--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If a superhero knocks over a building…" description: "\"If a superhero knocks over a building, and there are 5,000 people in the building that we can presume are now dead, does it matter? Because they're not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/d-b-weiss-18501_animal_if-a-superhero-knocks-over-a-building-an_3187654.jpg" --- # If a superhero knocks over a building, and there are 5,000… ![“If a superhero knocks over a building, and there are 5,000 people in the building that we can presume are now dead, does it matter? Because they're not people we know. But if one dog we like gets run over by a car, it's the worst thing we've ever seen. I totally understand where that visceral…” quote by D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/d-b-weiss-18501_animal_if-a-superhero-knocks-over-a-building-an_3187654.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/d-b-weiss-18501_animal_if-a-superhero-knocks-over-a-building-an_3187654.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3eb/d-b-weiss-18501_animal_if-a-superhero-knocks-over-a-building-an_3187654.jpg) > “If a superhero knocks over a building, and there are 5,000 people in the building that we can presume are now dead, does it matter? Because they're not people we know. But if one dog we like gets run over by a car, it's the worst thing we've ever seen. I totally understand where that visceral reaction comes from. I have that same reaction.” [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We prioritize empathy for familiar beings over strangers, revealing bias in moral concern. **In simple terms:** We care more about known or than unknown ones. Key Takeaway Recognize and expand empathy beyond personal connections. Themes empathy bias morality Mood reflective concerned Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - personal loss - news coverage - public policy - charitable giving Key Concepts psychology social cognition in‑group favoritism Questions to Reflect On - How can we train ourselves to care for distant strangers? - What structures help us value all lives equally? A Different Perspective Our moral instincts can overlook large-scale suffering. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [“Every kind word or action has an equal reaction. What you put out comes back to you. Why not make it caring and joyful?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-leigh-mercree/every-kind-word-or-action-has-an-equal-reaction-what-you-put-out/) [Amy Leigh Mercree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-leigh-mercree/) > [I feel like you can do all the research in the world, but when you start putting that costume on, put your hair in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anastasia-griffith/i-feel-like-you-can-do-all-the-research-in-the-world-but-when-you/) [Anastasia Griffith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anastasia-griffith/) > [Stress comes from within; it is your reaction to circumstances, not the circumstances themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/stress-comes-from-within-it-is-your-reaction-to-circumstances-not-the/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [For me, once the film is out, it belongs to the audience, and I have to be open to any reaction that comes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudia-llosa/for-me-once-the-film-is-out-it-belongs-to-the-audience-and-i-have-to/) [Claudia Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudia-llosa/) > [“When someone is suffering, there is a deep, visceral reaction in the core of our being, a flood of empathy and a frightfully desperate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/when-someone-is-suffering-there-is-a-deep-visceral-reaction-in-the/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [“It's funny how people handle bad news in different ways, Some people have a visceral reaction, Some people go into denial and others ...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scrubs-j-d/it-s-funny-how-people-handle-bad-news-in-different-ways-some-people/) Scrubs J.D > [It's funny because you start watching Mister Rogers so young, it's sort of in this subliminal part of your brain. I think that's why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marielle-heller/it-s-funny-because-you-start-watching-mister-rogers-so-young-it-s/) [Marielle Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marielle-heller/) > [I like for people to figure things out for themselves. It's not like I have the right answer, but if I have a visceral…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-kaufman/i-like-for-people-to-figure-things-out-for-themselves-it-s-not-like-i/) [Charlie Kaufman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-kaufman/) > [I remember early on, in the first couple of years especially, I would run into some people that would try to put Kickstarter under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perry-chen/i-remember-early-on-in-the-first-couple-of-years-especially-i-would/) [Perry Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perry-chen/) > [“Over the years, I have developed a visceral reaction to families and victims expressing surprise at tragedy. Why are we surprised? Why do we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-perry/over-the-years-i-have-developed-a-visceral-reaction-to-families-and/) [Michael Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-perry/) > [We have a visceral reaction to the idea that anyone would make very much money helping other people. Interesting that we don't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pallotta/we-have-a-visceral-reaction-to-the-idea-that-anyone-would-make-very/) [Dan Pallotta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pallotta/) > [I adore dogs to the extent I think they are much more important than human beings. I like your dog much more than I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-feherty/i-adore-dogs-to-the-extent-i-think-they-are-much-more-important-than/) [David