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June 6, 2014

Strange But True!

Q. When does pain bring on subtle waves of joy?

A. When the pain is not yours but that of another person you have long envied, says Richard H. Smith in “The Joy of Pain.” Few people will readily admit to taking pleasure in the misfortune of others, but the truth is that joy in someone else's pain — known by the German word “schadenfreude” — permeates our society.


 
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