--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't think there's such a thing as an…" description: "\"I don't think there's such a thing as an evil animal.\" — Alex Colville" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/alex-colville-47242_animal_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an_1898147.png" --- # I don't think there's such a thing as an evil animal. ![“I don't think there's such a thing as an evil animal.” quote by Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/alex-colville-47242_animal_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an_1898147.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/alex-colville-47242_animal_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an_1898147.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/alex-colville-47242_animal_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an_1898147.png) > “I don't think there's such a thing as an evil animal.” [Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote challenges the notion that animals possess moral intent, suggesting that evil is a human construct not applicable to non‑human creatures. **In simple terms:** Animals aren't morally evil. Key Takeaway Recognize animal behavior as instinct, not moral judgment. Themes ethics animal rights human perception Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - wildlife observation - animal welfare policy - environmental education Key Concepts anthropomorphism morality nature Questions to Reflect On - Do we project our moral frameworks onto animals? - How does this view affect animal treatment? A Different Perspective Animals may cause harm, but labeling them evil imposes human morality on nature. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Burlesque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/burlesque/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Evil Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil-animal-2783615/) [Lgbt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lgbt/) [Perfectionist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfectionist/) [Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing/) [Thing Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-evil-236129/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [The ulterior motives with which you absorb and assimilate Evil are not your own but those of Evil. The animal wrests the whip from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/the-ulterior-motives-with-which-you-absorb-and-assimilate-evil-are/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) > [I've always been fascinated by the idea that there's no such thing as evil; it's all in your point of view. To one group…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/i-ve-always-been-fascinated-by-the-idea-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) > [“The real thing about evil… you figure out one side of it - the human side, say - and the eternal side goes into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/the-real-thing-about-evil-you-figure-out-one-side-of-it-the-human/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Not evil. Moronic, which isn't quite the same thing. Evil presupposes a moral decision, intention, and some forethought. A moron or a lout, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-ruiz-zafon/not-evil-moronic-which-isn-t-quite-the-same-thing-evil-presupposes-a/) [Carlos Ruiz Zafon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-ruiz-zafon/) > [“You’re not evil,” he had whispered, those bright, solemn blue eyes staring into me, peeling away every defense. “No one who fights so hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-kagawa/you-re-not-evil-he-had-whispered-those-bright-solemn-blue-eyes/) [Julie Kagawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-kagawa/) > [“There's no such thing as evil for its own sake . All evil is motivated - even mine {Lucifer}.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-duncan/there-s-no-such-thing-as-evil-for-its-own-sake-all-evil-is-motivated/) [Glen Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-duncan/) > [“What's the one thing Evil can never have... and the one thing Good can never do without?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soman-chainani/what-s-the-one-thing-evil-can-never-have-and-the-one-thing-good-can/) [Soman Chainani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soman-chainani/) > [“And this is the only really startling thing about the evil of the world: not that so much of it exists, but that nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-pyper/and-this-is-the-only-really-startling-thing-about-the-evil-of-the/) [Andrew Pyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-pyper/) > [The only thing evil can’t stand is forgiveness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-rogers/the-only-thing-evil-can-t-stand-is-forgiveness/) [Fred Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-rogers/) > [“There is no such thing as evil in the world of science. There are only those who discover and are remembered, and those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-c-barrus/there-is-no-such-thing-as-evil-in-the-world-of-science-there-are-only/) [S.C. Barrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-c-barrus/) > [Evil is not only By hurting other's stendind and watching reail bad happning in fornt of us and not doning any thing is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-d-cruz/evil-is-not-only-by-hurting-other-s-stendind-and-watching-reail-bad/) [Kevin D'cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-d-cruz/) > [“That’s the thing about evil. You don’t need to be it to do it. It doesn’t have to consume all of you. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-lu/that-s-the-thing-about-evil-you-don-t-need-to-be-it-to-do-it-it-doesn/) [Marie Lu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-lu/) > [“It's said on my world that the only thing evil needs to succeed is for good men to do nothing." - Will Bradshaw”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-daigle/it-s-said-on-my-world-that-the-only-thing-evil-needs-to-succeed-is/) [Arthur Daigle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-daigle/) > [I'd have to say, and I think that most Christians would hold the view, that there is such a thing as evil, and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hollingworth/i-d-have-to-say-and-i-think-that-most-christians-would-hold-the-view/) [Peter Hollingworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hollingworth/) > [“Prophet!” said I, “thing of evil! — prophet still, if bird or devil! — Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate, yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/prophet-said-i-thing-of-evil-prophet-still-if-bird-or-devil-whether/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) ## More by Alex Colville > [Anxiety is the normality of our age,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/anxiety-is-the-normality-of-our-age/) [Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) > [My painting occurs when I think of two disparate elements.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/my-painting-occurs-when-i-think-of-two-disparate-elements/) [Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) > [I don’t intend to be menacing, but I do think of life as being essentially dangerous. We never know what’s going to happen from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/i-don-t-intend-to-be-menacing-but-i-do-think-of-life-as-being/) [Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) > [The woman sees, I suppose, and the man does not,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/the-woman-sees-i-suppose-and-the-man-does-not/) [Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) > [I don't use photographs because photographs don't give me the kind of information I need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/i-don-t-use-photographs-because-photographs-don-t-give-me-the-kind-of/) [Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) > [I think if anything I am perhaps more inclined than most people are to be polite and considerate because I am aware that human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/i-think-if-anything-i-am-perhaps-more-inclined-than-most-people-are/) [Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) > [It's the ordinary things that seem important to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/it-s-the-ordinary-things-that-seem-important-to-me/) [Alex Colville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) [Explore all 8 Alex Colville quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. 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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. 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The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. 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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": "I don't think there's such a thing as an evil animal.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alex Colville" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an-evil-animal/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an-evil-animal/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/alex-colville-47242_animal_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an_1898147.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/alex-colville-47242_animal_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an_1898147.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/89a/alex-colville-47242_animal_i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an_1898147.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I don't think there's such a thing as an evil animal.” — Alex Colville", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Alex Colville", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-colville/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I don't think there's such a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an-evil-animal/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-colville/i-don-t-think-there-s-such-a-thing-as-an-evil-animal/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```