---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are eaters and the eaten. The tiger…"
description: "\"“There are eaters and the eaten. The tiger does not resent the deer that gets away. The doe does not resent the tiger that captures her fawn. They are ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/devdutt-pattanaik-3900_animals_there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger_595355.png"
---

#  There are eaters and the eaten. The tiger does not resent…

![“There are eaters and the eaten. The tiger does not resent the deer that gets away. The doe does not resent the tiger that captures her fawn. They are following their instincts. Plants and animals live; humans need to judge, for we need to feel good about ourselves. That is why we create stories…” quote by Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/devdutt-pattanaik-3900_animals_there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger_595355.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/devdutt-pattanaik-3900_animals_there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger_595355.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/devdutt-pattanaik-3900_animals_there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger_595355.png)

> ““There are eaters and the eaten. The tiger does not resent the deer that gets away. The doe does not resent the tiger that captures her fawn. They are following their instincts. Plants and animals live; humans need to judge, for we need to feel good about ourselves. That is why we create stories, full of heroes and villains, victims and martyrs””

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Humans create moral narratives to justify actions and feel good, unlike animals that simply follow instinct.

**In simple terms:** People tell stories to feel morally superior.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the role of narrative in moral judgment.

Themes

morality storytelling human nature ethics

Mood

reflective critical thoughtful

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

- political debate
- media analysis
- personal reflection
- education
- leadership

Key Concepts

mythology psychology social identity

Questions to Reflect On

- How do narratives shape your moral choices?
- When might a story hinder objective judgment?

A Different Perspective

Stories can oversimplify complex realities and reinforce bias.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Heroes and villains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/heroes-and-villains/) [Plants and animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plants-and-animals/) [Tiger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tiger/)

## Related quotes

> [“The cost to reconnect animals to live in natural settings without human support is a debt that many animals in transition must honor with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/young-tim/the-cost-to-reconnect-animals-to-live-in-natural-settings-without/)

Young Tim

> [My city is the only jungle made out of concrete, all types of animals live behind these streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-fwea-d/my-city-is-the-only-jungle-made-out-of-concrete-all-types-of-animals/)

G-Fwea D

> [Dear and dearest Vegetarians, if you want animals to live, why do you eat their food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/dear-and-dearest-vegetarians-if-you-want-animals-to-live-why-do-you/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [“If you want to understand how animals live, you don't go to the zoo, you go to the jungle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-lindstrom/if-you-want-to-understand-how-animals-live-you-don-t-go-to-the-zoo/)

[Martin Lindstrom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-lindstrom/)

> [I am working on getting the word out about the different ways that everyone can contribute to the ASPCA, and help the animals live…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-pivarnick/i-am-working-on-getting-the-word-out-about-the-different-ways-that/)

[Angelina Pivarnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-pivarnick/)

> [I see several animals that live so entire and perfect a life, some without sight, others without hearing: who knows whether to us also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-see-several-animals-that-live-so-entire-and-perfect-a-life-some/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [Elephants are social, thoughtful animals. They live in communities and - I have to say it - in matriarchal societies. They bear no grudge,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margrethe-vestager/elephants-are-social-thoughtful-animals-they-live-in-communities-and/)

[Margrethe Vestager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margrethe-vestager/)

> [All those animals live a pretty dreary life, then they get chopped up and put on a griddle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/all-those-animals-live-a-pretty-dreary-life-then-they-get-chopped-up/)

[Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/)

> [“Humankind devotes much of its collective energy to managing personal and institutional anxiety and dealing with unsuccessful efforts of its civilians to cope with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/humankind-devotes-much-of-its-collective-energy-to-managing-personal/)

[Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/)

> [We animals live life in all its glorious uncertainty. Why do politicians think they can control events?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mae-brown/we-animals-live-life-in-all-its-glorious-uncertainty-why-do/)

[Rita Mae Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mae-brown/)

> [“The saints on the one hand, the animals on the other, live in the moment as it passes. This is the one grain they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orna-ross/the-saints-on-the-one-hand-the-animals-on-the-other-live-in-the/)

[Orna Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orna-ross/)

> [There is an equator that runs just under the nose: all that live below the equator are animals; all that live above it are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/there-is-an-equator-that-runs-just-under-the-nose-all-that-live-below/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [I tend to make my most important decisions by following my instincts rather than any straightforward logic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-bizzarri/i-tend-to-make-my-most-important-decisions-by-following-my-instincts/)

[Marco Bizzarri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-bizzarri/)

> [A lot of people approach their barn or horse like they are going to war, because it's been going badly. So you pick up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cindy-meehl/a-lot-of-people-approach-their-barn-or-horse-like-they-are-going-to/)

