Mercy

Mercy is that quality, allied to compassion and charity, which, rather than identifying with another's misfortune at the emotional level, unites with that person at the spiritual level and seeks to alleviate the problem as if it were one's own. It is that which, in religion, "hates the sin but loves the sinner". Nevertheless, it does imply inequality, whether natural or spiritual, between the giver and the receiver, although this does not signify condescension.

Mercy can thus be expressed as forgiveness, and in Christian terms believers are expected to emulate God's mercy and forgiveness in their own lives. As opposed to justice, which behaves towards another in accordance with right, mercy may be extended to another when the other has no claim on such mercy or in disregard of one's own claims against the other.