Everyone can agree that paper cuts are much worse than normal cuts. This though has a reason. Down to a microscopic level, paper has a rough edge thus basically ripping at your skin when cut, and doing more damage to your nerve ending. Knives and other sharp things tend to have a smoother edge at the end, creating an equal cut and doing less damage to the endings of your nerve. In conclusion, paper acts as a saw when cutting compared to knives and this does more damage.