--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man is an animal which, alone among the…" description: "\"Man is an animal which, alone among the animals, refuses to be satisfied by the fulfillment of animal desires.\" — Alexander Graham Bell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/alexander-graham-bell-9356_animal_man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-a_1351316.jpg" --- # Man is an animal which, alone among the animals, refuses… ![“Man is an animal which, alone among the animals, refuses to be satisfied by the fulfillment of animal desires.” quote by Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/alexander-graham-bell-9356_animal_man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-a_1351316.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/alexander-graham-bell-9356_animal_man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-a_1351316.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/alexander-graham-bell-9356_animal_man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-a_1351316.jpg) > “Man is an animal which, alone among the animals, refuses to be satisfied by the fulfillment of animal desires.” [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans uniquely seek fulfillment beyond basic animal instincts, striving for higher aspirations. **In simple terms:** Humans want more than basic desires. Key Takeaway Pursue higher purpose beyond material needs. Themes philosophy human nature aspiration Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career development - spiritual growth - creative pursuits - social impact Key Concepts existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What higher goals drive you? - How do you balance basic needs with lofty ambitions? A Different Perspective Higher aspirations can cause dissatisfaction with simple pleasures. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-desires-1504907/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Animals Refuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals-refuses-4596869/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Fulfillment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment/) [Fulfillment Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fulfillment-animal-4596870/) [Man Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-animal/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Refuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuse/) [Refuses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/refuses/) [Satisfied](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/satisfied/) ## Related quotes > [Man is the only animal whose desires increase as they are fed; the only animal that is never satisfied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-george/man-is-the-only-animal-whose-desires-increase-as-they-are-fed-the/) [Henry George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-george/) > [“A man engrossed in sensual pleasures may form a mistaken out look upon life and think that he enjoys life more than others do.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammad-qutub/a-man-engrossed-in-sensual-pleasures-may-form-a-mistaken-out-look/) [Mohammad Qutub](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammad-qutub/) > [“We can always be human Meeting each day a wise new man But the Animal Kingdom to which we belong Animals we are; this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/munia-khan/we-can-always-be-human-meeting-each-day-a-wise-new-man-but-the-animal/) [Munia Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/munia-khan/) > [“In dim ways he recognized in man the animal that had fought itself to primacy over the other animals of the Wild. Not alone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-london/in-dim-ways-he-recognized-in-man-the-animal-that-had-fought-itself-to/) [Jack London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-london/) > [MAN, n. An animal so lost in rapturous contemplation of what he thinks he is as to overlook what he indubitably ought to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/man-n-an-animal-so-lost-in-rapturous-contemplation-of-what-he-thinks/) [Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/) > [Man is the only animal that learns by being hypocritical. He pretends to be polite and then, eventually, he becomes polite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-kerr/man-is-the-only-animal-that-learns-by-being-hypocritical-he-pretends/) [Jean Kerr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-kerr/) > [Man is an animal whose dreams come true and kill him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-tiptree-jr/man-is-an-animal-whose-dreams-come-true-and-kill-him/) [James Tiptree Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-tiptree-jr/) > [Man is the only animal for whom his own stupid existence is a problem which he has to try in vain to solve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-c-brown/man-is-the-only-animal-for-whom-his-own-stupid-existence-is-a-problem/) [William C. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-c-brown/) > [Himsa does not need to be taught, Man as animal is violent, but as spirit is nonviolent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/himsa-does-not-need-to-be-taught-man-as-animal-is-violent-but-as/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Man seems to be the only animal whose food soils him, making necessary much washing and shield-like bibs and napkins. Moles living in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/man-seems-to-be-the-only-animal-whose-food-soils-him-making-necessary/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Man is an animal with primary instincts of survival. Consequently his ingenuity has developed first and his soul afterwards. 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He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/man-is-the-only-animal-that-deals-in-that-atrocity-of-atrocities-war/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Man is the only animal that laughs and weeps; for he is the only animal that is struck with the difference between what things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-hazlitt/man-is-the-only-animal-that-laughs-and-weeps-for-he-is-the-only/) [William Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-hazlitt/) > [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/) ## More by Alexander Graham Bell > [First words on the first telephone - "Mr. Watson - come here - I want to see you."](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/first-words-on-the-first-telephone-mr-watson-come-here-i-want-to-see/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work in hand. The Sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/concentrate-all-your-thoughts-upon-the-work-in-hand-the-sun-s-rays-do/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [We are all too much inclined, I think, to walk through life with our eyes shut. There are things all round us and right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/we-are-all-too-much-inclined-i-think-to-walk-through-life-with-our/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [ “Mr. Watson — Come here — I want to see you. \[ First intelligible words spoken over the telephone \]” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/mr-watson-come-here-i-want-to-see-you-first-intelligible-words-spoken/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [I have heard articulate speech produced by sunlight I have heard a ray of the sun laugh and cough and sing! … I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/i-have-heard-articulate-speech-produced-by-sunlight-i-have-heard-a/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [“Concentrate all your thoughts on the task at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/concentrate-all-your-thoughts-on-the-task-at-hand-the-sun-s-rays-do/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [Such a chimerical idea as telegraphing vocal sounds would indeed, to most minds, seem scarcely feasible enough to spend time in working over. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/such-a-chimerical-idea-as-telegraphing-vocal-sounds-would-indeed-to/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/sometimes-we-stare-so-long-at-a-door-that-is-closing-that-we-see-too/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [One day every major city in America will have a telephone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/one-day-every-major-city-in-america-will-have-a-telephone/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [I do not recognize the right of the public to break in the front door of a man's private life in order to satisfy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/i-do-not-recognize-the-right-of-the-public-to-break-in-the-front-door/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [Dumbness comes from the fact that a child is born deaf and that it consequently never learns how to articulate, for it is by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/dumbness-comes-from-the-fact-that-a-child-is-born-deaf-and-that-it/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [When one door closes, another one opens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/when-one-door-closes-another-one-opens/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [There cannot be mental atrophy in any person who continues to observe, to remember what he observes, and to seek answers for his unceasing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/there-cannot-be-mental-atrophy-in-any-person-who-continues-to-observe/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [Observe, Remember, Compare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/observe-remember-compare/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) > [What this power is I cannot say; all I know is that it exists and it becomes available only when a man is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/what-this-power-is-i-cannot-say-all-i-know-is-that-it-exists-and-it/) [Alexander Graham Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) [Explore all 72 Alexander Graham Bell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/) ## 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": "Man is an animal which, alone among the animals, refuses to be satisfied by the fulfillment of animal desires.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Alexander Graham Bell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-animals-refuses-to-be/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-animals-refuses-to-be/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/alexander-graham-bell-9356_animal_man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-a_1351316.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/alexander-graham-bell-9356_animal_man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-a_1351316.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a7c/alexander-graham-bell-9356_animal_man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-a_1351316.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man is an animal which, alone among the animals, refuses to be satisfied by the fulfillment of animal desires.” — Alexander Graham Bell", "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": "Alexander Graham Bell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-graham-bell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man is an animal which, alone...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-animals-refuses-to-be/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-graham-bell/man-is-an-animal-which-alone-among-the-animals-refuses-to-be/#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 } } ] } ```