--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Really, the combination of the scabs and…" description: "\"Really, the combination of the scabs and the ointment looks hideous. I can't help enjoying his distress. \"Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/suzanne-collins-60_catching-fire_really-the-combination-of-the-scabs-and_2108528.jpg" --- # Really, the combination of the scabs and the ointment… ![“Really, the combination of the scabs and the ointment looks hideous. I can't help enjoying his distress. "Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven't looked pretty?" I say. "It must be. The sensation's completely new. How have you managed it all these years?" he asks. "Just avoid…” quote by Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/suzanne-collins-60_catching-fire_really-the-combination-of-the-scabs-and_2108528.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/suzanne-collins-60_catching-fire_really-the-combination-of-the-scabs-and_2108528.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc1/suzanne-collins-60_catching-fire_really-the-combination-of-the-scabs-and_2108528.jpg) > “Really, the combination of the scabs and the ointment looks hideous. I can't help enjoying his distress. "Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven't looked pretty?" I say. "It must be. The sensation's completely new. How have you managed it all these years?" he asks. "Just avoid mirrors. You'll forget about it," I say. "Not if I keep looking at you," he says.” [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker derives perverse pleasure from another’s suffering, highlighting cruelty and the dark side of human nature. **In simple terms:** Enjoying someone’s pain is cruel. Key Takeaway Recognize and reject sadistic enjoyment. Themes empathy cruelty power dynamics Mood disturbed critical Type ethical psychological When to use this quote - bullying - media criticism - personal relationships Key Concepts sadism psychological manipulation social pressure Questions to Reflect On - Why do we sometimes feel pleasure at others’ misfortune? - How can we cultivate genuine empathy? A Different Perspective Such enjoyment can normalize abuse and erode compassion. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Distress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distress/) [Finnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/finnick/) [Mirrors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mirrors/) ## Related quotes > [“Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven't looked pretty?" I say. "It must be. The sensation is completely new.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/poor-finnick-is-this-the-first-time-in-your-life-you-haven-t-looked/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven't looked pretty?" "It must be. The sensation's completely new. How have you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/poor-finnick-is-this-the-first-time-in-your-life-you-haven-t-looked-2/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Finnick?" I say, "Maybe some pants?" He looks down at his legs as if noticing his outfit for the first time. Then he whips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/finnick-i-say-maybe-some-pants-he-looks-down-at-his-legs-as-if/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Well, don't expect us to be too impressed. We just saw Finnick Odair in his underwear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/well-don-t-expect-us-to-be-too-impressed-we-just-saw-finnick-odair-in/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Did you love Annie right away, Finnick?" I ask. "No." A long time passes before he adds, "She crept up on me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/did-you-love-annie-right-away-finnick-i-ask-no-a-long-time-passes/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Why? Do you find this" - he strikes a ridiculously provocative pose - "distracting?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/why-do-you-find-this-he-strikes-a-ridiculously-provocative-pose/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Want a sugar cube?- Finnick Odair,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/want-a-sugar-cube-finnick-odair/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Lucky thing were allies, right? -Finnick Odair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/lucky-thing-were-allies-right-finnick-odair/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“He looks down at his legs as if noticing his outfit for the first time. Then he whips off his hospital gown, leaving him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-looks-down-at-his-legs-as-if-noticing-his-outfit-for-the-first/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I don't know what it is with Finnick and bread, but he seems obsessed with handling it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-what-it-is-with-finnick-and-bread-but-he-seems-obsessed/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Plutarch rushes to reassure me. "Oh, no, Katniss. Not your wedding. Finnick and Annie's. All you need to do is show up and pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/plutarch-rushes-to-reassure-me-oh-no-katniss-not-your-wedding-finnick/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Want a sugar cube?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/want-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More by Suzanne Collins > [It's amazing to see things that are suggested in the book fully developed and so brilliantly realized through the artistry of the designers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/it-s-amazing-to-see-things-that-are-suggested-in-the-book-fully/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [KEEP CALM and HAVE A SUGAR CUBE](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/keep-calm-and-have-a-sugar-cube/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [A furious Peeta hammers Haymitch with the atrocity he could become party to, but I can feel Haymitch watching me. This is the moment,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/a-furious-peeta-hammers-haymitch-with-the-atrocity-he-could-become/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“The same goes for the other captured tributes, Johanna and Enobaria.