This thesis deals with two phenomena, compassion and freedom, specifically the concept in the philosophy of A. Schopenhauer and J.-J. Rousseau. We believe that these two themes are essential points of the two philosophical systems. Despite the different contexts, concepts and definitions of the terms, compassion for both philosophers represents a kind of positive ability of human beings (counterweight of the necessary present egoism) from which social virtues and interpersonal relationships arise. Freedom in its largest scale is then the objective of every human being, whether the concept of freedom means anything: positive (possibility of arbitrariness in its natural state, the relative freedom of action) or negative definition of freedom (absence of causality or any form of dependence). The primary objective of this thesis is to outline the possible relations between the two phenomena. It seems that the ability of compassion may potentially be limiting certain forms of human freedom, though such a form of freedom may turn out to be insufficient. It turns out, however, that by using the ability of compassion it is possible to reach the most desirable and liberating freedom.