--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The usual sniggering examples of animal…" description: "\"The usual sniggering examples of animal behaviour were brought in to explain cheating. Funny how the behaviour of shrews and gibbons is never used to e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/a-a-gill-3415_animal_the-usual-sniggering-examples-of-animal_3104978.jpg" --- # The usual sniggering examples of animal behaviour were… ![“The usual sniggering examples of animal behaviour were brought in to explain cheating. Funny how the behaviour of shrews and gibbons is never used to explain table manners or road safety or gardening, only sex. Anyway, it was bad Darwinism. Taking the example of a monkey and applying it to…” quote by A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/a-a-gill-3415_animal_the-usual-sniggering-examples-of-animal_3104978.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/a-a-gill-3415_animal_the-usual-sniggering-examples-of-animal_3104978.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/00d/a-a-gill-3415_animal_the-usual-sniggering-examples-of-animal_3104978.jpg) > “The usual sniggering examples of animal behaviour were brought in to explain cheating. Funny how the behaviour of shrews and gibbons is never used to explain table manners or road safety or gardening, only sex. Anyway, it was bad Darwinism. Taking the example of a monkey and applying it to yourself misses the point that animal behaviour is made for the benefit of the species, not as an excuse for the individual. Being incapable of sustaining a stable pair and supporting children is really not in the interests of our species. Neither is it really in the best interests of the philanderer.” [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human sexual behavior is often justified by animal analogies, but those analogies ignore species-level benefits and individual responsibility. **In simple terms:** Animal examples mislead about human sex and responsibility. Key Takeaway Recognize species-level goals over selfish impulses. Themes ethics biology human nature Mood thoughtful critical Type analytical philosophical When to use this quote - relationship counseling - family planning - sexual education - public policy Key Concepts evolutionary theory social contract Questions to Reflect On - How do species-level benefits differ from individual desires? - Can we separate biological instincts from moral choices? A Different Perspective Animal analogies oversimplify complex social dynamics. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal Behaviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-behaviour-4346554/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Bad Darwinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-darwinism-5397789/) [Behaviour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behaviour/) [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Cheating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cheating/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Darwinism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darwinism/) [Darwinism Taking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/darwinism-taking-5397790/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Example](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example/) [Example Monkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/example-monkey-2573367/) [Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excuse/) [Gardening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardening/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Incapable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incapable/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Interest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interest/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/manners/) [Missing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missing/) [Monkeys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkeys/) [Pairs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pairs/) [Philanderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philanderer/) [Safety](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/safety/) [Sex](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex/) [Shrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shrews/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Excuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-excuse-5397791/) [Stable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stable/) [Sustaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sustaining/) [Table manners](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/table-manners/) [Tables](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tables/) [Used](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/used/) [Usual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/usual/) ## Related quotes > [An example from the monkey: the higher it climbs, the more you see of its behind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/german-proverb/an-example-from-the-monkey-the-higher-it-climbs-the-more-you-see-of/) [German Proverb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/german-proverb/) > [When I began in 1960, individuality wasn't an accepted thing to look for; it was about species-specific behaviour. But animal behaviour is not hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/when-i-began-in-1960-individuality-wasn-t-an-accepted-thing-to-look/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [I deal with misunderstood aspects of animal behaviour like anxiety and aggression. I teach people how to respect different species and let a dog…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/i-deal-with-misunderstood-aspects-of-animal-behaviour-like-anxiety/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [It is important to sensitise children about animal behaviour as it will help develop a healthy curiosity towards nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amala-akkineni/it-is-important-to-sensitise-children-about-animal-behaviour-as-it/) [Amala Akkineni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amala-akkineni/) > [“A philanderer cannot be a parent - a parent cannot be a philanderer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/a-philanderer-cannot-be-a-parent-a-parent-cannot-be-a-philanderer/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [I'm an alcoholic, recovering. And I used to smoke cigarettes, and I was a philanderer and I, wouldn't call myself good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malachy-mccourt/i-m-an-alcoholic-recovering-and-i-used-to-smoke-cigarettes-and-i-was/) [Malachy McCourt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malachy-mccourt/) > [The reason any conservative's failing is always major news is that it allows liberals to engage in their very favorite taunt: Hypocrisy! Hypocrisy is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/the-reason-any-conservative-s-failing-is-always-major-news-is-that-it/) [Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/) > [“Baby, If you think, he is sweet and caring to you.. and flirts only with you, you have started liking him.. Pinch wake