“We are standing on a whale fishing for minnows.”
Episode 2, Chapter 19
The Power of Myth (1988)
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Joseph Campbell 140
American mythologist, writer and lecturer 1904–1987Related quotes

“[To Mr. Johnson] If you were to make little fishes talk, they would talk like whales.”
From James Boswell's Life of Johnson (1791), April 27, 1773.

“Freedom for the pike is death for the minnow.”
in Equality (1931)
sometimes cited as an English proverb, sometimes also attributed to Isaiah Berlin
Disputed

“There is a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.”

In response to a question in the House of Commons about the fishing industry losing money due to Brexit red tape https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2021-01-14/debates/329F59AC-D8A3-464D-AF4D-58C7EAA560C6/BusinessOfTheHouse#contribution-F5E677D7-58DE-4634-88A4-E97E2AA8F7E6 (14 January 2021)
2021

Satya, November, 2000 http://www.satyamag.com/novdec00/newkirk.html

“We are like fish
In this vast sea.
And Satan fishes
For you and me.”
"Monish" (translated in J. Leftwich. Golden Peacock. Sci-Art, 1939, p. 56.), 1888.