Apes Quote by Frans De Waal
“Contrary to general belief, humans imitate apes more than the reverse”
About This Quote
Source Book: Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?, 2016
Humans more often copy ape behavior than apes imitate humans, highlighting our influence on primate cultures.
In simple terms: Humans influence apes more than vice versa.
Key Takeaway
Recognize human impact on animal behavior.
Themes
animal behavior
culture
anthropology
ethology
Mood
thoughtful
scientific
Type
informative
analytical
When to use this quote
- zoo management
- conservation education
- research design
Key Concepts
social learning
cross-species imitation
cognitive ethology
Questions to Reflect On
- How does human presence shape ape societies?
- What ethical responsibilities arise from this influence?
A Different Perspective
Apes may also influence human behavior subtly.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
