The least pain in our little finger gives more concern and uneasiness than the destruction of millions of our fellow beings.
William Hazlitt (1778-1830) English writer
Essay (1829-10), “American Literature — Dr. Channing,”
Edinburgh Review, Vol. 50, No. 99, Art. 7
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Added on 7-Apr-11 | Last updated 26-Sep-25
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Topics: compassion, concern, discomfort, pain, perspective, pity, scale, self-absorption, self-centeredness, self-focus, self-importance, self-pity, selfishness
More quotes by Hazlitt, William Possibly related quotations
This looks like the precursor of Mel Brooks’ famous saying that “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die.”
There’s certainly a thematic similarity. (I also have that quote.)