Animal Quote by Else Poulsen
““The self-aggrandizing and widespread assumption that we humans have the full complement of all of the emotions possible to all animals on Earth–basically, that all the marbles belong to us–is not only unscientific but also childish. Do we know how it feel is sail on an updraft in the sky, to echolocate our dinner in the dark, or to see at lightning speed with a compound eye? Fortunately, human understanding is maturing, and we are learning that animals are emotional, thinking, and self-aware beings relative to the niche that they were born to occupy.””
About This Quote
The quote challenges anthropocentric views, arguing that many animals possess complex emotions and cognition, urging a scientific, humble perspective.
In simple terms: Animals have rich emotions and thoughts, not just humans.
Key Takeaway
Respect animal sentience and adjust our ethical frameworks.
Themes
ethics
science
animal cognition
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
educational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- conservation work
- education
- policy making
- research studies
Key Concepts
anthropology
neuroscience
philosophy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing animal emotions change your behavior?
- What responsibilities arise from this awareness?
A Different Perspective
Human bias can hinder objective study of animal minds.
![“God put many animals here [on Earth] for pets, playthings and companions for us and our children, and we're still going to enjoy them [in Heaven].” quote by David Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b66/david-berg-2807_animal_god-put-many-animals-here-on-earth-for-p_1704356.jpg)
