Empathy causes us to identify and connect with others, but
it doesn’t cause us to act. Potential
guilt, perceived shame, and the possibility that someone might view us
differently dominate our actions. There
is no way to prove the selflessness of a generous act. And that scares me. We simply need to trust the good will of
others; we need to trust that they are acting out of generosity, and not out of
personal gain.