help you if you try to point out his awful childhood or show him sympathy over having lost his entire family to a pointless war.
Changed line(s) 5,11 (click to see context) from:
* ''Creator/DorothyLSayers''' Harriet Vane found it difficult to accept Literature/LordPeterWimsey because he had fallen in love with her after she had been arrested for murder and was in serious danger of execution. The class difference didn't help.
* In ''Literature/SorceryAndCecelia'', at the beginning of her Season, Kate has no partners at her first dance except for one who seemed rather distracted during the dance and immediately afterward claimed his dance with her sister, making the sister's magnanimity a little too blatant for Kate.
* On ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' it is extremely taboo to offer anyone pity - it is supposed to demean both the one who offers it and the one who is offered it. So strongly is this felt that in ''Rogue of Gor'', Jason Marshall successfully reforms an alcoholic merely by pitying him for falling prey to the disease. Even the lure of the bottle is not as strong as the drive to never be pitied again.
* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to his family in order to rejoin his apprentice Skeeve and finds out that Skeeve is evidently coping [[JustFineWithoutYou just fine without him]]. Skeeve quickly realizes how crushing this is, but other characters happily burble about how well Skeeve is doing before coming to belated awareness. Panic-stricken, they look to Skeeve to convince Aahz that [[ICantDoThisByMyself he really is still needed]], and they aren't saying so out of pity.
* In the final ''Literature/CodexAlera'' novel, when Tavi finds out Kitai [[spoiler:is pregnant]], she starts to cry, uses watercrafting to remove the tears, and Tavi holds her close and says:
--> Don't hide those tears from me.
* In John Barnes's ''Literature/OneForTheMorningGlory'', Amatus's behavior is so erratic after Gorlias's death that people worry that he doesn't sit about spurning sympathy despite his otherwise melancholy behavior.
* In ''Literature/SorceryAndCecelia'', at the beginning of her Season, Kate has no partners at her first dance except for one who seemed rather distracted during the dance and immediately afterward claimed his dance with her sister, making the sister's magnanimity a little too blatant for Kate.
* On ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' it is extremely taboo to offer anyone pity - it is supposed to demean both the one who offers it and the one who is offered it. So strongly is this felt that in ''Rogue of Gor'', Jason Marshall successfully reforms an alcoholic merely by pitying him for falling prey to the disease. Even the lure of the bottle is not as strong as the drive to never be pitied again.
* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to his family in order to rejoin his apprentice Skeeve and finds out that Skeeve is evidently coping [[JustFineWithoutYou just fine without him]]. Skeeve quickly realizes how crushing this is, but other characters happily burble about how well Skeeve is doing before coming to belated awareness. Panic-stricken, they look to Skeeve to convince Aahz that [[ICantDoThisByMyself he really is still needed]], and they aren't saying so out of pity.
* In the final ''Literature/CodexAlera'' novel, when Tavi finds out Kitai [[spoiler:is pregnant]], she starts to cry, uses watercrafting to remove the tears, and Tavi holds her close and says:
--> Don't hide those tears from me.
* In John Barnes's ''Literature/OneForTheMorningGlory'', Amatus's behavior is so erratic after Gorlias's death that people worry that he doesn't sit about spurning sympathy despite his otherwise melancholy behavior.
to:
* ''Creator/DorothyLSayers''' Harriet Vane found it difficult In ''Literature/DaughterOfTheForest'' by Creator/JulietMarillier, Red literally says this to accept Literature/LordPeterWimsey Sorcha.
* ''Literature/DawnOfWar'': In C. S. Goto's novel ''Dawn of War: Ascension'', a captive Eldar is infuriated when he realizes a human woman pities him.
* Raistlin Majere of the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' books absolutely ''hates'' to be pitied.
* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/SmallFavor'', Harry is angry with Michael's pity partly because hehad fallen in love with her after she had been arrested for murder and was in serious danger of execution. The class difference didn't help.
* In ''Literature/SorceryAndCecelia'', at the beginning of her Season, Kate has no partners at her first dance except for one who seemed rather distracted during the dance and immediately afterward claimed his dance with her sister, making the sister's magnanimity a little too blatant for Kate.
* On ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' it is extremely taboo to offer anyone pity - it is supposed to demean both the one who offers it and the one who is offered it. So strongly is this feltcan tell that in ''Rogue of Gor'', Jason Marshall successfully reforms an alcoholic merely by pitying him for falling prey to the disease. Even the lure of the bottle is not as strong as the drive to never be pitied again.
* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to his family in order to rejoin his apprentice SkeeveMichael thinks he's deluded, and finds out that Skeeve is evidently coping [[JustFineWithoutYou just fine without him]]. Skeeve quickly realizes how crushing this is, but other characters happily burble about how well Skeeve is doing before coming to belated awareness. Panic-stricken, they look to Skeeve to convince Aahz that [[ICantDoThisByMyself he really is still needed]], and they aren't saying so out of pity.
* In the final ''Literature/CodexAlera'' novel, when Tavi finds out Kitai [[spoiler:is pregnant]], she starts to cry, uses watercrafting to remove the tears, and Tavi holds her close and says:
--> Don't hide those tears from me.
* In John Barnes's ''Literature/OneForTheMorningGlory'', Amatus's behavior is so erratic after Gorlias's death that people worry that he doesn't sit about spurning sympathy despite his otherwise melancholy behavior.knows he's not.
* ''Literature/DawnOfWar'': In C. S. Goto's novel ''Dawn of War: Ascension'', a captive Eldar is infuriated when he realizes a human woman pities him.
* Raistlin Majere of the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' books absolutely ''hates'' to be pitied.
* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/SmallFavor'', Harry is angry with Michael's pity partly because he
* In ''Literature/SorceryAndCecelia'', at the beginning of her Season, Kate has no partners at her first dance except for one who seemed rather distracted during the dance and immediately afterward claimed his dance with her sister, making the sister's magnanimity a little too blatant for Kate.
* On ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' it is extremely taboo to offer anyone pity - it is supposed to demean both the one who offers it and the one who is offered it. So strongly is this felt
* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to his family in order to rejoin his apprentice Skeeve
* In the final ''Literature/CodexAlera'' novel, when Tavi finds out Kitai [[spoiler:is pregnant]], she starts to cry, uses watercrafting to remove the tears, and Tavi holds her close and says:
--> Don't hide those tears from me.
* In John Barnes's ''Literature/OneForTheMorningGlory'', Amatus's behavior is so erratic after Gorlias's death that people worry that he doesn't sit about spurning sympathy despite his otherwise melancholy behavior.
Changed line(s) 13,16 (click to see context) from:
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', Marco presents the facade of aloofness because he hates feeling pitied, which ultimately fails when his teammates find out that [[spoiler:his mother is Visser One, leader of the Yeerk Invasion.]] Likewise, teammate Tobias eventually becomes accustomed to being a hawk, but still tries to avoid the feelings of pity from his friends. That said, he is Emohawk, so he spends most of the time wangsting. Jake, similarly, can't stand pity, because he feels that as the leader, he should appear flawless and confident in every decision he makes and therefore tries never to let the others see him second-guessing himself.
* Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse: ''[[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Heir to the Empire]]'': After [[{{Tsundere}} Mara Jade]] reveals her origins to Luke, she lets him know that she doesn't need his sympathy. She gets it anyway!
** Funnily enough, she grows to admire this quality, although the only people she'd ever admit that to are her husband and son (Luke and Ben, obviously).
* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan says to Elena, "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
* Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse: ''[[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Heir to the Empire]]'': After [[{{Tsundere}} Mara Jade]] reveals her origins to Luke, she lets him know that she doesn't need his sympathy. She gets it anyway!
** Funnily enough, she grows to admire this quality, although the only people she'd ever admit that to are her husband and son (Luke and Ben, obviously).
* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan says to Elena, "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
to:
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', Marco presents Creator/GeneStrattonPorter's ''Literature/{{Freckles}}'', Freckles, returning from town where Angel and her father treated him as an equal, breaks down and cries on his return trip. He's not sure what it means but he's afraid it's pity.
* In ''Literature/TheFullMatilda'' by David Haynes, Matilda refuses thefacade pity of aloofness because he hates feeling pitied, which ultimately fails whoever [[SecondPersonNarration "you"]] is when she tells the story of how at the age of 16 [[spoiler: slept with the senator her family worked for so she could secure her father a house of his teammates find out that [[spoiler:his mother is Visser One, leader own.]]
* In Creator/DanAbnett's ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' novel ''The Armour ofthe Yeerk Invasion.]] Likewise, teammate Tobias eventually becomes accustomed to being a hawk, but still tries to avoid the feelings of pity from his friends. That said, he is Emohawk, so he spends most of the time wangsting. Jake, similarly, can't stand pity, because he Contempt'', Dalin Criid feels that as and knows he dares not express a deep pity for Merrt after the leader, he should appear flawless and confident Ghost ends up in every decision he makes and therefore tries never to let the others see him second-guessing himself.
* Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse: ''[[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Heir to the Empire]]'': After [[{{Tsundere}} Mara Jade]] reveals her origins to Luke, she lets him know that she doesn't need his sympathy. She gets it anyway!
** Funnily enough, she grows to admire this quality, although the only people she'd ever admit that to are her husband and son (Luke and Ben, obviously).
RIP with him.
* InCreator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan says Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Transcedence]]'', after some false memories were revoked from Atkins -- against his will -- Atkins tells Phaethon to Elena, "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."spare him the pity.
