Airplane Quote by Bertrand Russell
“I once saw a photograph of a large herd of wild elephants in Central Africa Seeing an airplane for the first time, and all in a state of wild collective terror... As, however, there were no journalists among them, the terror died down when the airplane was out of sight.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Reflections on Nature, 1925
Wild animals react fearfully to unfamiliar technology, but calm when the threat disappears.
In simple terms: Animals fear the unknown.
Respect nature’s reactions.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- wildlife observation
- environmental policy
- education
- media reporting
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does technology impact wildlife?
- What can we learn from animal responses?
Human presence can be disruptive even without direct harm.