--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a general rule of biology, migratory…" description: "\"As a general rule of biology, migratory species are less 'aggressive' than sedentary ones. There is one obvious reason why this should be so. The migra..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/bruce-chatwin-11797_aggressive_as-a-general-rule-of-biology-migratory-s_2349554.jpg" --- # As a general rule of biology, migratory species are less… ![“As a general rule of biology, migratory species are less 'aggressive' than sedentary ones. There is one obvious reason why this should be so. The migration itself, like the pilgrimage, is the hard journey: a 'leveller' on which the 'fit' survive and stragglers fall by the wayside. The journey thus…” quote by Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/bruce-chatwin-11797_aggressive_as-a-general-rule-of-biology-migratory-s_2349554.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/bruce-chatwin-11797_aggressive_as-a-general-rule-of-biology-migratory-s_2349554.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4d9/bruce-chatwin-11797_aggressive_as-a-general-rule-of-biology-migratory-s_2349554.jpg) > “As a general rule of biology, migratory species are less 'aggressive' than sedentary ones. There is one obvious reason why this should be so. The migration itself, like the pilgrimage, is the hard journey: a 'leveller' on which the 'fit' survive and stragglers fall by the wayside. The journey thus pre-empts the need for hierarchies and shows of dominance. The 'dictators' of the animal kingdom are those who live in an ambience of plenty. The anarchists, as always, are the 'gentlemen of the road'.” [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Migratory species face harsh journeys that level competition, reducing aggression and hierarchy compared to species in abundant, stable environments. **In simple terms:** Migration levels competition, making species less aggressive. Key Takeaway Recognize how challenges can equalize power dynamics. Themes nature competition hierarchy migration survival Mood reflective analytical Type observational theoretical When to use this quote - wildlife conservation - team building - conflict resolution - leadership training Key Concepts ecology evolutionary biology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does scarcity affect aggression? - Can artificial challenges reduce workplace hierarchy? A Different Perspective Even in harsh journeys, some individuals still dominate through other means. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Anarchist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/anarchist/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal kingdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-kingdom/) [Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Dictator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictator/) [Gentleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gentleman/) [Hard journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-journey/) [Hierarchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hierarchy/) [Immigration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immigration/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Kingdoms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kingdoms/) [Migration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/migration/) [Pilgrimage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pilgrimage/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Travel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/travel/) ## Related quotes > [As a general rule of biology, migratory species are less 'aggressive' than sedentary ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/as-a-general-rule-of-biology-migratory-species-are-less-aggressive-2/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [I fear that the migratory crisis signals the beginning of the end of women's rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/i-fear-that-the-migratory-crisis-signals-the-beginning-of-the-end-of/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [The migratory phenomenon exists, and Europe will have to face it together. The only alternative is a 'beggar-thy-neighbor' solution, in which countries try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-gentiloni/the-migratory-phenomenon-exists-and-europe-will-have-to-face-it/) [Paolo Gentiloni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-gentiloni/) > [Migratory birds connect people, ecosystems, and nations. They are symbols of peace and of an interconnected planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-guterres/migratory-birds-connect-people-ecosystems-and-nations-they-are/) [Antonio Guterres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-guterres/) > [I think humans are migratory animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-osborne/i-think-humans-are-migratory-animals/) [Lawrence Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-osborne/) > [Without any action, this migratory influx will be like the barbarian invasion of the 4th century, and the consequences will be the same. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marine-le-pen/without-any-action-this-migratory-influx-will-be-like-the-barbarian/) [Marine Le Pen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marine-le-pen/) > [Man could not stay there forever. He was bound to spread to new regions, partly because of his innate migratory tendency and partly because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellsworth-huntington/man-could-not-stay-there-forever-he-was-bound-to-spread-to-new/) [Ellsworth Huntington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellsworth-huntington/) > [Without economic growth and job creation in Mexico, we won't be able to confront the migratory phenomenon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andres-manuel-lopez-obrador/without-economic-growth-and-job-creation-in-mexico-we-won-t-be-able/) [Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andres-manuel-lopez-obrador/) > [“I look through the window at the huge valley lit up with different colors. The town is cradled by the dark mountains. From afar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberto-gonzalez/i-look-through-the-window-at-the-huge-valley-lit-up-with-different/) [Rigoberto Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberto-gonzalez/) > [Because the path of the righteous man was never supposed to be easy,' I whispered. 