Words---Compassion vs Sympathy

Is there a difference between compassion and sympathy? Would you rather be described as a compassionate person or a sympathetic person.

Here's the definition of compassion (from dictionary.com)

"a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering."

Here's the definition of sympathy (from dictionary.com)

"harmony of or agreement in feeling, as between persons or on the part of one person with respect to another."

Furthermore, Dictionary.com states that sympathy is broader than compassion and empathy--which tend to focus on sorrow and distress.

"Sympathy, compassion, pity, empathy all denote the tendency, practice, or capacity to share in the feelings of others, especially their distress, sorrow, or unfulfilled desires. Sympathy is the broadest of these terms, signifying a general kinship with another's feelings, no matter of what kind."