Feherty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-feherty/) > [“Pretend you are a dog like me and listen to other people rather than steal their stories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-stein/pretend-you-are-a-dog-like-me-and-listen-to-other-people-rather-than/) [Garth Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-stein/) > [A well-trained dog is like religion, it sets the deserving at their ease and is a terror to evildoers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-goudge/a-well-trained-dog-is-like-religion-it-sets-the-deserving-at-their/) [Elizabeth Goudge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-goudge/) > [In the hierarchy of the family, I'm just above the dog. But I like it that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-voigt/in-the-hierarchy-of-the-family-i-m-just-above-the-dog-but-i-like-it/) [Jens Voigt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-voigt/) ## More by D. B. Weiss > [We do have pictures on the wall, in our office in Belfast where we spend half our time. All the head shots are on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/we-do-have-pictures-on-the-wall-in-our-office-in-belfast-where-we/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [I like to think of myself as a 'Mord the jailer' type.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/i-like-to-think-of-myself-as-a-mord-the-jailer-type/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [We've been given this great gift, this huge canvas of these beautiful books by George Martin, and the idea of telling this whole epic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/we-ve-been-given-this-great-gift-this-huge-canvas-of-these-beautiful/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [Who doesn't love 'Frogger?' It draws its power from our shared memories of powerlessness. Wherever we are now, at one time or another we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/who-doesn-t-love-frogger-it-draws-its-power-from-our-shared-memories/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [Being away from home for six months of the year and seeing your kids grow up on Skype all that time - I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/being-away-from-home-for-six-months-of-the-year-and-seeing-your-kids/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > ['Confederate,' in all of our minds, will be an alternative-history show. It's a science-fiction show. One of the strengths of science fiction is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/confederate-in-all-of-our-minds-will-be-an-alternative-history-show/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [A lot of people go in and have to create their own characters, and they do fine with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/a-lot-of-people-go-in-and-have-to-create-their-own-characters-and/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [Man, 'Hill Street Blues' was on when I was 12, and I remember feeling I'd never seen anything like it. It was that far…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/man-hill-street-blues-was-on-when-i-was-12-and-i-remember-feeling-i-d/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [I think that everything starts to go to hell when you start smelling your own farts and complimenting yourself on how great they smell.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/i-think-that-everything-starts-to-go-to-hell-when-you-start-smelling/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [You realize, no matter how great, books are not shows or movies; each operates on their own different rules. 'Game of Thrones' is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/you-realize-no-matter-how-great-books-are-not-shows-or-movies-each/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [Jason Momoa became a really good friend of ours when he played Khal Drogo. We loved hanging out with Momoa, and suddenly we couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/jason-momoa-became-a-really-good-friend-of-ours-when-he-played-khal/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [One of the trickiest things about 'Game of Thrones' is just seeding those first couple of episodes with that basic information that people need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/one-of-the-trickiest-things-about-game-of-thrones-is-just-seeding/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [A geek is a person, male or female, with an abiding, obsessive, self-effacing, even self-destroying love for something besides status](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/a-geek-is-a-person-male-or-female-with-an-abiding-obsessive-self/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [I was reading scripts, doing coverage, for CAA. Reading hundreds and hundreds of scripts across the board, from blind submissions to 'Brokeback Mountain'. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/i-was-reading-scripts-doing-coverage-for-caa-reading-hundreds-and/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) > [Would I have watched another season of 'Breaking Bad'? Of course. Would I have watched another two seasons of 'Breaking Bad'? Of course. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-b-weiss/would-i-have-watched-another-season-of-breaking-bad-of-course-would-i/) [D. B. Weiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) [Explore all 34 D. B. Weiss quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-b-weiss/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If a superhero knocks over a building, and there are 5,000 people in the building that we can presume are now dead, does it matter? Because they're not people we know. But if one dog we like gets run over by a car, it's the worst thing we've ever seen. I totally understand where that visceral reaction comes from. I have that same reaction.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "D. B. 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