I had bought two male chimps from a primate colony in…
![“I had bought two male chimps from a primate colony in Holland. They lived next to each other in separate cages for several months before I used one as a [heart] donor. When we put him to sleep in his cage in preparation for the operation, he chattered and cried incessantly. We attached no…” quote by Christiaan Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/q/i/3b9/christiaan-barnard-39607_animal_i-had-bought-two-male-chimps-from-a-prim_126559.jpg)
“I had bought two male chimps from a primate colony in Holland. They lived next to each other in separate cages for several months before I used one as a [heart] donor. When we put him to sleep in his cage in preparation for the operation, he chattered and cried incessantly. We attached no significance to this, but it must have made a great impression on his companion, for when we removed the body to the operating room, the other chimp wept bitterly and was inconsolable for days. The incident made a deep impression on me. I vowed never again to experiment with such sensitive creatures.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Experimenting on sentient beings causes profound emotional distress and ethical conflict.
In simple terms: Animal testing raises deep moral concerns.
Key Takeaway
Respect sentient life in research.
Themes
ethics
science
compassion
Mood
thoughtful
somber
Type
ethical
reflective
When to use this quote
- laboratory research
- medical testing
- animal welfare policies
Key Concepts
animal rights
research ethics
empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- Can alternatives replace animal testing?
- What responsibilities do scientists have to sentient subjects?
A Different Perspective
Scientific progress may conflict with empathy for subjects.