frightening sparrows in vain
phrase
Engaging in pointless or ineffective acts of aggression or rebellion to make oneself feel powerful, without any real consequence.
≈ tilting at windmills, posturing uselessly, making empty threats
🇪🇸 asustando gorriones en vano
The whole thing precisely was, the greatest nastiness precisely lay in my being shamefully conscious every moment, even in moments of the greatest bile, that I was not only not a wicked but was not even an embittered man, that I was simply frightening sparrows in vain, and pleasing myself with it.
📷 Notes from Underground
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📅 Added 27d ago (Jul 4, 2026) · due now
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