Apes Quote by Frans de Waal
“Darwin wasn't just provocative in saying that we descend from the apes - he didn't go far enough. We are apes in every way, from our long arms and tailless bodies to our habits and temperament.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Age of Empathy, 2020
He argues Darwin's view of humans as apes is incomplete; we share many ape traits beyond ancestry.
In simple terms: Humans share many ape traits.
Key Takeaway
Recognize our animal nature.
Themes
evolutionary biology
human nature
anthropology
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
philosophical
scientific
When to use this quote
- education
- public discourse
- science communication
- self‑reflection
Key Concepts
comparative anatomy
behavioral ecology
Questions to Reflect On
- What ape traits do we see in modern life?
- How does this view affect our self‑image?
A Different Perspective
May oversimplify complex human uniqueness.
![“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)