* In ''Literature/TheFullMatilda'' by David Haynes, Matilda refuses the
* In Creator/DanAbnett's ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' novel ''The Armour of
* Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse: ''[[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Heir to the Empire]]'': After [[{{Tsundere}} Mara Jade]] reveals her origins to Luke, she lets him know that she doesn't need his sympathy. She gets it anyway!
** Funnily enough, she grows to admire this quality, although the only people she'd ever admit that to are her husband and son (Luke and Ben, obviously).
* In
Changed line(s) 18,21 (click to see context) from:
* Belle in Creator/CharlesDickens's ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' breaks up with Scrooge when she realizes that his personality has changed and his love of wealth now overshadows any feelings he has for her. When Scrooge points out that he has never asked to break off their engagement, she rejects it as pity or a sense of obligation.
** Scrooge himself also has a moment like this in the 1984 TV adaptation starring George C. Scott. In the scene following the one above, an older Belle, now {{Happily Married}} with many children, expresses pity for Scrooge when she learns that he's alone in the world. Scrooge, forgetting that Belle can neither see nor hear him, exclaims "Spare me your pity! [[BlatantLies I have no need of it!]]"
* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''The Armour of Contempt'', Dalin Criid feels and knows he dares not express a deep pity for Merrt after the Ghost ends up in RIP with him.
* In the Literature/SherlockHolmes story "The Crooked Man" a soldier had been betrayed to the enemy by his rival in love and suffered [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]]. He had avoided his old love for fear of inspiring her pity for many years.
** Scrooge himself also has a moment like this in the 1984 TV adaptation starring George C. Scott. In the scene following the one above, an older Belle, now {{Happily Married}} with many children, expresses pity for Scrooge when she learns that he's alone in the world. Scrooge, forgetting that Belle can neither see nor hear him, exclaims "Spare me your pity! [[BlatantLies I have no need of it!]]"
* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''The Armour of Contempt'', Dalin Criid feels and knows he dares not express a deep pity for Merrt after the Ghost ends up in RIP with him.
* In the Literature/SherlockHolmes story "The Crooked Man" a soldier had been betrayed to the enemy by his rival in love and suffered [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]]. He had avoided his old love for fear of inspiring her pity for many years.
to:
* Belle On ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' it is extremely taboo to offer anyone pity -- it is supposed to demean both the one who offers it and the one who is offered it. So strongly is this felt that in Creator/CharlesDickens's ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' breaks up with Scrooge ''Rogue of Gor'', Jason Marshall successfully reforms an alcoholic merely by pitying him for falling prey to the disease. Even the lure of the bottle is not as strong as the drive to never be pitied again.
* ''Literature/GuardiansOfTheFlame'': James Michael doesn't like that people pity him for having to use a wheelchair because of his muscular dystrophy, and especially whenshe realizes people also act repelled from him (as Doria does).
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Harry also suffers from this, usually justified but sometimes to TooDumbToLive levels. He hates being famous partly because it's annoying, partly because his parents' double murder is part of his fame, and therefore a good bit of the attention he gets is pity, which he hates. He goes further, however, in frequently not telling Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione) his problems, even if it would do a lot of good because he doesn't want them to pity him. For example, he wouldn't tell them that hispersonality has changed and detentions with Umbridge involved writing lines with his love of wealth now overshadows any feelings he has for her. own blood, provoking an outraged response when Ron found out.
** WhenScrooge points out Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that he has never asked to break off their engagement, she rejects it as pity or a sense of obligation.
** Scrooge himself also has a moment"Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like this her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status.
* In ''Literature/{{Iorich}}'', Loiosh knows better than to extend psychic sympathy when his boss is getting beaten up, as Vlad just wants to ride out the pain until it's over.
* The narrator of ''Film/JakobTheLiar'' (not in the1984 TV adaptation starring George C. Scott. In the scene following the one above, an older Belle, now {{Happily Married}} with many children, expresses pity for Scrooge when she learns that he's alone in the world. Scrooge, forgetting that Belle can neither see nor hear him, exclaims "Spare me your pity! [[BlatantLies I have no need of it!]]"
* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''The Armour of Contempt'', Dalin Criid feels and knows he dares not express a deep pity for Merrt after the Ghost ends up in RIP with him.
* In the Literature/SherlockHolmes story "The Crooked Man" a soldier had been betrayed to the enemy by his rival in love and suffered [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]]. He had avoided his old love for fear of inspiring her pity for many years.Creator/RobinWilliams movie).
* ''Literature/GuardiansOfTheFlame'': James Michael doesn't like that people pity him for having to use a wheelchair because of his muscular dystrophy, and especially when
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Harry also suffers from this, usually justified but sometimes to TooDumbToLive levels. He hates being famous partly because it's annoying, partly because his parents' double murder is part of his fame, and therefore a good bit of the attention he gets is pity, which he hates. He goes further, however, in frequently not telling Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione) his problems, even if it would do a lot of good because he doesn't want them to pity him. For example, he wouldn't tell them that his
** When
** Scrooge himself also has a moment
* In ''Literature/{{Iorich}}'', Loiosh knows better than to extend psychic sympathy when his boss is getting beaten up, as Vlad just wants to ride out the pain until it's over.
* The narrator of ''Film/JakobTheLiar'' (not in the
* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''The Armour of Contempt'', Dalin Criid feels and knows he dares not express a deep pity for Merrt after the Ghost ends up in RIP with him.
* In the Literature/SherlockHolmes story "The Crooked Man" a soldier had been betrayed to the enemy by his rival in love and suffered [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]]. He had avoided his old love for fear of inspiring her pity for many years.
Changed line(s) 23,26 (click to see context) from:
* In William King's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} novel ''Literature/SpaceWolf'', when Strybjorn is injured, he snarls at Ragnar, "I don't need your help," but gets only to his knees before he starts to topple. Ragnar helps him up and to walk.
** In ''Literature/{{Wolfblade}}'', Ragnar at one point thinks of helping Haegr to his feet and gets a warning glance that keeps him silent.
* [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jayfeather]] of ''Literature/WarriorCats'' is not the happiest cat around, mostly due to how much he's pitied because of his blindness. Don't be too nice to him, or he'll think you're pitying him. And don't mention his blindness, but then again, [[HairTriggerTemper don't seem like you're trying to avoid it, either]].
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', every time one of the heroes meets any Traveling People (who are [[{{TooDumbToLive}}extreme pacifists]]), the main response toward him is a pity for his readiness to do violence (even in self-defence). One of the sharpest examples was with Perrin, who actually feels guilty doing violence but understands the necessity and gets one of those looks from one such a woman in the middle of a battle! He pretty much starts shouting the name of the trope at her. In a rare occurrence, [[spoiler:she actually breaks that principle to protect him and gets killed]].
** In ''Literature/{{Wolfblade}}'', Ragnar at one point thinks of helping Haegr to his feet and gets a warning glance that keeps him silent.
* [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jayfeather]] of ''Literature/WarriorCats'' is not the happiest cat around, mostly due to how much he's pitied because of his blindness. Don't be too nice to him, or he'll think you're pitying him. And don't mention his blindness, but then again, [[HairTriggerTemper don't seem like you're trying to avoid it, either]].
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', every time one of the heroes meets any Traveling People (who are [[{{TooDumbToLive}}extreme pacifists]]), the main response toward him is a pity for his readiness to do violence (even in self-defence). One of the sharpest examples was with Perrin, who actually feels guilty doing violence but understands the necessity and gets one of those looks from one such a woman in the middle of a battle! He pretty much starts shouting the name of the trope at her. In a rare occurrence, [[spoiler:she actually breaks that principle to protect him and gets killed]].
to:
* ''Creator/DorothyLSayers''' Harriet Vane found it difficult to accept Literature/LordPeterWimsey because he had fallen in love with her after she had been arrested for murder and was in serious danger of execution. The class difference didn't help.
* InWilliam King's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} novel ''Literature/SpaceWolf'', when Strybjorn is injured, he snarls at Ragnar, "I don't need your help," but gets only Creator/JohnHemry's ''Literature/TheLostFleet'', Rion to Geary.
* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan says to Elena, "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
* "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k", one of Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/MyNameIsLegion'' stories, includes Martha Millay, a famous and award-winning photographer who happens to be horribly crippled... and also a telepath. She lives a hermit-like existence on a remote island and explains that she might well have stayed in the city if it weren't for her ability and knowledge of people's feelings about her.
* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to hisknees family in order to rejoin his apprentice Skeeve and finds out that Skeeve is evidently coping [[JustFineWithoutYou just fine without him]]. Skeeve quickly realizes how crushing this is, but other characters happily burble about how well Skeeve is doing before he starts coming to topple. Ragnar helps him up and belated awareness. Panic-stricken, they look to walk.
** In ''Literature/{{Wolfblade}}'', Ragnar at one point thinks of helping HaegrSkeeve to his feet and gets a warning glance convince Aahz that keeps him silent.
* [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jayfeather]][[ICantDoThisByMyself he really is still needed]], and they aren't saying so out of ''Literature/WarriorCats'' pity.
* ''Literature/NightfallSeries'': Tristan isnot the happiest cat around, mostly due to how much he's pitied always in pain because of something that happened in his blindness. Don't be too nice to him, or he'll think you're pitying him. And don't mention past, and he hates being pitied. He hides his blindness, but then again, [[HairTriggerTemper don't seem like you're trying to avoid it, either]].
condition from almost everyone, which is partly justified as he has many enemies at court.
* In''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', every time one John Barnes's ''Literature/OneForTheMorningGlory'', Amatus's behavior is so erratic after Gorlias's death that people worry that he doesn't sit about spurning sympathy despite his otherwise melancholy behavior.
* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic -- all preferring to get out of theheroes meets any Traveling People (who are [[{{TooDumbToLive}}extreme pacifists]]), the main response toward him is a pity for his readiness to do violence (even in self-defence). One pitiful situation, instead. SEE: ''Literature/TheFountainhead'', ''Theatre/ThinkTwice'', and of the sharpest examples was course ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''.
* In ''Literature/RedeemingLove'', Angel reacts withPerrin, who actually feels guilty doing violence but understands the necessity derision (and, as she gradually begins to grow more open towards him, anger) towards Michael’s attempts to show sympathy for her unhappy and gets one of those looks from one such lonely life as a woman in the middle of a battle! He pretty much starts shouting the name of the trope at her. In a rare occurrence, [[spoiler:she actually breaks that principle to protect him and gets killed]].prostitute.
* In
* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan says to Elena, "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
* "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k", one of Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/MyNameIsLegion'' stories, includes Martha Millay, a famous and award-winning photographer who happens to be horribly crippled... and also a telepath. She lives a hermit-like existence on a remote island and explains that she might well have stayed in the city if it weren't for her ability and knowledge of people's feelings about her.
* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to his
** In ''Literature/{{Wolfblade}}'', Ragnar at one point thinks of helping Haegr
* [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jayfeather]]
* ''Literature/NightfallSeries'': Tristan is
* In
* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic -- all preferring to get out of the
* In ''Literature/RedeemingLove'', Angel reacts with
Changed line(s) 28,29 (click to see context) from:
%%* Erik (A.K.A. ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'') has this down to a T.
* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/SmallFavor'', Harry is angry with Michael's pity partly because he can tell that Michael thinks he's deluded, and he knows he's not.
* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/SmallFavor'', Harry is angry with Michael's pity partly because he can tell that Michael thinks he's deluded, and he knows he's not.
to:
* Jenna Heap in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'' doesn't exactly approve of being pitied by Hildegarde after her mother Sarah was trapped in the Darke Domaine. In fact, she runs away just to get rid of her.
* In the Literature/SherlockHolmes story "The Crooked Man" a soldier had been betrayed to the enemy by his rival in love and suffered [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]]. He had avoided his old love for fear of inspiring her pity for many years.
* In the ''Literature/SinisterSixTrilogy'', a character who is named Pity [[spoiler:so named because a [[MoralEventHorizon old man]] decided that she should be miserable her entire life and all she'll ever have is pity]] decides at the end that she won't take pity from anyone anymore.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Joffrey reacts this way when Sansa tries to comfort him after he has been mauled by her sister's direwolf. Cersei later states that this incident is the reason why Joffrey delights in making Sansa's life miserable: she saw him when he was weak.
* In
* In the ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel
* Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse: ''[[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Heir to the Empire]]'': After [[{{Tsundere}} Mara Jade]] reveals her origins to Luke, she lets him know that she doesn't need his sympathy. She gets it anyway!
** Funnily enough, she grows to admire this quality, although the only people she'd ever admit that to are her husband and son (Luke and Ben, obviously).
* ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'' has a variation. The black Tom Robinson was almost certain to be convicted of the white Mayella Ewell's rape regardless of what he said, but he makes one serious mistake at his trial; the prosecutor asks him why he was constantly helping her around her house while turning down money (presumably trying to get Tom to say that he was attracted to her,) but Tom does something even worse by saying that he helped because he
* In ''Literature/{{Touch 2017}},'' Caspar befriends James right after the latter went through RapeAsBackstory. This seems like a coincidence until James learns that Caspar is TheEmpath and could thus sense his newfound trauma, even if he didn't know the exact cause. He's annoyed by the implication that Caspar only befriended him out of pity, though he gets over it pretty quickly upon learning [[BlessedWithSuck how]] [[AbusiveParents bad]] Caspar's own life is.
* In ''Literature/UncleTomsCabin'', the runaway slave George Harris speaks to his kindhearted former boss about his horrible situation and his escape. The boss tries to lend him some money that George desperately needs, but the HotBlooded George rejects it. They find a compromise, though: George ''does'' take the cash, but promises to repay it once he's
* And how in ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''. All the rats seem to be like this.
* In William King's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} novel ''Literature/SpaceWolf'', when Strybjorn is injured, he snarls at Ragnar, "I don't need your help," but gets only to his knees before he starts to topple. Ragnar helps him up and
** In ''Literature/{{Wolfblade}}'', Ragnar at one point thinks of helping Haegr to his feet and gets a warning glance that keeps him silent.
Changed line(s) 31,32 (click to see context) from:
* ''Literature/DawnOfWar'': In C. S. Goto's novel ''Dawn of War: Ascension'', a captive Eldar is infuriated when he realizes a human woman pities him.
* In ''Literature/{{Iorich}}'', Loiosh knows better than to extend psychic sympathy when his boss is getting beaten up, as Vlad just wants to ride out the pain until it's over.
* In ''Literature/{{Iorich}}'', Loiosh knows better than to extend psychic sympathy when his boss is getting beaten up, as Vlad just wants to ride out the pain until it's over.
to:
* ''Literature/DawnOfWar'': [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jayfeather]] of ''Literature/WarriorCats'' is not the happiest cat around, mostly due to how much he's pitied because of his blindness. Don't be too nice to him, or he'll think you're pitying him. And don't mention his blindness, but then again, [[HairTriggerTemper don't seem like you're trying to avoid it, either]].
* InC. S. Goto's novel ''Dawn ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', every time one of War: Ascension'', a captive Eldar the heroes meets any Traveling People (who are [[{{TooDumbToLive}}extreme pacifists]]), the main response toward him is infuriated when he realizes a human pity for his readiness to do violence (even in self-defence). One of the sharpest examples was with Perrin, who actually feels guilty doing violence but understands the necessity and gets one of those looks from one such a woman pities him.
* In ''Literature/{{Iorich}}'', Loiosh knows better than to extend psychic sympathy when his boss is getting beaten up, as Vlad just wants to ride outin the pain until it's over.middle of a battle! He pretty much starts shouting the name of the trope at her. In a rare occurrence, [[spoiler:she actually breaks that principle to protect him and gets killed]].
* In
* In ''Literature/{{Iorich}}'', Loiosh knows better than to extend psychic sympathy when his boss is getting beaten up, as Vlad just wants to ride out
Changed line(s) 35,62 (click to see context) from:
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Transcedence]]'', after some false memories were revoked from Atkins -- against his will -- Atkins tells Phaethon to spare him the pity.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Harry also suffers from this, usually justified but sometimes to TooDumbToLive levels. He hates being famous partly because it's annoying, partly because his parents' double murder is part of his fame, and therefore a good bit of the attention he gets is pity, which he hates. He goes further, however, in frequently not telling Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione) his problems, even if it would do a lot of good because he doesn't want them to pity him. For example, he wouldn't tell them that his detentions with Umbridge involved writing lines with his own blood, provoking an outraged response when Ron found out.
** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status.
* The narrator of ''Film/JakobTheLiar'' (not in the Creator/RobinWilliams movie)
* Raistlin Majere of the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' books absolutely ''hates'' to be pitied.
* In ''Literature/UncleTomsCabin'', the runaway slave George Harris speaks to his kindhearted former boss about his horrible situation and his escape. The boss tries to lend him some money that George desperately needs, but the HotBlooded George rejects it. They find a compromise, though: George ''does'' take the cash, but promises to repay it once he's free.
* In ''Literature/TheFullMatilda'' by David Haynes, Matilda refuses the pity of whoever [[SecondPersonNarration "you"]] is when she tells the story of how at the age of 16 [[spoiler: slept with the senator her family worked for so she could secure her father a house of his own.]]
* In ''Literature/DaughterOfTheForest'' by Creator/JulietMarillier, Red literally says this to Sorcha.
* In Creator/JohnHemry's ''Literature/TheLostFleet'', Rion to Geary.
* Jenna Heap in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'' doesn't exactly approve of being pitied by Hildegarde after her mother Sarah was trapped in the Darke Domaine. In fact, she runs away just to get rid of her.
* Vlad Tepes in ''Literature/CountAndCountess''. God help you if you try to point out his awful childhood or show him sympathy over having lost his entire family to a pointless war.
* In Creator/GeneStrattonPorter's ''Literature/{{Freckles}}'', Freckles, returning from town where Angel and her father treated him as an equal, breaks down and cries on his return trip. He's not sure what it means but he's afraid it's pity.
* In the ''Literature/TheSavannahReidMysteries'' novel ''Buried in Buttercream'', when Savannah's having a rough time because she and her friends are having some psychological issues from her being shot a couple of months ago, and now her wedding had to be canceled a ''second'' time (first because an arsonist burned the building she was supposed to be married in, second time because someone was murdered at the place), she tells her Granny to not say any pitying, kind words because that will make her just fall apart.
* In ''Literature/RedeemingLove'', Angel reacts with derision (and, as she gradually begins to grow more open towards him, anger) towards Michael’s attempts to show sympathy for her unhappy and lonely life as a prostitute.
* In ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'', Briar and Daja make themselves rich with plant and smith magic, and Sandry's an heiress who lives with her uncle the Duke of Emelan. Tris is the odd one out since she can't profit from her magic without sacrificing her ethics. When Daja asks her to move into her new forge/house in ''The Will of the Empress'', Tris immediately insists that she'll work as Daja's maid rather than accepting "charity."
* And how in ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''. All the rats seem to be like this.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Literature/SpocksWorld'', the BigBad tells [=McCoy=] that said character doesn't want his pity for being imprisoned. He retorts that he's got no time for pity and that the BigBad needs to pull [[spoiler:herself]] together.
