shame and guilt??

[thir]

Guilt comes from the awareness of having done some practical harm, whether through action or failure to act. (Leave aside whether the awareness is factually correct, we all know that people can be made to feel guilty when they have done nothing wrong, but only if they are convinced that they have.) Shame comes from the awareness of having broken some important rule, whether internalised from outside or personal. They often overlap but don't necessarily.

So, one is harm, the other just a rule..?

I have had to put 3 cats down in my life, all were terminally ill and in distress. It was obvious that I had a duty, however difficult. But I cannot get over the guilt of killing my pets who trusted me unconditionally. It is not rational, but then feelings rarely are, which I why I do not think you can divide these ones up so neatly.

It is true I feel shame if I break my own rules, if I feel I dishonour myself, if you will. But even more if that causes harm.

I still think it depends on the situation.