Dolphins Quote by Douglas Adams
“For instance, on the planet Earth, man had always assumed that he was more intelligent than dolphins because he had achieved so much—the wheel, New York, wars and so on—whilst all the dolphins had ever done was muck about in the water having a good time. But conversely, the dolphins had always believed that they were far more intelligent than man—for precisely the same reasons.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1979
Humans and dolphins each claim superiority based on their own achievements, highlighting bias.
In simple terms: Both species see themselves as smartest.
Key Takeaway
Recognize perspective bias.
Themes
humor
perspective
intelligence
bias
Mood
humorous
thought‑provoking
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- education
- team building
- cross‑cultural communication
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
sociology
anthropology
science fiction
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate intelligence?
- What assumptions shape your self‑view?
A Different Perspective
Bias may ignore objective measures of ability.
![“Does God know he [exists]?" "Of course he does. Otherwise, you could not have asked the question, and I could not have answered.” quote by Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/a21/douglas-adams-122_courses_does-god-know-he-exists-of-course-he-doe_26187.jpg)
![“As he [Sir Malcolm Sargeant, conductor of the London Philharmonic] stood in waist deep in the shallows of Whaler's Cove, the littler spinners came drifting over, sleek and dainty, gazing at him curiously with their soft dark eyes. Malcolm was a tactful, graceful man in his movements, and so the…” quote by Karen Pryor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eca/karen-pryor-39019_dark-eyes_as-he-sir-malcolm-sargeant-conductor-of_162419.jpg)