Cindy Meehl

> [They are wild animals that live in your house - that's the only way to describe a toddler.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-o-porter/they-are-wild-animals-that-live-in-your-house-that-s-the-only-way-to/)

[Dawn O'Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-o-porter/)

## More by Devdutt Pattanaik

> [“What is the most amazing thing about the world? 'Every day creatures die, yet the rest live as if immortal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/what-is-the-most-amazing-thing-about-the-world-every-day-creatures/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [In Greek mythology, the hero wants to be great, but the very concept does not exist in the Indian vocabulary. Yet it has become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/in-greek-mythology-the-hero-wants-to-be-great-but-the-very-concept/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“Dharma is about exchange, about giving and receiving, It is about outgrowing animal instincts, outgrowing fear, discovering the ability to feed others, comfort others,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/dharma-is-about-exchange-about-giving-and-receiving-it-is-about/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“Life is difficult and people are imperfect. Unable to cope with the vagaries of this world, everyone makes mistakes. True love is the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/life-is-difficult-and-people-are-imperfect-unable-to-cope-with-the/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“To let our potential be realized without deriving our identity from it, or without denying its existence, is the hallmark of wisdom.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/to-let-our-potential-be-realized-without-deriving-our-identity-from/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“Each tool symbolizes one of the four things to keep in mind when supervising any project. •The conch-shell trumpet stands for clear communication. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/each-tool-symbolizes-one-of-the-four-things-to-keep-in-mind-when/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“his size, change his shape. He seeks independence from nature. Withdrawing from nature is the first step in this process. Detached from nature, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/his-size-change-his-shape-he-seeks-independence-from-nature/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“Hindu thought, however, looks at truth quantitatively: everyone has access to a slice (bhaga); the one who sees all slices of truth is bhaga-van.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/hindu-thought-however-looks-at-truth-quantitatively-everyone-has/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“Treta yuga, when the bull of dharma stands on three legs. Krishna’s story takes place in a later, third quarter of the world, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/treta-yuga-when-the-bull-of-dharma-stands-on-three-legs-krishna-s/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“B.R. Ambedkar believed the tale was not so much about Ram’s character as it was about the unsustainability of the caste system that needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/b-r-ambedkar-believed-the-tale-was-not-so-much-about-ram-s-character/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“How does one know the true path? 'Not through arguments-- they never reach a conclusion; not from teachers--- they can only give their opinions;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/how-does-one-know-the-true-path-not-through-arguments-they-never/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“Janaka told her to bring happiness into marriage, rather than seek happiness from it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/janaka-told-her-to-bring-happiness-into-marriage-rather-than-seek/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“Arjuna, immerse your mind in me and I will uplift you from the ocean of recurring death. If you cannot do that, then practise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/arjuna-immerse-your-mind-in-me-and-i-will-uplift-you-from-the-ocean/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [If you don't have imagination, you stop being human; animals don't have imagination; Alzheimer's is the death of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/if-you-don-t-have-imagination-you-stop-being-human-animals-don-t-have/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

> [“Control creates domesticated animals. The purpose of society is to inspire humanity, not tame them,’ said Ram.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/control-creates-domesticated-animals-the-purpose-of-society-is-to/)

[Devdutt Pattanaik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

[Explore all 119 Devdutt Pattanaik quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/)

## More Animals quotes

> [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/)

[Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/)

> [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/)

Mak\_786

> [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/)

[Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/)

> [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/)

[Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/)

> [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/)

[Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/)

> [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/)

[Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/)

> [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/)

[Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/)

> [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/)

[Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/)

> [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/)

[David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/)

> [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/)

[Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/)

> [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/)

[Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/)

[Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“There are eaters and the eaten. The tiger does not resent the deer that gets away. The doe does not resent the tiger that captures her fawn. They are following their instincts. Plants and animals live; humans need to judge, for we need to feel good about ourselves. That is why we create stories, full of heroes and villains, victims and martyrs”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Devdutt Pattanaik"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger-does-not-resent-the-deer/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Animals"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger-does-not-resent-the-deer/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/devdutt-pattanaik-3900_animals_there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger_595355.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/devdutt-pattanaik-3900_animals_there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger_595355.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/556/devdutt-pattanaik-3900_animals_there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger_595355.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“There are eaters and the eaten. The tiger does not resent the deer that gets away. The doe does not resent…” — Devdutt Pattanaik",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Devdutt Pattanaik",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devdutt-pattanaik/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“There are eaters and the eaten....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger-does-not-resent-the-deer/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devdutt-pattanaik/there-are-eaters-and-the-eaten-the-tiger-does-not-resent-the-deer/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
