/lit/ - Literature

So, another event of actionless compassion happened today. I don't remember what it was; I just remember I had to remember another one happened.
Consider this: you are a healthy young man sitting at the train and you see an old person. Common sense is you have to offer the seat to that person. You do it; the old person thanks you. That's an act out of compassion.
Now, consider this other situation: you are a healthy young man entering the train. You see available seats but you don't use them because you think other people can benefit more from them. Is this action also out of compassion? I think so. Will other people know you did this out of compassion? No one if not very few people.
Which situation made more impression on yourself? Definitely the first one. Is it a more compassionate act than the one in the second situation?