Behavior Quote by Arthur Koestler
![“Some tribes [of monkeys] have taken to washing potatoes in the river before eating them, others have not. Sometimes migrating groups of potato-washers meet non-washers, and the two groups watch each other's strange behavior with apparent bewilderment. But unlike the inhabitants of Lilliput, who…” quote by Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1f0/arthur-koestler-1903_behavior_some-tribes-of-monkeys-have-taken-to-was_1961005.jpg)
“Some tribes [of monkeys] have taken to washing potatoes in the river before eating them, others have not. Sometimes migrating groups of potato-washers meet non-washers, and the two groups watch each other's strange behavior with apparent bewilderment. But unlike the inhabitants of Lilliput, who fought holy crusades over the question at which end to break the egg, the potato-washing monkeys do not go to war with the non-washers, because the poor creatures have no language which would enable them to declare washing a diving commandment and eating unwashed potatoes a deadly heresy.”
About This Quote
Observing differing cultural habits shows that without language, groups cannot label practices as right or wrong, preventing conflict.
In simple terms: Cultural differences need language to become moral disputes.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how language shapes conflict.
Themes
culture
communication
conflict
behavior
language
Mood
curious
reflective
Type
observational
anthropological
When to use this quote
- anthropology field
- study of animal behavior
- cross‑cultural comparison
Key Concepts
social learning
norms
group dynamics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language enable moral judgments?
- Can shared language turn harmless differences into conflict?
A Different Perspective
Without language, groups may remain indifferent rather than hostile.