* In the ''Literature/SinisterSixTrilogy'', a character who is named Pity [[spoiler:so named because a [[MoralEventHorizon old man]] decided that she should be miserable her entire life and all she'll ever have is pity]] decides at the end that she won't take pity from anyone anymore.
* ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'' has a variation. The black Tom Robinson was almost certain to be convicted of the white Mayella Ewell's rape regardless of what he said, but he makes one serious mistake at his trial; the prosecutor asks him why he was constantly helping her around her house while turning down money (presumably trying to get Tom to say that he was attracted to her,) but Tom does something even worse by saying that he helped because he "felt right sorry for her". "''You'' felt sorry for ''her''? You felt ''sorry'' for her?" replies the prosecutor, causing both Tom and Atticus to immediately realize that the concept of a black man pitying a white woman will offend the jury so much that whatever extremely slim chance they might have had of acquittal has been lost, and Atticus's closing statement specifically draws attention to how having the "temerity" to pity a white woman is ''not'' reason enough to convict him.
%% * Jessamine Lovelace in ''[[Literature/TheInfernalDevices The Clockwork Prince]]''.
* In ''Literature/ComradeDeath'', Sarek arranges to MurderTheHypotenuse when his rival Janos is arrested as a spy. Sarek is an ArmsDealer speaking with the nation's paranoid leader and refuses to acknowledge that he knows Janos is an innocent artist. He returns home spinning the tale to Cosima of how he couldn't save her husband and offering to marry her to support her children when she refuses Sarek throws the truth in her face. He expected hatred after confessing to let her husband die, but instead, he receives pity -- Cosima is such a WideEyedIdealist that she can't see Sarek for who he really is, believing that he's trying to punish himself for being unable to save Janos.
%%* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Johanna Mason.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Joffrey reacts this way when Sansa tries to comfort him after he has been mauled by her sister's direwolf. Cersei later states that this incident is the reason why Joffrey delights in making Sansa's life miserable: she saw him when he was weak.
* ''Literature/GuardiansOfTheFlame'': James Michael doesn't like that people pity him for having to use a wheelchair because of his muscular dystrophy, and especially when people also act repelled from him (as Doria does).
* In ''Literature/{{Touch 2017}},'' Caspar befriends James right after the latter went through RapeAsBackstory. This seems like a coincidence until James learns that Caspar is TheEmpath and could thus sense his newfound trauma, even if he didn't know the exact cause. He's annoyed by the implication that Caspar only befriended him out of pity, though he gets over it pretty quickly upon learning [[BlessedWithSuck how]] [[AbusiveParents bad]] Caspar's own life is.
* "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k", one of Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/MyNameIsLegion'' stories, includes Martha Millay, a famous and award-winning photographer who happens to be horribly crippled... and also a telepath. She lives a hermit-like existence on a remote island and explains that she might well have stayed in the city if it weren't for her ability and knowledge of people's feelings about her.
* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' deconstructs this trope when Harry [=McGill=], a cub who needs to use a wheelchair to get around as a result of a car accident when he was young, moves to Bear Country and joins the same class Brother and his friends are in. Harry refuses to be pitied for being paraplegic, which is understandable, and it’s also hard to blame him for being angry at Queenie's DisabledMeansHelpless attitude towards him. The problem comes from how he interprets ''any'' sort of kindness or decent treatment towards him as nothing more than "special treatment" because of his disability. As a result, [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery he's incredibly abrasive and rude to everyone]], even to those who are genuinely trying to befriend him or help him adjust to a new environment regardless of his disability. It takes Brother calling him out on his attitude after Harry [[UngratefulBastard was initially ungrateful]] for Brother defending him from [[BullyingTheDisabled Too-Tall's bullying]] for him to have a JerkassRealization and mellow out.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Harry also suffers from this, usually justified but sometimes to TooDumbToLive levels. He hates being famous partly because it's annoying, partly because his parents' double murder is part of his fame, and therefore a good bit of the attention he gets is pity, which he hates. He goes further, however, in frequently not telling Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione) his problems, even if it would do a lot of good because he doesn't want them to pity him. For example, he wouldn't tell them that his detentions with Umbridge involved writing lines with his own blood, provoking an outraged response when Ron found out.
** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status.
* The narrator of ''Film/JakobTheLiar'' (not in the Creator/RobinWilliams movie)
* Raistlin Majere of the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' books absolutely ''hates'' to be pitied.
* In ''Literature/UncleTomsCabin'', the runaway slave George Harris speaks to his kindhearted former boss about his horrible situation and his escape. The boss tries to lend him some money that George desperately needs, but the HotBlooded George rejects it. They find a compromise, though: George ''does'' take the cash, but promises to repay it once he's free.
* In ''Literature/TheFullMatilda'' by David Haynes, Matilda refuses the pity of whoever [[SecondPersonNarration "you"]] is when she tells the story of how at the age of 16 [[spoiler: slept with the senator her family worked for so she could secure her father a house of his own.]]
* In ''Literature/DaughterOfTheForest'' by Creator/JulietMarillier, Red literally says this to Sorcha.
* In Creator/JohnHemry's ''Literature/TheLostFleet'', Rion to Geary.
* Jenna Heap in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'' doesn't exactly approve of being pitied by Hildegarde after her mother Sarah was trapped in the Darke Domaine. In fact, she runs away just to get rid of her.
* Vlad Tepes in ''Literature/CountAndCountess''. God help you if you try to point out his awful childhood or show him sympathy over having lost his entire family to a pointless war.
* In Creator/GeneStrattonPorter's ''Literature/{{Freckles}}'', Freckles, returning from town where Angel and her father treated him as an equal, breaks down and cries on his return trip. He's not sure what it means but he's afraid it's pity.
* In the ''Literature/TheSavannahReidMysteries'' novel ''Buried in Buttercream'', when Savannah's having a rough time because she and her friends are having some psychological issues from her being shot a couple of months ago, and now her wedding had to be canceled a ''second'' time (first because an arsonist burned the building she was supposed to be married in, second time because someone was murdered at the place), she tells her Granny to not say any pitying, kind words because that will make her just fall apart.
* In ''Literature/RedeemingLove'', Angel reacts with derision (and, as she gradually begins to grow more open towards him, anger) towards Michael’s attempts to show sympathy for her unhappy and lonely life as a prostitute.
* In ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'', Briar and Daja make themselves rich with plant and smith magic, and Sandry's an heiress who lives with her uncle the Duke of Emelan. Tris is the odd one out since she can't profit from her magic without sacrificing her ethics. When Daja asks her to move into her new forge/house in ''The Will of the Empress'', Tris immediately insists that she'll work as Daja's maid rather than accepting "charity."
* And how in ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''. All the rats seem to be like this.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Literature/SpocksWorld'', the BigBad tells [=McCoy=] that said character doesn't want his pity for being imprisoned. He retorts that he's got no time for pity and that the BigBad needs to pull [[spoiler:herself]] together.
* In the ''Literature/SinisterSixTrilogy'', a character who is named Pity [[spoiler:so named because a [[MoralEventHorizon old man]] decided that she should be miserable her entire life and all she'll ever have is pity]] decides at the end that she won't take pity from anyone anymore.
* ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'' has a variation. The black Tom Robinson was almost certain to be convicted of the white Mayella Ewell's rape regardless of what he said, but he makes one serious mistake at his trial; the prosecutor asks him why he was constantly helping her around her house while turning down money (presumably trying to get Tom to say that he was attracted to her,) but Tom does something even worse by saying that he helped because he "felt right sorry for her". "''You'' felt sorry for ''her''? You felt ''sorry'' for her?" replies the prosecutor, causing both Tom and Atticus to immediately realize that the concept of a black man pitying a white woman will offend the jury so much that whatever extremely slim chance they might have had of acquittal has been lost, and Atticus's closing statement specifically draws attention to how having the "temerity" to pity a white woman is ''not'' reason enough to convict him.
%% * Jessamine Lovelace in ''[[Literature/TheInfernalDevices The Clockwork Prince]]''.
* In ''Literature/ComradeDeath'', Sarek arranges to MurderTheHypotenuse when his rival Janos is arrested as a spy. Sarek is an ArmsDealer speaking with the nation's paranoid leader and refuses to acknowledge that he knows Janos is an innocent artist. He returns home spinning the tale to Cosima of how he couldn't save her husband and offering to marry her to support her children when she refuses Sarek throws the truth in her face. He expected hatred after confessing to let her husband die, but instead, he receives pity -- Cosima is such a WideEyedIdealist that she can't see Sarek for who he really is, believing that he's trying to punish himself for being unable to save Janos.
%%* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Johanna Mason.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Joffrey reacts this way when Sansa tries to comfort him after he has been mauled by her sister's direwolf. Cersei later states that this incident is the reason why Joffrey delights in making Sansa's life miserable: she saw him when he was weak.
* ''Literature/GuardiansOfTheFlame'': James Michael doesn't like that people pity him for having to use a wheelchair because of his muscular dystrophy, and especially when people also act repelled from him (as Doria does).
* In ''Literature/{{Touch 2017}},'' Caspar befriends James right after the latter went through RapeAsBackstory. This seems like a coincidence until James learns that Caspar is TheEmpath and could thus sense his newfound trauma, even if he didn't know the exact cause. He's annoyed by the implication that Caspar only befriended him out of pity, though he gets over it pretty quickly upon learning [[BlessedWithSuck how]] [[AbusiveParents bad]] Caspar's own life is.
* "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k", one of Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/MyNameIsLegion'' stories, includes Martha Millay, a famous and award-winning photographer who happens to be horribly crippled... and also a telepath. She lives a hermit-like existence on a remote island and explains that she might well have stayed in the city if it weren't for her ability and knowledge of people's feelings about her.
* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' deconstructs this trope when Harry [=McGill=], a cub who needs to use a wheelchair to get around as a result of a car accident when he was young, moves to Bear Country and joins the same class Brother and his friends are in. Harry refuses to be pitied for being paraplegic, which is understandable, and it’s also hard to blame him for being angry at Queenie's DisabledMeansHelpless attitude towards him. The problem comes from how he interprets ''any'' sort of kindness or decent treatment towards him as nothing more than "special treatment" because of his disability. As a result, [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery he's incredibly abrasive and rude to everyone]], even to those who are genuinely trying to befriend him or help him adjust to a new environment regardless of his disability. It takes Brother calling him out on his attitude after Harry [[UngratefulBastard was initially ungrateful]] for Brother defending him from [[BullyingTheDisabled Too-Tall's bullying]] for him to have a JerkassRealization and mellow out.
to:
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Harry also suffers from this, usually justified but sometimes to TooDumbToLive levels. He hates being famous partly because it's annoying, partly because his parents' double murder is part of his fame, and therefore a good bit of the attention he gets is pity, which he hates. He goes further, however, in frequently not telling Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione) his problems, even if it would do a lot of good because he doesn't want them to pity him. For example, he wouldn't tell them that his detentions with Umbridge involved writing lines with his own blood, provoking an outraged response when Ron found out.
** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status.
* The narrator of ''Film/JakobTheLiar'' (not in the Creator/RobinWilliams movie)
* Raistlin Majere of the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' books absolutely ''hates'' to be pitied.
* In ''Literature/UncleTomsCabin'', the runaway slave George Harris speaks to his kindhearted former boss about his horrible situation and his escape. The boss tries to lend him some money that George desperately needs, but the HotBlooded George rejects it. They find a compromise, though: George ''does'' take the cash, but promises to repay it once he's free.
* In ''Literature/TheFullMatilda'' by David Haynes, Matilda refuses the pity of whoever [[SecondPersonNarration "you"]] is when she tells the story of how at the age of 16 [[spoiler: slept with the senator her family worked for so she could secure her father a house of his own.]]
* In ''Literature/DaughterOfTheForest'' by Creator/JulietMarillier, Red literally says this to Sorcha.
* In Creator/JohnHemry's ''Literature/TheLostFleet'', Rion to Geary.
* Jenna Heap in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'' doesn't exactly approve of being pitied by Hildegarde after her mother Sarah was trapped in the Darke Domaine. In fact, she runs away just to get rid of her.
* Vlad Tepes in ''Literature/CountAndCountess''. God help you if you try to point out his awful childhood or show him sympathy over having lost his entire family to a pointless war.
* In Creator/GeneStrattonPorter's ''Literature/{{Freckles}}'', Freckles, returning from town where Angel and her father treated him as an equal, breaks down and cries on his return trip. He's not sure what it means but he's afraid it's pity.
* In the ''Literature/TheSavannahReidMysteries'' novel ''Buried in Buttercream'', when Savannah's having a rough time because she and her friends are having some psychological issues from her being shot a couple of months ago, and now her wedding had to be canceled a ''second'' time (first because an arsonist burned the building she was supposed to be married in, second time because someone was murdered at the place), she tells her Granny to not say any pitying, kind words because that will make her just fall apart.
* In ''Literature/RedeemingLove'', Angel reacts with derision (and, as she gradually begins to grow more open towards him, anger) towards Michael’s attempts to show sympathy for her unhappy and lonely life as a prostitute.
* In ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'', Briar and Daja make themselves rich with plant and smith magic, and Sandry's an heiress who lives with her uncle the Duke of Emelan. Tris is the odd one out since she can't profit from her magic without sacrificing her ethics. When Daja asks her to move into her new forge/house in ''The Will of the Empress'', Tris immediately insists that she'll work as Daja's maid rather than accepting "charity."
* And how in ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''. All the rats seem to be like this.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Literature/SpocksWorld'', the BigBad tells [=McCoy=] that said character doesn't want his pity for being imprisoned. He retorts that he's got no time for pity and that the BigBad needs to pull [[spoiler:herself]] together.
* In the ''Literature/SinisterSixTrilogy'', a character who is named Pity [[spoiler:so named because a [[MoralEventHorizon old man]] decided that she should be miserable her entire life and all she'll ever have is pity]] decides at the end that she won't take pity from anyone anymore.
* ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'' has a variation. The black Tom Robinson was almost certain to be convicted of the white Mayella Ewell's rape regardless of what he said, but he makes one serious mistake at his trial; the prosecutor asks him why he was constantly helping her around her house while turning down money (presumably trying to get Tom to say that he was attracted to her,) but Tom does something even worse by saying that he helped because he "felt right sorry for her". "''You'' felt sorry for ''her''? You felt ''sorry'' for her?" replies the prosecutor, causing both Tom and Atticus to immediately realize that the concept of a black man pitying a white woman will offend the jury so much that whatever extremely slim chance they might have had of acquittal has been lost, and Atticus's closing statement specifically draws attention to how having the "temerity" to pity a white woman is ''not'' reason enough to convict him.
%% * Jessamine Lovelace in ''[[Literature/TheInfernalDevices The Clockwork Prince]]''.
* In ''Literature/ComradeDeath'', Sarek arranges to MurderTheHypotenuse when his rival Janos is arrested as a spy. Sarek is an ArmsDealer speaking with the nation's paranoid leader and refuses to acknowledge that he knows Janos is an innocent artist. He returns home spinning the tale to Cosima of how he couldn't save her husband and offering to marry her to support her children when she refuses Sarek throws the truth in her face. He expected hatred after confessing to let her husband die, but instead, he receives pity -- Cosima is such a WideEyedIdealist that she can't see Sarek for who he really is, believing that he's trying to punish himself for being unable to save Janos.
%%* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Johanna Mason.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Joffrey reacts this way when Sansa tries to comfort him after he has been mauled by her sister's direwolf. Cersei later states that this incident is the reason why Joffrey delights in making Sansa's life miserable: she saw him when he was weak.
* ''Literature/GuardiansOfTheFlame'': James Michael doesn't like that people pity him for having to use a wheelchair because of his muscular dystrophy, and especially when people also act repelled from him (as Doria does).
* In ''Literature/{{Touch 2017}},'' Caspar befriends James right after the latter went through RapeAsBackstory. This seems like a coincidence until James learns that Caspar is TheEmpath and could thus sense his newfound trauma, even if he didn't know the exact cause. He's annoyed by the implication that Caspar only befriended him out of pity, though he gets over it pretty quickly upon learning [[BlessedWithSuck how]] [[AbusiveParents bad]] Caspar's own life is.
* "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k", one of Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/MyNameIsLegion'' stories, includes Martha Millay, a famous and award-winning photographer who happens to be horribly crippled... and also a telepath. She lives a hermit-like existence on a remote island and explains that she might well have stayed in the city if it weren't for her ability and knowledge of people's feelings about her.
* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' deconstructs this trope when Harry [=McGill=], a cub who needs to use a wheelchair to get around as a result of a car accident when he was young, moves to Bear Country and joins the same class Brother and his friends are in. Harry refuses to be pitied for being paraplegic, which is understandable, and it’s also hard to blame him for being angry at Queenie's DisabledMeansHelpless attitude towards him. The problem comes from how he interprets ''any'' sort of kindness or decent treatment towards him as nothing more than "special treatment" because of his disability. As a result, [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery he's incredibly abrasive and rude to everyone]], even to those who are genuinely trying to befriend him or help him adjust to a new environment regardless of his disability. It takes Brother calling him out on his attitude after Harry [[UngratefulBastard was initially ungrateful]] for Brother defending him from [[BullyingTheDisabled Too-Tall's bullying]] for him to have a JerkassRealization and mellow out.
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* ''Literature/NightfallSeries'': Tristan is always in pain because of something that happened in his past, and he hates being pitied. He hides his condition from almost everyone, which is partly justified as he has many enemies at court.
* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic--all preferring to get out of the pitiful situation, instead. SEE: ''Literature/TheFountainhead'', ''Theatre/ThinkTwice'', and of course ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''.
* There's a variant in one of the later ''Literature/{{Campion}}'' novels by Margery Allingham. Campion conceals the fact he has amnesia and that one of his few memories is of how much he loves Amanda because he can't bear the thought of her choosing him out of pity.
* In ''Literature/ADarkerShadeOfMagic'' Lila goes off on Kell for not appreciating his life as an adopted son of Royalty while she spent her life in the streets. Then tells him not to pity her when he goes to apologize.
* ''Creator/DorothyLSayers''' Harriet Vane found it difficult to accept Literature/LordPeterWimsey because he had fallen in love with her after she had been arrested for murder and was in serious danger of execution. The class difference didn't help.
* In ''Literature/SorceryAndCecelia'', at the beginning of her Season, Kate has no partners at her first dance except for one who seemed rather distracted during the dance and immediately afterward claimed his dance with her sister, making the sister's magnanimity a little too blatant for Kate.
* On ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' it is extremely taboo to offer anyone pity - it is supposed to demean both the one who offers it and the one who is offered it. So strongly is this felt that in ''Rogue of Gor'', Jason Marshall successfully reforms an alcoholic merely by pitying him for falling prey to the disease. Even the lure of the bottle is not as strong as the drive to never be pitied again.
* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to his family in order to rejoin his apprentice Skeeve and finds out that Skeeve is evidently coping [[JustFineWithoutYou just fine without him]]. Skeeve quickly realizes how crushing this is, but other characters happily burble about how well Skeeve is doing before coming to belated awareness. Panic-stricken, they look to Skeeve to convince Aahz that [[ICantDoThisByMyself he really is still needed]], and they aren't saying so out of pity.
