--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There has been so much underestimating of…" description: "\"There has been so much underestimating of animal cognition that to perhaps overestimate it, as I probably do, is probably a healthy reaction.\" — Frans ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/frans-de-waal-2997_animal_there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-o_2504996.png" --- # There has been so much underestimating of animal cognition… ![“There has been so much underestimating of animal cognition that to perhaps overestimate it, as I probably do, is probably a healthy reaction.” quote by Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/frans-de-waal-2997_animal_there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-o_2504996.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/frans-de-waal-2997_animal_there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-o_2504996.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/frans-de-waal-2997_animal_there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-o_2504996.png) > “There has been so much underestimating of animal cognition that to perhaps overestimate it, as I probably do, is probably a healthy reaction.” [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Underestimates animal cognition, but overestimating it may be a healthy corrective. **In simple terms:** We often undervalue animal minds; overvaluing can balance bias. Key Takeaway Recognize animal intelligence more fully. Themes science ethics animal behavior Mood thoughtful balanced Type scientific ethical When to use this quote - zoo enrichment - animal welfare policy - research design Key Concepts cognition bias empathy Questions to Reflect On - How to measure animal cognition accurately? - What are risks of over‑attributing mind? A Different Perspective Overestimation may lead to anthropomorphism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal Cognition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-cognition-628140/) [Been](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/been/) [Cognition Overestimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cognition-overestimate-1099060/) [Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy/) [Much](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/much/) [Overestimate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overestimate/) [Overestimate Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overestimate-probably-1099061/) [Perhaps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perhaps/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Reaction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reaction/) [Underestimating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimating/) [Underestimating Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/underestimating-animal-1099059/) ## Related quotes > [“fact, however, the lesson is just the opposite. 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Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "There has been so much underestimating of animal cognition that to perhaps overestimate it, as I probably do, is probably a healthy reaction.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frans de Waal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-of-animal-cognition-that-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-of-animal-cognition-that-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/frans-de-waal-2997_animal_there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-o_2504996.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/frans-de-waal-2997_animal_there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-o_2504996.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e18/frans-de-waal-2997_animal_there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-o_2504996.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There has been so much underestimating of animal cognition that to perhaps overestimate it, as I probably…” — Frans de Waal", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Frans de Waal", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There has been so much underestimating...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-of-animal-cognition-that-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/there-has-been-so-much-underestimating-of-animal-cognition-that-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```