--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The idea that it is funny to see wild…" description: "\"The idea that it is funny to see wild animals coerced into acting like clumsy humans, or thrilling to see powerful beasts reduced to cringing cowards b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/desmond-morris-17347_acting_the-idea-that-it-is-funny-to-see-wild-an_507642.jpg" --- # The idea that it is funny to see wild animals coerced into… ![“The idea that it is funny to see wild animals coerced into acting like clumsy humans, or thrilling to see powerful beasts reduced to cringing cowards by a whip-cracking trainer is primitive and medieval. It stems from the old idea that we are superior to other species and have the right to hold…” quote by Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/desmond-morris-17347_acting_the-idea-that-it-is-funny-to-see-wild-an_507642.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/desmond-morris-17347_acting_the-idea-that-it-is-funny-to-see-wild-an_507642.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/desmond-morris-17347_acting_the-idea-that-it-is-funny-to-see-wild-an_507642.jpg) > “The idea that it is funny to see wild animals coerced into acting like clumsy humans, or thrilling to see powerful beasts reduced to cringing cowards by a whip-cracking trainer is primitive and medieval. It stems from the old idea that we are superior to other species and have the right to hold dominion over them.” [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote criticizes the amusement derived from forcing animals into human-like or submissive roles, exposing a primitive belief in human superiority and domination over other species. **In simple terms:** Finding animals as entertainment shows human arrogance. Key Takeaway Recognize and respect animal autonomy. Themes animal rights humility ethics Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - zoo performances - animal training - media depictions - wildlife tourism Key Concepts anthropomorphism domination species hierarchy Questions to Reflect On - How does entertainment shape our view of animals? - What responsibilities do we have toward other species? A Different Perspective Such spectacles can reinforce harmful attitudes toward wildlife conservation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Dominion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dominion/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Medieval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medieval/) [Old ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-ideas/) [Pet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pet/) [Primitive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primitive/) [Vegan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vegan/) [Wild animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-animal/) [Wild animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wild-animals/) ## Related quotes > [The beasts are very wise, Their mouths are clean of lies, They talk one to the other, Bullock to bullock brothers Resting after their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/the-beasts-are-very-wise-their-mouths-are-clean-of-lies-they-talk-one/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [There is no such thing as a new idea. 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Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [When people speak of ideas that revolutionize society, they do but express the fact that within the old society, the elements of a new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/when-people-speak-of-ideas-that-revolutionize-society-they-do-but/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [“The history of education is a seemingly endless parade of “new ideas” that are actually old ideas renamed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ravitch/the-history-of-education-is-a-seemingly-endless-parade-of-new-ideas/) [Diane Ravitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ravitch/) > [Sometimes an old idea gets relegated to the back of the line in the mad delight of a new idea, one you've never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/sometimes-an-old-idea-gets-relegated-to-the-back-of-the-line-in-the/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [Just as the line of astronomical thinkers from Copernicus to Newton had destroyed the old astronomy, in which the earth was the center, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/just-as-the-line-of-astronomical-thinkers-from-copernicus-to-newton/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [On tight money: It reflects a reversion to the old idea that the tree can be fertilized at the top instead of at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/on-tight-money-it-reflects-a-reversion-to-the-old-idea-that-the-tree/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [Cities need old buildings so badly it is probably impossible for vigorous streets and districts to grow without them… for really new ideas of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-jacobs/cities-need-old-buildings-so-badly-it-is-probably-impossible-for/) [Jane Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-jacobs/) > [I don't see Jesus as rescuing the fallen; I see Jesus as expanding the potential of life. The primary reason the old idea of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-shelby-spong/i-don-t-see-jesus-as-rescuing-the-fallen-i-see-jesus-as-expanding-the/) [John Shelby Spong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-shelby-spong/) > [Why is it that, when we want to think outside the proverbial box, we often put ourselves in one? We gather our team in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-best/why-is-it-that-when-we-want-to-think-outside-the-proverbial-box-we/) [Charles Best](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-best/) ## More by Desmond Morris > [As long as the human race is able to concern itself with more than mere survival, soccer will have its place.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/as-long-as-the-human-race-is-able-to-concern-itself-with-more-than/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [Clearly, then, the city is not a concrete jungle, it is a human zoo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/clearly-then-the-city-is-not-a-concrete-jungle-it-is-a-human-zoo/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [People who keep dogs live longer on average than those who do not. This is not some kind of pro-canine campaigning fantasy. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/people-who-keep-dogs-live-longer-on-average-than-those-who-do-not/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [Life is like a very short visit to a toy shop between birth and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/life-is-like-a-very-short-visit-to-a-toy-shop-between-birth-and-death/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [The roots of our Soccer Tribe lie deep in our primeval past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/the-roots-of-our-soccer-tribe-lie-deep-in-our-primeval-past/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [The response of teenagers to their idols is relevant. 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This equality is demonstrated in many indirect ways, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/a-true-bond-of-friendship-is-usually-only-possible-between-people-of/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [“My writing, on the other hand, is always done with my readers in mind. I never write for my own amusement. I always try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/my-writing-on-the-other-hand-is-always-done-with-my-readers-in-mind-i/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [The city is not a concrete jungle, it is a human zoo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/the-city-is-not-a-concrete-jungle-it-is-a-human-zoo/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [Life is like a very short visit to a toyshop between birth and death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/life-is-like-a-very-short-visit-to-a-toyshop-between-birth-and-death/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [...In little more than a single century from 1820 to 19450, no less than fifty-nine million human animals were killed in inter-group clashes of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/in-little-more-than-a-single-century-from-1820-to-19450-no-less-than/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [Monks, nuns, long-term spinsters and bachelors and permanent homosexuals are all, in a reproductive sense, aberrant. Society has bred them, but they have failed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/monks-nuns-long-term-spinsters-and-bachelors-and-permanent/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [Looking back now on the whole sexual scene we can see that our species has remained much more loyal to its basic biological urges…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/looking-back-now-on-the-whole-sexual-scene-we-can-see-that-our/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) > [Artists like cats; soldiers like dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-morris/artists-like-cats-soldiers-like-dogs/) [Desmond Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) [Explore all 37 Desmond Morris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-morris/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. 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Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. 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