"All sympathy not consistent with acknowledged virtue is but disguised selfishness"

This quote by Samuel Taylor Coleridge recommends that any sympathy that does not line up with accepted moral standards is actually a type of selfishness. Simply put, if someone is offering sympathy that is not based on virtuous habits, then it is likely that they are doing so for their own advantage. This could be interpreted as a warning versus using sympathy for the wrong reasons, such as to get favor or to control someone. It could likewise be viewed as a tip to be conscious of our own inspirations when using compassion to others. Eventually, Coleridge is recommending that real compassion needs to be based upon genuine care and issue for another person, rather than on any ulterior intentions.