On the Seriousness of Suffering

Never, for any reason on earth, could you wish for an increase of pain. Of pain you could wish only one thing: that it should stop. Nothing in the world was so bad as physical pain. In the face of pain there are no heroes, no heroes [...].
--George Orwell, 1984, Part 3, Chapter 1 (but see also this piece for caveats about Orwell's quote)

This page gives some links to depictions of real human and animal suffering. While general terms like pain and suffering can sometimes feel abstract and detached, this material is a reminder of what they really mean -- and why our efforts to reduce suffering are so important. For further videos of this type, see Animal Suffering on YouTube at Felicifia.

Torture

• Brazen bull

• "10 Most Frightening Torture Techniques from the Middle Ages"

• List of China Modern Torture Methods (slideshow)

Factory Farming

Wild Animals

• Baby elephant eaten alive by hyenas