'Those who are chosen by the Lord are given…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexandra-adornetto/because-the-path-of-the-righteous-man-was-never-supposed-to-be-easy-i/) [Alexandra Adornetto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexandra-adornetto/) > [“It is the hard journey that leads to a greater destiny. You can never rise if you never have anything to rise above.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dannika-dark/it-is-the-hard-journey-that-leads-to-a-greater-destiny-you-can-never/) [Dannika Dark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dannika-dark/) > [We don't really know the ultimate outcome of our lives. All we can say is, "Fate has brought me thus far. This is where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-patton/we-don-t-really-know-the-ultimate-outcome-of-our-lives-all-we-can-say/) [Paula Patton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-patton/) > [The American people reminded us while our road has been hard, while our journey has been long. We have picked ourselves up, we have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/the-american-people-reminded-us-while-our-road-has-been-hard-while/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [“Yessuh, you done had your share of rough seas. I reckon you don’t need to have been on a big ship like my papa…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/la-chris-jordan/yessuh-you-done-had-your-share-of-rough-seas-i-reckon-you-don-t-need/) La'Chris Jordan > [Some boats are rotten in the ports; some boats shine in the hard journeys!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/some-boats-are-rotten-in-the-ports-some-boats-shine-in-the-hard/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) ## More by Bruce Chatwin > [Tyranny sets up its own echo-chamber.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/tyranny-sets-up-its-own-echo-chamber/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [“I think I would be happy in that place I happen not to be, and this question of moving house is the subject of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/i-think-i-would-be-happy-in-that-place-i-happen-not-to-be-and-this/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [And the formation of man is the most pressing problem facing humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/and-the-formation-of-man-is-the-most-pressing-problem-facing-humanity/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [A Sufi manual, the Kashf-al-Mahjub, says that, towards the end of his journey, the dervish becomes the Way not the wayfarer, i.e. a place…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/a-sufi-manual-the-kashf-al-mahjub-says-that-towards-the-end-of-his/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [I pictured a low timber house with a shingled roof, caulked against storms, with blazing log fires inside and the walls lined with all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/i-pictured-a-low-timber-house-with-a-shingled-roof-caulked-against/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [“One year, he went to Paris for the week-end: but that completely upset his equilibrium.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/one-year-he-went-to-paris-for-the-week-end-but-that-completely-upset/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [It's an old sailor's idea that every ship has a rope with one end made fast to her bows and the other held by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/it-s-an-old-sailor-s-idea-that-every-ship-has-a-rope-with-one-end/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [“ Fino a quando, Signore, fino a quando? ... "Finché non siano devastate le città...". I Profeti confidavano in un Giorno della Restaurazione, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/fino-a-quando-signore-fino-a-quando-finch-non-siano-devastate-le-citt/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [I climbed a path and from the top looked up-stream towards Chile. I could see the river, glinting and sliding through the bone-white cliffs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/i-climbed-a-path-and-from-the-top-looked-up-stream-towards-chile-i/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [“The real home of man is not his house but the road. Life itself is a travel that has to be done by foot.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/the-real-home-of-man-is-not-his-house-but-the-road-life-itself-is-a/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [“What am I doing here? Rimbaud writing home from Ethiopia”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/what-am-i-doing-here-rimbaud-writing-home-from-ethiopia/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > ['I will go to France, to Yugoslavia, to China, and continue my profession.' 'As sanitary engineer?' 'No, Monsieur. As adventurer. I will see all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/i-will-go-to-france-to-yugoslavia-to-china-and-continue-my-profession/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [Walking is a virtue, tourism is a deadly sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/walking-is-a-virtue-tourism-is-a-deadly-sin/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [Richard Lee calculated that a Bushman child will be carried a distance of 4,900 miles before he begins to walk on his own. Since,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/richard-lee-calculated-that-a-bushman-child-will-be-carried-a/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) > [“Gradually the idea for a book began to take shape. It was to be a wildly ambitious and intolerant work, a kind of 'Anatomy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-chatwin/gradually-the-idea-for-a-book-began-to-take-shape-it-was-to-be-a/) [Bruce Chatwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) [Explore all 53 Bruce Chatwin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-chatwin/) ## More Aggressive quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Passive...Aggressive...Pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/passive-aggressive-pussy/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [I'm not a fan of endless mystery in storytelling - I like to know where the mythology's going; I like to get there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/i-m-not-a-fan-of-endless-mystery-in-storytelling-i-like-to-know-where/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. 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