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-same-goes-for-the-other-captured-tributes-johanna-and-enobaria/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [He never lets go of Annie's hand. Not when they walk, not when they eat. I doubt he ever plans to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/he-never-lets-go-of-annie-s-hand-not-when-they-walk-not-when-they-eat/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I want to interrupt the taping and beg Finnick’s forgiveness for every false thought I’ve ever had about him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-want-to-interrupt-the-taping-and-beg-finnick-s-forgiveness-for/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I pound on the glass, screaming my head off. Everyone ignores me except for some Capitol attendant who appears behind me and offers me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-pound-on-the-glass-screaming-my-head-off-everyone-ignores-me-except/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Because it doesn't matter anymore, and because I'm so desperately lonely I can't stand it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/because-it-doesn-t-matter-anymore-and-because-i-m-so-desperately/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Then I dive into my tent before I do something stupid like cry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/then-i-dive-into-my-tent-before-i-do-something-stupid-like-cry/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“¡Es que no quiero que me conozcan! ¡Ya me están quitando el futuro! ¡No pueden llevarse también lo que me importaba en el pasado!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/es-que-no-quiero-que-me-conozcan-ya-me-est-n-quitando-el-futuro-no/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I act delighted, but I have zero interest in these Capitol people. They are only distractions from the food.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-act-delighted-but-i-have-zero-interest-in-these-capitol-people-they/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Mostly we just add to the piles of rainbow glass that's been blown off the exteriors of the cany-colored buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/mostly-we-just-add-to-the-piles-of-rainbow-glass-that-s-been-blown/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [You're punishing him over and over for things that are out of his control. Now, I'm not saying you shouldn't have a fully loaded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/you-re-punishing-him-over-and-over-for-things-that-are-out-of-his/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“But the significant difference between Thirteen and the Capitol are the expectations of the populace. Thirteen was used to hardship, wheras in the Capitol,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-the-significant-difference-between-thirteen-and-the-capitol-are/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) [Explore all 1,709 Suzanne Collins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) ## More Catching fire quotes > [“Try to avoid your house catching fire, as this does no good at all. And while your house is still intact, it is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-connolly/try-to-avoid-your-house-catching-fire-as-this-does-no-good-at-all-and/) Joseph Connolly > [I did not get my Spaghetti-O's, I got spaghetti. I want the press to know this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-j-grasso/i-did-not-get-my-spaghetti-o-s-i-got-spaghetti-i-want-the-press-to/) Thomas J. Grasso > [“The final days of training ends with our private sessions. (...) There's a lot of kidding about it at lunch. What we might do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/the-final-days-of-training-ends-with-our-private-sessions-there-s-a/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“I am in no mood to fulminate on paper--I wish the two of us were in a room together talking of what matters most,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlene-bauer/i-am-in-no-mood-to-fulminate-on-paper-i-wish-the-two-of-us-were-in-a/) [Carlene Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlene-bauer/) > [“But one day I’ll have to explain about my nightmares. Why they came. Why they won’t ever really go away. I’ll tell them how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-one-day-i-ll-have-to-explain-about-my-nightmares-why-they-came/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Catch Fire, Do Something, Get Excited by Finding Your Purpose In Life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-harvey/catch-fire-do-something-get-excited-by-finding-your-purpose-in-life/) [Steve Harvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-harvey/) > [But Gale is not one to keep secrets from me. "Katniss, there is no district twelve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-gale-is-not-one-to-keep-secrets-from-me-katniss-there-is-no/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [I will not die an unlived life. I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire. I choose to inhabit my days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawna-markova/i-will-not-die-an-unlived-life-i-will-not-live-in-fear-of-falling-or/) [Dawna Markova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawna-markova/) > [Shame isn't a strong enough word for what I feel. "You could live a hundred lifetimes and not deserve him, you know," Haymitch says.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/shame-isn-t-a-strong-enough-word-for-what-i-feel-you-could-live-a/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“Trick, yes, trick.' The boys were catching fire with the idea. It made all the good glue go out of their joints and put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/trick-yes-trick-the-boys-were-catching-fire-with-the-idea-it-made-all/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [It was as unbelievable as the moon catching fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/it-was-as-unbelievable-as-the-moon-catching-fire/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [But I feel as if I did know Rue, and she'll always be with me. Everything beautiful brings her to mind. I see her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/but-i-feel-as-if-i-did-know-rue-and-she-ll-always-be-with-me/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“A leather bag filled with food and a flask of hot tea.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/a-leather-bag-filled-with-food-and-a-flask-of-hot-tea/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [“For God’s sake, man,” Ovid nearly shouted, “the damn globe is catching fire, and the islands are drowning. The evidence is staring them in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/for-god-s-sake-man-ovid-nearly-shouted-the-damn-globe-is-catching/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) > [Technically, I am unarmed. But no one should ever underestimate the harm that fingernails can do. Especially if the target is unprepared.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/technically-i-am-unarmed-but-no-one-should-ever-underestimate-the/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) Browse all 67 Catching fire quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Really, the combination of the scabs and the ointment looks hideous. I can't help enjoying his distress. \"Poor Finnick. Is this the first time in your life you haven't looked pretty?\" I say. \"It must be. The sensation's completely new. How have you managed it all these years?\" he asks. \"Just avoid mirrors. 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