Why this word is great
LITOST — [Noun] A tormented state of agony and remorse brought on by the sudden sight of one’s own misery. From Czech lítost, related to litovat ("to regret" or "to repent"). Unlike "remorse" (which lingers over past misdeeds) or "despair" (which drowns in abstraction), litost is the razor-cut of self-awareness: the moment you see your reflection in a rain-smeared window and recognize a stranger, or hear your voice on a recording and flinch at its smallness, or realize, mid-conversation, that you are the tedious one. It is the humiliation of being known—especially by yourself. The heart, it seems, has its own eyes—and they are merciless.