The best consolation in misfortune or affliction of any kind will be the thought of other people who are in a still worse plight than yourself; 

and this is a form of consolation open to every one.

 But what an awful fate this means for mankind as a whole!

 We are like lambs in a field,

 disporting themselves under the eye of the butcher, 

who chooses out first one and then another for his prey.