yourself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/himmilicious/baby-if-you-think-he-is-sweet-and-caring-to-you-and-flirts-only-with/) [Himmilicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/himmilicious/) > [Donald Trump is a serial philanderer, by his own admission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-fiorina/donald-trump-is-a-serial-philanderer-by-his-own-admission/) [Carly Fiorina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-fiorina/) > [I must speak the truth, even at the risk of being ostracized by my fellow scribblers. In fact, anticipating their rage, I have already…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mordecai-richler/i-must-speak-the-truth-even-at-the-risk-of-being-ostracized-by-my/) [Mordecai Richler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mordecai-richler/) > [“He was the kind of young man whose handsome face has brought him plenty of success in the past and is now ever-ready for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-zweig/he-was-the-kind-of-young-man-whose-handsome-face-has-brought-him/) [Stefan Zweig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-zweig/) > [I cheat on my books a lot, which is not a good thing because it's good to stick with one book and get to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-cheat-on-my-books-a-lot-which-is-not-a-good-thing-because-it-s-good/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [“Hypocrisy 101 (The Sonnet) What irritates me the most is hypocrisy, and fancy chimps cannot fathom the irony. While untouched by the economic disparity,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/hypocrisy-101-the-sonnet-what-irritates-me-the-most-is-hypocrisy-and/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [From 18 to 29 I was a heavy smoker, heavy drinker, drug addict, terrible eater and philanderer. The past eight years, since I got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dax-shepard/from-18-to-29-i-was-a-heavy-smoker-heavy-drinker-drug-addict-terrible/) [Dax Shepard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dax-shepard/) > [“Cheating in relationship is a sign of self-regulation failure. When it happens ones, it is a mistake. When it happens twice, it is unfortunate.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/cheating-in-relationship-is-a-sign-of-self-regulation-failure-when-it/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) ## More by A. A. Gill > [It's a great historical joke that when the Spanish met the Aztecs, it was a blind date made in serve-you-right heaven. At the time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/it-s-a-great-historical-joke-that-when-the-spanish-met-the-aztecs-it/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [If New York is a wise guy, Paris a coquette, Rome a gigolo and Berlin a wicked uncle, then London is an old lady…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/if-new-york-is-a-wise-guy-paris-a-coquette-rome-a-gigolo-and-berlin-a/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Frightened is the natural state for all men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/frightened-is-the-natural-state-for-all-men/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [So, being a good man is not an exam or a qualification, it changes, and it incorporates being a good friend, a good father,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/so-being-a-good-man-is-not-an-exam-or-a-qualification-it-changes-and/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Women's handbags are incredibly heavy. You rarely get to pick one up and, when you do, you wonder why anyone carries so much stuff…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/women-s-handbags-are-incredibly-heavy-you-rarely-get-to-pick-one-up/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Gifts are an important and necessary part of our collective lives. We need to give and we need to allow others to give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/gifts-are-an-important-and-necessary-part-of-our-collective-lives-we/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Have you ever wondered why the rich and privileged care about, or even bother with, the gift bag? Because they don't need this stuff.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/have-you-ever-wondered-why-the-rich-and-privileged-care-about-or-even/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [London is a city of ghosts; you feel them here. Not just of people, but eras. The ghost of empire, or the blitz, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/london-is-a-city-of-ghosts-you-feel-them-here-not-just-of-people-but/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Television gives us the gift to see ourselves as we'd like to be seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/television-gives-us-the-gift-to-see-ourselves-as-we-d-like-to-be-seen/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [I walk up a dune to a beach and look out to sea, but it's 100km away. The ships lie askew in their dry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/i-walk-up-a-dune-to-a-beach-and-look-out-to-sea-but-it-s-100km-away/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Being able to afford everything you desire is not, by any means, the worst thing that can happen to you. But, depressingly, and more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/being-able-to-afford-everything-you-desire-is-not-by-any-means-the/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [If the world were to end tomorrow and we could choose to save only one thing as the explanation and memorial to who we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/if-the-world-were-to-end-tomorrow-and-we-could-choose-to-save-only/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [You see, the problem with Dave Cameron is that people know who he is. The less people know about him, the more he's likely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/you-see-the-problem-with-dave-cameron-is-that-people-know-who-he-is/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [Personal adornment is the only cultural form that everybody in the world takes part in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/personal-adornment-is-the-only-cultural-form-that-everybody-in-the/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) > [The part that makes you unique is the bit people will like or fear, fall in love with, or try to avoid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-a-gill/the-part-that-makes-you-unique-is-the-bit-people-will-like-or-fear/) [A. A. Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) [Explore all 131 A. A. Gill quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-a-gill/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The usual sniggering examples of animal behaviour were brought in to explain cheating. Funny how the behaviour of shrews and gibbons is never used to explain table manners or road safety or gardening, only sex. Anyway, it was bad Darwinism. Taking the example of a monkey and applying it to yourself misses the point that animal behaviour is made for the benefit of the species, not as an excuse for the individual. Being incapable of sustaining a stable pair and supporting children is really not in the interests of our species. 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