--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the past even scientists have been led…" description: "\"In the past even scientists have been led to believe that only human beings have thoughts or emotions. Of course, nothing could be further from the tru..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/elizabeth-marshall-thomas-3895_believe_in-the-past-even-scientists-have-been-le_2844302.png" --- # In the past even scientists have been led to believe that… ![“In the past even scientists have been led to believe that only human beings have thoughts or emotions. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth... After all, thoughts and emotions have evolutionary value.” quote by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/elizabeth-marshall-thomas-3895_believe_in-the-past-even-scientists-have-been-le_2844302.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/elizabeth-marshall-thomas-3895_believe_in-the-past-even-scientists-have-been-le_2844302.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/925/elizabeth-marshall-thomas-3895_believe_in-the-past-even-scientists-have-been-le_2844302.png) > “In the past even scientists have been led to believe that only human beings have thoughts or emotions. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth... After all, thoughts and emotions have evolutionary value.” [Elizabeth Marshall Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Historically, humans thought only they had thoughts and emotions, but these are evolutionary traits shared across species. **In simple terms:** Thoughts and emotions are evolutionary, not uniquely human. Key Takeaway Respect animal cognition. Themes evolution empathy animal cognition biology philosophy Mood thoughtful ethical scientific Type observation statement When to use this quote - wildlife research - conservation - ethical debates - education Key Concepts comparative psychology ethical considerations shared traits Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing animal emotions affect behavior? - What evolutionary purposes do emotions serve? A Different Perspective Human‑centric bias limits understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotion/) [Emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emotions/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Scientist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scientist/) [Thoughts and emotions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thoughts-and-emotions/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [Values](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/values/) ## Related quotes > [One extremely important purpose of emotions from an evolutionary perspective is to help us decide what to remember and what to forget. The cavewoman…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/candace-pert/one-extremely-important-purpose-of-emotions-from-an-evolutionary/) [Candace Pert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/candace-pert/) > [This is the evolutionary value of play- play makes us flexible. By reinterpreting reality and begetting novelty, we keep from becoming rigid. Play enables…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-nachmanovitch/this-is-the-evolutionary-value-of-play-play-makes-us-flexible-by/) [Stephen Nachmanovitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-nachmanovitch/) > [“If we try to hold on to so many things, both real and imaginary, thoughts and emotions, fears, worries and expectations, then we begin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gyalwa-dokhampa/if-we-try-to-hold-on-to-so-many-things-both-real-and-imaginary/) [Gyalwa Dokhampa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gyalwa-dokhampa/) > [“For a writer, it seems a help rather than a hindrance to be at least a little crazy. Who but a crazy person would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leland-dirks/for-a-writer-it-seems-a-help-rather-than-a-hindrance-to-be-at-least-a/) [Leland Dirks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leland-dirks/) > [“We seldom realize, for example, that our most private thoughts and emotions are not actually our own. For we think in terms of languages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-wilson-watts/we-seldom-realize-for-example-that-our-most-private-thoughts-and/) [Alan Wilson Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-wilson-watts/) > [Every day I tell myself 'My thoughts and emotions are the only thing that are stopping me, so I am stopping them!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-day-i-tell-myself-my-thoughts-and-emotions-are-the-only-thing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Be present as the watcher of your mind- of your thoughts and emotions as well as your reactions in various situations”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/be-present-as-the-watcher-of-your-mind-of-your-thoughts-and-emotions/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [Thoughts and emotions will always arise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/thoughts-and-emotions-will-always-arise/) [Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/) > [“Normally we are so identified with our thoughts and emotions, that we are them. We are the happiness, we are the anger, we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vicki-mackenzie/normally-we-are-so-identified-with-our-thoughts-and-emotions-that-we/) Vicki Mackenzie > [Just as the ocean has waves or the sun has rays, so the minds's own radiance is its thoughts and emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sogyal-rinpoche/just-as-the-ocean-has-waves-or-the-sun-has-rays-so-the-minds-s-own/) [Sogyal Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sogyal-rinpoche/) > [T Sixteen relised a cold world and relised my childhood was nothing but a dream.Then woke up and there it hit me the reall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-mcdonald/t-sixteen-relised-a-cold-world-and-relised-my-childhood-was-nothing/) Aaron Mcdonald > [The kind of happiness that stays with you is the happiness that springs from inward thoughts and emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-lyon-phelps/the-kind-of-happiness-that-stays-with-you-is-the-happiness-that/) [William Lyon Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-lyon-phelps/) > [What good are thoughts and emotions-in fact all of our experiences-if not to increase our realization?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/what-good-are-thoughts-and-emotions-in-fact-all-of-our-experiences-if/) [Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dzigar-kongtrul-rinpoche/) > [“What shows up in our lives is a direct reflection of our inner thoughts and emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-grout/what-shows-up-in-our-lives-is-a-direct-reflection-of-our-inner/) [Pam Grout](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-grout/) > [When I got to write for the 'Battlefield' record, it was almost therapeutic. I had gone through a few things in the two years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordin-sparks/when-i-got-to-write-for-the-battlefield-record-it-was-almost/) [Jordin Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordin-sparks/) ## More by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas > [People can be a fine substitute for other dogs. But I think that if they had to choose, dogs by and large would choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/people-can-be-a-fine-substitute-for-other-dogs-but-i-think-that-if/) [Elizabeth Marshall Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/) > [“Then, too, the Ju/wa men had an inherent, almost natural bravery that everyone took entirely for granted. They hunted the world’s most dangerous game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/then-too-the-ju-wa-men-had-an-inherent-almost-natural-bravery-that/) [Elizabeth Marshall Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/) > [Dogs who chase cars evidently see them as large, unruly ungulates badly in need of discipline and shepherding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/dogs-who-chase-cars-evidently-see-them-as-large-unruly-ungulates/) [Elizabeth Marshall Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/) > [In truth, most of us don't know our cats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/in-truth-most-of-us-don-t-know-our-cats/) [Elizabeth Marshall Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/) > [What do dogs want? They want each other. 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I was also to learn that compared to many of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/i-saw-that-animals-were-important-i-saw-that-plants-were-even-more/) [Elizabeth Marshall Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/) > [As the cherub is to the angel, so the cat is to the tiger...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/as-the-cherub-is-to-the-angel-so-the-cat-is-to-the-tiger/) [Elizabeth Marshall Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/) [Explore all 11 Elizabeth Marshall Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-marshall-thomas/) ## More Believe 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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And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [“What I have a problem with is not so much religion or god, but faith. When you say you believe something in your heart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penn-jillette/what-i-have-a-problem-with-is-not-so-much-religion-or-god-but-faith/) [Penn Jillette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penn-jillette/) > [Bush reiterated his stand to conservatives opposing his decision on stem cell research. 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Garfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-a-garfield/) > [We instantly believe everything we think. Isn't that insane? It's good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krishna-das/we-instantly-believe-everything-we-think-isn-t-that-insane-it-s-good/) [Krishna Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krishna-das/) Browse all 47,704 Believe quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "In the past even scientists have been led to believe that only human beings have thoughts or emotions. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth... 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