* In the final ''Literature/CodexAlera'' novel, when Tavi finds out Kitai [[spoiler:is pregnant]], she starts to cry, uses watercrafting to remove the tears, and Tavi holds her close and says:
--> Don't hide those tears from me.
* In John Barnes's ''Literature/OneForTheMorningGlory'', Amatus's behavior is so erratic after Gorlias's death that people worry that he doesn't sit about spurning sympathy despite his otherwise melancholy behavior.
* ''Literature/EndersShadow'': Achilles doesn't want your pity, and in fact will kill you if he detects even a hint of it in any of your interactions. Of course, he may just kill you anyway. He's like that.
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', Marco presents the facade of aloofness because he hates feeling pitied, which ultimately fails when his teammates find out that [[spoiler:his mother is Visser One, leader of the Yeerk Invasion.]] Likewise, teammate Tobias eventually becomes accustomed to being a hawk, but still tries to avoid the feelings of pity from his friends. That said, he is Emohawk, so he spends most of the time wangsting. Jake, similarly, can't stand pity, because he feels that as the leader, he should appear flawless and confident in every decision he makes and therefore tries never to let the others see him second-guessing himself.
* Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse: ''[[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Heir to the Empire]]'': After [[{{Tsundere}} Mara Jade]] reveals her origins to Luke, she lets him know that she doesn't need his sympathy. She gets it anyway!
** Funnily enough, she grows to admire this quality, although the only people she'd ever admit that to are her husband and son (Luke and Ben, obviously).
* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan says to Elena, "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
* Scarlett O'Hara in ''Literature/GoneWithTheWind'' is an example. She cannot stand being pitied; Rhett claims that she cannot stand pity and sympathy because she sees them as a sign of weakness. At the end of the book, when Rhett tells her that this is the only feeling he has left for her, ''that'' is the moment that she knows for certain that their marriage is over.
* Belle in Creator/CharlesDickens's ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' breaks up with Scrooge when she realizes that his personality has changed and his love of wealth now overshadows any feelings he has for her. When Scrooge points out that he has never asked to break off their engagement, she rejects it as pity or a sense of obligation.
** Scrooge himself also has a moment like this in the 1984 TV adaptation starring George C. Scott. In the scene following the one above, an older Belle, now {{Happily Married}} with many children, expresses pity for Scrooge when she learns that he's alone in the world. Scrooge, forgetting that Belle can neither see nor hear him, exclaims "Spare me your pity! [[BlatantLies I have no need of it!]]"
* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''The Armour of Contempt'', Dalin Criid feels and knows he dares not express a deep pity for Merrt after the Ghost ends up in RIP with him.
* In the Literature/SherlockHolmes story "The Crooked Man" a soldier had been betrayed to the enemy by his rival in love and suffered [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]]. He had avoided his old love for fear of inspiring her pity for many years.
* Éowyn, in Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', says this to Faramir with the line, "I desire no man's pity." (Faramir responds with a rare defense of pity: "Do not scorn pity that is the gift of a gentle heart.")
* In William King's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} novel ''Literature/SpaceWolf'', when Strybjorn is injured, he snarls at Ragnar, "I don't need your help," but gets only to his knees before he starts to topple. Ragnar helps him up and to walk.
** In ''Literature/{{Wolfblade}}'', Ragnar at one point thinks of helping Haegr to his feet and gets a warning glance that keeps him silent.
* [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jayfeather]] of ''Literature/WarriorCats'' is not the happiest cat around, mostly due to how much he's pitied because of his blindness. Don't be too nice to him, or he'll think you're pitying him. And don't mention his blindness, but then again, [[HairTriggerTemper don't seem like you're trying to avoid it, either]].
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', every time one of the heroes meets any Traveling People (who are [[{{TooDumbToLive}}extreme pacifists]]), the main response toward him is a pity for his readiness to do violence (even in self-defence). One of the sharpest examples was with Perrin, who actually feels guilty doing violence but understands the necessity and gets one of those looks from one such a woman in the middle of a battle! He pretty much starts shouting the name of the trope at her. In a rare occurrence, [[spoiler:she actually breaks that principle to protect him and gets killed]].
* In Creator/BrianJacques's ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'', ImpoverishedPatrician Squire Julian of Gingivere disdains his ramshackle estate and repels Matthias's sympathy because he knows nothing of loneliness or [[GoodOldWays trying to preserve standards]].
%%* Erik (A.K.A. ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'') has this down to a T.
* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/SmallFavor'', Harry is angry with Michael's pity partly because he can tell that Michael thinks he's deluded, and he knows he's not.
* In Steven Lyons's ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' novel ''Ice Guard'', Anakora joined the [[Characters/Warhammer40000ImperialGuard Imperial Guard]] to avoid the pity. She is convinced that her subsequent survival -- two and a half years, where normal life expectancy is measured in hours -- resulted from others pitying her.
* ''Literature/DawnOfWar'': In C. S. Goto's novel ''Dawn of War: Ascension'', a captive Eldar is infuriated when he realizes a human woman pities him.
* In ''Literature/{{Iorich}}'', Loiosh knows better than to extend psychic sympathy when his boss is getting beaten up, as Vlad just wants to ride out the pain until it's over.
* During ''[[Literature/XWingSeries Wedge's Gamble]]'', one of the Alderaanians who was off-planet when [[EarthShatteringKaboom it was destroyed]] explains that many Alderaanians feel this trope, hating the thought of pity, but at the same time feel the need to remind people of their loss.
** In Wraith Squadron, Falynn suffers from a [[AlwaysSecondBest serious inferiority complex]] and hates the idea of being coddled.
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Transcedence]]'', after some false memories were revoked from Atkins -- against his will -- Atkins tells Phaethon to spare him the pity.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Harry also suffers from this, usually justified but sometimes to TooDumbToLive levels. He hates being famous partly because it's annoying, partly because his parents' double murder is part of his fame, and therefore a good bit of the attention he gets is pity, which he hates. He goes further, however, in frequently not telling Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione) his problems, even if it would do a lot of good because he doesn't want them to pity him. For example, he wouldn't tell them that his detentions with Umbridge involved writing lines with his own blood, provoking an outraged response when Ron found out.
** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status.
* The narrator of ''Film/JakobTheLiar'' (not in the Creator/RobinWilliams movie)
* Raistlin Majere of the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' books absolutely ''hates'' to be pitied.
* In ''Literature/UncleTomsCabin'', the runaway slave George Harris speaks to his kindhearted former boss about his horrible situation and his escape. The boss tries to lend him some money that George desperately needs, but the HotBlooded George rejects it. They find a compromise, though: George ''does'' take the cash, but promises to repay it once he's free.
* In ''Literature/TheFullMatilda'' by David Haynes, Matilda refuses the pity of whoever [[SecondPersonNarration "you"]] is when she tells the story of how at the age of 16 [[spoiler: slept with the senator her family worked for so she could secure her father a house of his own.]]
* In ''Literature/DaughterOfTheForest'' by Creator/JulietMarillier, Red literally says this to Sorcha.
* In Creator/JohnHemry's ''Literature/TheLostFleet'', Rion to Geary.
* Jenna Heap in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'' doesn't exactly approve of being pitied by Hildegarde after her mother Sarah was trapped in the Darke Domaine. In fact, she runs away just to get rid of her.
* Vlad Tepes in ''Literature/CountAndCountess''. God help you if you try to point out his awful childhood or show him sympathy over having lost his entire family to a pointless war.
* In Creator/GeneStrattonPorter's ''Literature/{{Freckles}}'', Freckles, returning from town where Angel and her father treated him as an equal, breaks down and cries on his return trip. He's not sure what it means but he's afraid it's pity.
* In the ''Literature/TheSavannahReidMysteries'' novel ''Buried in Buttercream'', when Savannah's having a rough time because she and her friends are having some psychological issues from her being shot a couple of months ago, and now her wedding had to be canceled a ''second'' time (first because an arsonist burned the building she was supposed to be married in, second time because someone was murdered at the place), she tells her Granny to not say any pitying, kind words because that will make her just fall apart.
* In ''Literature/RedeemingLove'', Angel reacts with derision (and, as she gradually begins to grow more open towards him, anger) towards Michael’s attempts to show sympathy for her unhappy and lonely life as a prostitute.
* In ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'', Briar and Daja make themselves rich with plant and smith magic, and Sandry's an heiress who lives with her uncle the Duke of Emelan. Tris is the odd one out since she can't profit from her magic without sacrificing her ethics. When Daja asks her to move into her new forge/house in ''The Will of the Empress'', Tris immediately insists that she'll work as Daja's maid rather than accepting "charity."
* And how in ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''. All the rats seem to be like this.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Literature/SpocksWorld'', the BigBad tells [=McCoy=] that said character doesn't want his pity for being imprisoned. He retorts that he's got no time for pity and that the BigBad needs to pull [[spoiler:herself]] together.
* In the ''Literature/SinisterSixTrilogy'', a character who is named Pity [[spoiler:so named because a [[MoralEventHorizon old man]] decided that she should be miserable her entire life and all she'll ever have is pity]] decides at the end that she won't take pity from anyone anymore.
* ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'' has a variation. The black Tom Robinson was almost certain to be convicted of the white Mayella Ewell's rape regardless of what he said, but he makes one serious mistake at his trial; the prosecutor asks him why he was constantly helping her around her house while turning down money (presumably trying to get Tom to say that he was attracted to her,) but Tom does something even worse by saying that he helped because he "felt right sorry for her". "''You'' felt sorry for ''her''? You felt ''sorry'' for her?" replies the prosecutor, causing both Tom and Atticus to immediately realize that the concept of a black man pitying a white woman will offend the jury so much that whatever extremely slim chance they might have had of acquittal has been lost, and Atticus's closing statement specifically draws attention to how having the "temerity" to pity a white woman is ''not'' reason enough to convict him.
%% * Jessamine Lovelace in ''[[Literature/TheInfernalDevices The Clockwork Prince]]''.
* In ''Literature/ComradeDeath'', Sarek arranges to MurderTheHypotenuse when his rival Janos is arrested as a spy. Sarek is an ArmsDealer speaking with the nation's paranoid leader and refuses to acknowledge that he knows Janos is an innocent artist. He returns home spinning the tale to Cosima of how he couldn't save her husband and offering to marry her to support her children when she refuses Sarek throws the truth in her face. He expected hatred after confessing to let her husband die, but instead, he receives pity -- Cosima is such a WideEyedIdealist that she can't see Sarek for who he really is, believing that he's trying to punish himself for being unable to save Janos.
%%* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Johanna Mason.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Joffrey reacts this way when Sansa tries to comfort him after he has been mauled by her sister's direwolf. Cersei later states that this incident is the reason why Joffrey delights in making Sansa's life miserable: she saw him when he was weak.
* ''Literature/GuardiansOfTheFlame'': James Michael doesn't like that people pity him for having to use a wheelchair because of his muscular dystrophy, and especially when people also act repelled from him (as Doria does).
* In ''Literature/{{Touch 2017}},'' Caspar befriends James right after the latter went through RapeAsBackstory. This seems like a coincidence until James learns that Caspar is TheEmpath and could thus sense his newfound trauma, even if he didn't know the exact cause. He's annoyed by the implication that Caspar only befriended him out of pity, though he gets over it pretty quickly upon learning [[BlessedWithSuck how]] [[AbusiveParents bad]] Caspar's own life is.
* "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k", one of Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/MyNameIsLegion'' stories, includes Martha Millay, a famous and award-winning photographer who happens to be horribly crippled... and also a telepath. She lives a hermit-like existence on a remote island and explains that she might well have stayed in the city if it weren't for her ability and knowledge of people's feelings about her.
* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' deconstructs this trope when Harry [=McGill=], a cub who needs to use a wheelchair to get around as a result of a car accident when he was young, moves to Bear Country and joins the same class Brother and his friends are in. Harry refuses to be pitied for being paraplegic, which is understandable, and it’s also hard to blame him for being angry at Queenie's DisabledMeansHelpless attitude towards him. The problem comes from how he interprets ''any'' sort of kindness or decent treatment towards him as nothing more than "special treatment" because of his disability. As a result, [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery he's incredibly abrasive and rude to everyone]], even to those who are genuinely trying to befriend him or help him adjust to a new environment regardless of his disability. It takes Brother calling him out on his attitude after Harry [[UngratefulBastard was initially ungrateful]] for Brother defending him from [[BullyingTheDisabled Too-Tall's bullying]] for him to have a JerkassRealization and mellow out.
* Creator/AynRand was quite fond of giving her heroes this characteristic--all preferring to get out of the pitiful situation, instead. SEE: ''Literature/TheFountainhead'', ''Theatre/ThinkTwice'', and of course ''Literature/AtlasShrugged''.
* There's a variant in one of the later ''Literature/{{Campion}}'' novels by Margery Allingham. Campion conceals the fact he has amnesia and that one of his few memories is of how much he loves Amanda because he can't bear the thought of her choosing him out of pity.
* In ''Literature/ADarkerShadeOfMagic'' Lila goes off on Kell for not appreciating his life as an adopted son of Royalty while she spent her life in the streets. Then tells him not to pity her when he goes to apologize.
* ''Creator/DorothyLSayers''' Harriet Vane found it difficult to accept Literature/LordPeterWimsey because he had fallen in love with her after she had been arrested for murder and was in serious danger of execution. The class difference didn't help.
* In ''Literature/SorceryAndCecelia'', at the beginning of her Season, Kate has no partners at her first dance except for one who seemed rather distracted during the dance and immediately afterward claimed his dance with her sister, making the sister's magnanimity a little too blatant for Kate.
* On ''Literature/{{Gor}}'' it is extremely taboo to offer anyone pity - it is supposed to demean both the one who offers it and the one who is offered it. So strongly is this felt that in ''Rogue of Gor'', Jason Marshall successfully reforms an alcoholic merely by pitying him for falling prey to the disease. Even the lure of the bottle is not as strong as the drive to never be pitied again.
* In Creator/RobertAsprin's ''[[Literature/MythAdventures Hit or Myth]]'', Aahz makes or breaks heavy promises to his family in order to rejoin his apprentice Skeeve and finds out that Skeeve is evidently coping [[JustFineWithoutYou just fine without him]]. Skeeve quickly realizes how crushing this is, but other characters happily burble about how well Skeeve is doing before coming to belated awareness. Panic-stricken, they look to Skeeve to convince Aahz that [[ICantDoThisByMyself he really is still needed]], and they aren't saying so out of pity.
* In the final ''Literature/CodexAlera'' novel, when Tavi finds out Kitai [[spoiler:is pregnant]], she starts to cry, uses watercrafting to remove the tears, and Tavi holds her close and says:
--> Don't hide those tears from me.
* In John Barnes's ''Literature/OneForTheMorningGlory'', Amatus's behavior is so erratic after Gorlias's death that people worry that he doesn't sit about spurning sympathy despite his otherwise melancholy behavior.
* ''Literature/EndersShadow'': Achilles doesn't want your pity, and in fact will kill you if he detects even a hint of it in any of your interactions. Of course, he may just kill you anyway. He's like that.
* In ''Literature/{{Animorphs}}'', Marco presents the facade of aloofness because he hates feeling pitied, which ultimately fails when his teammates find out that [[spoiler:his mother is Visser One, leader of the Yeerk Invasion.]] Likewise, teammate Tobias eventually becomes accustomed to being a hawk, but still tries to avoid the feelings of pity from his friends. That said, he is Emohawk, so he spends most of the time wangsting. Jake, similarly, can't stand pity, because he feels that as the leader, he should appear flawless and confident in every decision he makes and therefore tries never to let the others see him second-guessing himself.
* Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse: ''[[Literature/TheThrawnTrilogy Heir to the Empire]]'': After [[{{Tsundere}} Mara Jade]] reveals her origins to Luke, she lets him know that she doesn't need his sympathy. She gets it anyway!
** Funnily enough, she grows to admire this quality, although the only people she'd ever admit that to are her husband and son (Luke and Ben, obviously).
* In Creator/LoisMcMasterBujold's ''Literature/MirrorDance'', Mark Vorkosigan says to Elena, "Don't you ''dare'' pity me. I ''won''."
* Scarlett O'Hara in ''Literature/GoneWithTheWind'' is an example. She cannot stand being pitied; Rhett claims that she cannot stand pity and sympathy because she sees them as a sign of weakness. At the end of the book, when Rhett tells her that this is the only feeling he has left for her, ''that'' is the moment that she knows for certain that their marriage is over.
* Belle in Creator/CharlesDickens's ''Literature/AChristmasCarol'' breaks up with Scrooge when she realizes that his personality has changed and his love of wealth now overshadows any feelings he has for her. When Scrooge points out that he has never asked to break off their engagement, she rejects it as pity or a sense of obligation.
** Scrooge himself also has a moment like this in the 1984 TV adaptation starring George C. Scott. In the scene following the one above, an older Belle, now {{Happily Married}} with many children, expresses pity for Scrooge when she learns that he's alone in the world. Scrooge, forgetting that Belle can neither see nor hear him, exclaims "Spare me your pity! [[BlatantLies I have no need of it!]]"
* In Creator/DanAbnett's Literature/GauntsGhosts novel ''The Armour of Contempt'', Dalin Criid feels and knows he dares not express a deep pity for Merrt after the Ghost ends up in RIP with him.
* In the Literature/SherlockHolmes story "The Crooked Man" a soldier had been betrayed to the enemy by his rival in love and suffered [[ColdBloodedTorture horrific tortures]]. He had avoided his old love for fear of inspiring her pity for many years.
* Éowyn, in Creator/JRRTolkien's ''Literature/TheLordOfTheRings'', says this to Faramir with the line, "I desire no man's pity." (Faramir responds with a rare defense of pity: "Do not scorn pity that is the gift of a gentle heart.")
* In William King's TabletopGame/{{Warhammer 40000}} novel ''Literature/SpaceWolf'', when Strybjorn is injured, he snarls at Ragnar, "I don't need your help," but gets only to his knees before he starts to topple. Ragnar helps him up and to walk.
** In ''Literature/{{Wolfblade}}'', Ragnar at one point thinks of helping Haegr to his feet and gets a warning glance that keeps him silent.
* [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold Jayfeather]] of ''Literature/WarriorCats'' is not the happiest cat around, mostly due to how much he's pitied because of his blindness. Don't be too nice to him, or he'll think you're pitying him. And don't mention his blindness, but then again, [[HairTriggerTemper don't seem like you're trying to avoid it, either]].
* In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', every time one of the heroes meets any Traveling People (who are [[{{TooDumbToLive}}extreme pacifists]]), the main response toward him is a pity for his readiness to do violence (even in self-defence). One of the sharpest examples was with Perrin, who actually feels guilty doing violence but understands the necessity and gets one of those looks from one such a woman in the middle of a battle! He pretty much starts shouting the name of the trope at her. In a rare occurrence, [[spoiler:she actually breaks that principle to protect him and gets killed]].
