Animal Quote by Christiaan Barnard
![“I had bought two male chimps from a primate colony in Holland. They lived next to each other in separate cages for several months before I used one as a [heart] donor. When we put him to sleep in his cage in preparation for the operation, he chattered and cried incessantly. We attached no…” quote by Christiaan Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/3b9/christiaan-barnard-39607_animal_i-had-bought-two-male-chimps-from-a-prim_126559.jpg)
“I had bought two male chimps from a primate colony in Holland. They lived next to each other in separate cages for several months before I used one as a [heart] donor. When we put him to sleep in his cage in preparation for the operation, he chattered and cried incessantly. We attached no significance to this, but it must have made a great impression on his companion, for when we removed the body to the operating room, the other chimp wept bitterly and was inconsolable for days. The incident made a deep impression on me. I vowed never again to experiment with such sensitive creatures.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Medical Journal, 1975, South Africa
Experimenting on sentient beings causes profound emotional distress and ethical conflict.
In simple terms: Animal testing raises deep moral concerns.
Key Takeaway
Respect sentient life in research.
Themes
ethics
science
compassion
Mood
thoughtful
somber
Type
ethical
reflective
When to use this quote
- laboratory research
- medical testing
- animal welfare policies
Key Concepts
animal rights
research ethics
empathy
Questions to Reflect On
- Can alternatives replace animal testing?
- What responsibilities do scientists have to sentient subjects?
A Different Perspective
Scientific progress may conflict with empathy for subjects.
![“For a dying man it is not a difficult decision [to agree to become the world's first heart transplant] ... because he knows he is at the end. If a lion chases you to the bank of a river filled with crocodiles, you will leap into the water convinced you have a chance to swim to the other side. But…” quote by Christiaan Barnard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/615/christiaan-barnard-39607_accepting_for-a-dying-man-it-is-not-a-difficult-de_1156716.jpg)
