sparrows in vain
phrase
Engaging in pointless, petty, or ineffectual actions that have no real consequence, often for one's own empty satisfaction.
≈ tilting at windmills, making empty gestures, engaging in futility
🇪🇸 asustar gorriones en vano (in context: hacer aspavientos)
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
📊 Word stats
0
Reviews
0
Lapses
0d
Interval
2.5x
Ease
📅 Added 27d ago (Jul 4, 2026) · due now
Not practiced yet.