* In Creator/BrianJacques's ''Literature/{{Redwall}}'', ImpoverishedPatrician Squire Julian of Gingivere disdains his ramshackle estate and repels Matthias's sympathy because he knows nothing of loneliness or [[GoodOldWays trying to preserve standards]].
%%* Erik (A.K.A. ''Literature/ThePhantomOfTheOpera'') has this down to a T.
* In Jim Butcher's ''Literature/TheDresdenFiles'' novel ''Literature/SmallFavor'', Harry is angry with Michael's pity partly because he can tell that Michael thinks he's deluded, and he knows he's not.
* In Steven Lyons's ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' novel ''Ice Guard'', Anakora joined the [[Characters/Warhammer40000ImperialGuard Imperial Guard]] to avoid the pity. She is convinced that her subsequent survival -- two and a half years, where normal life expectancy is measured in hours -- resulted from others pitying her.
* ''Literature/DawnOfWar'': In C. S. Goto's novel ''Dawn of War: Ascension'', a captive Eldar is infuriated when he realizes a human woman pities him.
* In ''Literature/{{Iorich}}'', Loiosh knows better than to extend psychic sympathy when his boss is getting beaten up, as Vlad just wants to ride out the pain until it's over.
* During ''[[Literature/XWingSeries Wedge's Gamble]]'', one of the Alderaanians who was off-planet when [[EarthShatteringKaboom it was destroyed]] explains that many Alderaanians feel this trope, hating the thought of pity, but at the same time feel the need to remind people of their loss.
** In Wraith Squadron, Falynn suffers from a [[AlwaysSecondBest serious inferiority complex]] and hates the idea of being coddled.
* In Creator/JohnCWright's ''[[Literature/TheGoldenOecumene The Golden Transcedence]]'', after some false memories were revoked from Atkins -- against his will -- Atkins tells Phaethon to spare him the pity.
* ''Literature/HarryPotter'':
** Harry also suffers from this, usually justified but sometimes to TooDumbToLive levels. He hates being famous partly because it's annoying, partly because his parents' double murder is part of his fame, and therefore a good bit of the attention he gets is pity, which he hates. He goes further, however, in frequently not telling Ron and Hermione (especially Hermione) his problems, even if it would do a lot of good because he doesn't want them to pity him. For example, he wouldn't tell them that his detentions with Umbridge involved writing lines with his own blood, provoking an outraged response when Ron found out.
** When Severus Snape is being bullied by the Marauders, Lily tries to help him only for Severus to declare: "I don't need help from a filthy little Mudblood like her!" Given that "Mudblood" is the most offensive term towards Muggle-born wizards like her, Lily ends her friendship with Severus resulting in his UnluckyChildhoodFriend status.
* The narrator of ''Film/JakobTheLiar'' (not in the Creator/RobinWilliams movie)
* Raistlin Majere of the ''Literature/{{Dragonlance}}'' books absolutely ''hates'' to be pitied.
* In ''Literature/UncleTomsCabin'', the runaway slave George Harris speaks to his kindhearted former boss about his horrible situation and his escape. The boss tries to lend him some money that George desperately needs, but the HotBlooded George rejects it. They find a compromise, though: George ''does'' take the cash, but promises to repay it once he's free.
* In ''Literature/TheFullMatilda'' by David Haynes, Matilda refuses the pity of whoever [[SecondPersonNarration "you"]] is when she tells the story of how at the age of 16 [[spoiler: slept with the senator her family worked for so she could secure her father a house of his own.]]
* In ''Literature/DaughterOfTheForest'' by Creator/JulietMarillier, Red literally says this to Sorcha.
* In Creator/JohnHemry's ''Literature/TheLostFleet'', Rion to Geary.
* Jenna Heap in ''Literature/SeptimusHeap'' doesn't exactly approve of being pitied by Hildegarde after her mother Sarah was trapped in the Darke Domaine. In fact, she runs away just to get rid of her.
* Vlad Tepes in ''Literature/CountAndCountess''. God help you if you try to point out his awful childhood or show him sympathy over having lost his entire family to a pointless war.
* In Creator/GeneStrattonPorter's ''Literature/{{Freckles}}'', Freckles, returning from town where Angel and her father treated him as an equal, breaks down and cries on his return trip. He's not sure what it means but he's afraid it's pity.
* In the ''Literature/TheSavannahReidMysteries'' novel ''Buried in Buttercream'', when Savannah's having a rough time because she and her friends are having some psychological issues from her being shot a couple of months ago, and now her wedding had to be canceled a ''second'' time (first because an arsonist burned the building she was supposed to be married in, second time because someone was murdered at the place), she tells her Granny to not say any pitying, kind words because that will make her just fall apart.
* In ''Literature/RedeemingLove'', Angel reacts with derision (and, as she gradually begins to grow more open towards him, anger) towards Michael’s attempts to show sympathy for her unhappy and lonely life as a prostitute.
* In ''Literature/CircleOfMagic'', Briar and Daja make themselves rich with plant and smith magic, and Sandry's an heiress who lives with her uncle the Duke of Emelan. Tris is the odd one out since she can't profit from her magic without sacrificing her ethics. When Daja asks her to move into her new forge/house in ''The Will of the Empress'', Tris immediately insists that she'll work as Daja's maid rather than accepting "charity."
* And how in ''Literature/TheUnderlandChronicles''. All the rats seem to be like this.
* In the ''Franchise/{{Star Trek|ExpandedUniverse}}'' novel ''Literature/SpocksWorld'', the BigBad tells [=McCoy=] that said character doesn't want his pity for being imprisoned. He retorts that he's got no time for pity and that the BigBad needs to pull [[spoiler:herself]] together.
* In the ''Literature/SinisterSixTrilogy'', a character who is named Pity [[spoiler:so named because a [[MoralEventHorizon old man]] decided that she should be miserable her entire life and all she'll ever have is pity]] decides at the end that she won't take pity from anyone anymore.
* ''Literature/ToKillAMockingbird'' has a variation. The black Tom Robinson was almost certain to be convicted of the white Mayella Ewell's rape regardless of what he said, but he makes one serious mistake at his trial; the prosecutor asks him why he was constantly helping her around her house while turning down money (presumably trying to get Tom to say that he was attracted to her,) but Tom does something even worse by saying that he helped because he "felt right sorry for her". "''You'' felt sorry for ''her''? You felt ''sorry'' for her?" replies the prosecutor, causing both Tom and Atticus to immediately realize that the concept of a black man pitying a white woman will offend the jury so much that whatever extremely slim chance they might have had of acquittal has been lost, and Atticus's closing statement specifically draws attention to how having the "temerity" to pity a white woman is ''not'' reason enough to convict him.
%% * Jessamine Lovelace in ''[[Literature/TheInfernalDevices The Clockwork Prince]]''.
* In ''Literature/ComradeDeath'', Sarek arranges to MurderTheHypotenuse when his rival Janos is arrested as a spy. Sarek is an ArmsDealer speaking with the nation's paranoid leader and refuses to acknowledge that he knows Janos is an innocent artist. He returns home spinning the tale to Cosima of how he couldn't save her husband and offering to marry her to support her children when she refuses Sarek throws the truth in her face. He expected hatred after confessing to let her husband die, but instead, he receives pity -- Cosima is such a WideEyedIdealist that she can't see Sarek for who he really is, believing that he's trying to punish himself for being unable to save Janos.
%%* ''Literature/TheHungerGames'': Johanna Mason.
* ''Literature/ASongOfIceAndFire'': Joffrey reacts this way when Sansa tries to comfort him after he has been mauled by her sister's direwolf. Cersei later states that this incident is the reason why Joffrey delights in making Sansa's life miserable: she saw him when he was weak.
* ''Literature/GuardiansOfTheFlame'': James Michael doesn't like that people pity him for having to use a wheelchair because of his muscular dystrophy, and especially when people also act repelled from him (as Doria does).
* In ''Literature/{{Touch 2017}},'' Caspar befriends James right after the latter went through RapeAsBackstory. This seems like a coincidence until James learns that Caspar is TheEmpath and could thus sense his newfound trauma, even if he didn't know the exact cause. He's annoyed by the implication that Caspar only befriended him out of pity, though he gets over it pretty quickly upon learning [[BlessedWithSuck how]] [[AbusiveParents bad]] Caspar's own life is.
* "'Kjwalll'kje'k'koothaïlll'kje'k", one of Creator/RogerZelazny's ''Literature/MyNameIsLegion'' stories, includes Martha Millay, a famous and award-winning photographer who happens to be horribly crippled... and also a telepath. She lives a hermit-like existence on a remote island and explains that she might well have stayed in the city if it weren't for her ability and knowledge of people's feelings about her.
* ''Literature/TheBerenstainBears'' deconstructs this trope when Harry [=McGill=], a cub who needs to use a wheelchair to get around as a result of a car accident when he was young, moves to Bear Country and joins the same class Brother and his friends are in. Harry refuses to be pitied for being paraplegic, which is understandable, and it’s also hard to blame him for being angry at Queenie's DisabledMeansHelpless attitude towards him. The problem comes from how he interprets ''any'' sort of kindness or decent treatment towards him as nothing more than "special treatment" because of his disability. As a result, [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery he's incredibly abrasive and rude to everyone]], even to those who are genuinely trying to befriend him or help him adjust to a new environment regardless of his disability. It takes Brother calling him out on his attitude after Harry [[UngratefulBastard was initially ungrateful]] for Brother defending him from [[BullyingTheDisabled Too-Tall's bullying]] for him to have a JerkassRealization and mellow out.