--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We are territorial, power-hungry and even…" description: "\"We are territorial, power-hungry and even more brutal than chimpanzees.\" — Frans de Waal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/frans-de-waal-2997_brutal_we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even_1331776.png" --- # We are territorial, power-hungry and even more brutal than… ![“We are territorial, power-hungry and even more brutal than chimpanzees.” quote by Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/frans-de-waal-2997_brutal_we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even_1331776.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/frans-de-waal-2997_brutal_we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even_1331776.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/frans-de-waal-2997_brutal_we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even_1331776.png) > “We are territorial, power-hungry and even more brutal than chimpanzees.” [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. Humans exhibit territoriality and power drives, often surpassing even our closest primate relatives in aggression. **In simple terms:** Humans can be more aggressive than apes. Key Takeaway Recognize and temper our aggressive instincts. Themes aggression territoriality human nature power Mood critical analytical Type scientific observational When to use this quote - political leadership - conflict resolution - urban planning - environmental disputes Key Concepts evolutionary psychology social dominance comparative primatology Questions to Reflect On - How do you see aggression in your daily life? - What strategies reduce territorial behavior? A Different Perspective Aggression can be mitigated by cooperation and empathy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brutal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) [Brutal Chimpanzees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal-chimpanzees-4470795/) [Chimpanzees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chimpanzees/) [Hungry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungry/) [Power hungry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-hungry/) [Territorial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/territorial/) [Territorial Power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/territorial-power-4470796/) ## Related quotes > [Wild groups of chimpanzees attack their enemies like gangs. What they completely lack, precisely because of their strong territorial behavior, is a friendly relationship…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/wild-groups-of-chimpanzees-attack-their-enemies-like-gangs-what-they/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [It was both fascinating and appalling to learn that chimpanzees were capable of hostile and territorial behavior that was not unlike certain forms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/it-was-both-fascinating-and-appalling-to-learn-that-chimpanzees-were/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [I sometimes try to imagine what would have happened if we’d known the bonobo first and the chimpanzee only later—or not at all. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/i-sometimes-try-to-imagine-what-would-have-happened-if-we-d-known-the/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [When it comes to social interaction, the chimpanzees appear to be just as intelligent as we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/when-it-comes-to-social-interaction-the-chimpanzees-appear-to-be-just/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Chimpanzees have very strong preferences and aversions that are completely personality-linked. The people who are unsuccessful in working with chimpanzees are those who take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/chimpanzees-have-very-strong-preferences-and-aversions-that-are/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [There are beautiful examples of art done by chimpanzees in human care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/there-are-beautiful-examples-of-art-done-by-chimpanzees-in-human-care/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Male chimpanzees have an extraordinarily strong drive for dominance. They're constantly jockeying for position.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/male-chimpanzees-have-an-extraordinarily-strong-drive-for-dominance/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [If we look straight and deep into a chimpanzee's eyes, an intelligent self-assured personality looks back at us. If they are animals, what must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/if-we-look-straight-and-deep-into-a-chimpanzee-s-eyes-an-intelligent/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [I've argued that many of what philosophers call moral sentiments can be seen in other species. In chimpanzees and other animals, you see examples…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/i-ve-argued-that-many-of-what-philosophers-call-moral-sentiments-can/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [I describe in 'Chimpanzee Politics' how the alpha male needs broad support to reach the top spot. He needs some close allies and he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/i-describe-in-chimpanzee-politics-how-the-alpha-male-needs-broad/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Chimpanzees, typically, kiss and embrace after fights. They first make eye contact from a distance to see the mood of the others. Then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/chimpanzees-typically-kiss-and-embrace-after-fights-they-first-make/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [It is not only visitors to the zoo who are fascinated but uneasy in the presence of chimpanzees; the same is true of scientists.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/it-is-not-only-visitors-to-the-zoo-who-are-fascinated-but-uneasy-in/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [The chimpanzees could tear me apart in no time. They're many times stronger than we are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/the-chimpanzees-could-tear-me-apart-in-no-time-they-re-many-times/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Chimps don't have language. Humans actively instruct others about how things should be done. Chimpanzees probably pick up cultural traditions by observation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/chimps-don-t-have-language-humans-actively-instruct-others-about-how/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [A chimpanzee who is really gearing up for a fight doesn't waste time with gestures but just goes ahead and attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/a-chimpanzee-who-is-really-gearing-up-for-a-fight-doesn-t-waste-time/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) ## More by Frans de Waal > [Dogmatists have one advantage: they are poor listeners.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/dogmatists-have-one-advantage-they-are-poor-listeners/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [If both parties have a stake in the other, the chances of them killing each other are going to be reduced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/if-both-parties-have-a-stake-in-the-other-the-chances-of-them-killing/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [I sometimes try to imagine what would have happened if we’d known the bonobo first and the chimpanzee only later—or not at all. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/i-sometimes-try-to-imagine-what-would-have-happened-if-we-d-known-the/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Unlike the primate hand, the elephant's grasping organ is also its nose. Elephants use their trunks not only to reach food but also to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/unlike-the-primate-hand-the-elephant-s-grasping-organ-is-also-its/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Science is not inherently good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/science-is-not-inherently-good/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [The possibility that empathy resides in parts of the brain so ancient that we share them with rats should give pause to anyone comparing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/the-possibility-that-empathy-resides-in-parts-of-the-brain-so-ancient/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [“on August 16, 1996, when an eight-year-old female gorilla named Binti Jua helped a three-year-old boy who had fallen eighteen feet into the primate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/on-august-16-1996-when-an-eight-year-old-female-gorilla-named-binti/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [We start out postulating sharp boundaries, such as between humans and apes, or between apes and monkeys, but are in fact dealing with sand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/we-start-out-postulating-sharp-boundaries-such-as-between-humans-and/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Perhaps it's just me, but I am wary of any persons whose belief system is the only thing standing between them and repulsive behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/perhaps-it-s-just-me-but-i-am-wary-of-any-persons-whose-belief-system/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Personally, I think it is possible to build a society that is moral on a nonreligious basis, but the jury is still out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/personally-i-think-it-is-possible-to-build-a-society-that-is-moral-on/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [“humans are a strange lot. We have the power to analyze and explore the world around us, yet panic as soon as the evidence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/humans-are-a-strange-lot-we-have-the-power-to-analyze-and-explore-the/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Armies are a purely human invention. Most soldiers who go to war nowadays don't even do it because they're inherently aggressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/armies-are-a-purely-human-invention-most-soldiers-who-go-to-war/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [There's actually a lot of evidence in primates and other animals that they return favors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/there-s-actually-a-lot-of-evidence-in-primates-and-other-animals-that/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [“In a world divided by chimpophiles and bonobophiles, we all had a good laugh when Stephen peeled his banana. (62)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/in-a-world-divided-by-chimpophiles-and-bonobophiles-we-all-had-a-good/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [In Africa, we have the bush meat trade, which means that, on a very large scale, animals are being killed in the forests and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/in-africa-we-have-the-bush-meat-trade-which-means-that-on-a-very/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) [Explore all 143 Frans de Waal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) ## More Brutal quotes > [In 2001, we were told that the war in Afghanistan was a feminist mission. The marines were liberating Afghan women from the Taliban. 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He says there will be some brutal times, but we shouldn't get all bent out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-henderson/the-lord-expects-us-to-enjoy-our-lives-he-says-there-will-be-some/) [Paul Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-henderson/) > [We face a brutal enemy who will kill the innocent for one purpose and that is to gain control of the Middle East and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-rove/we-face-a-brutal-enemy-who-will-kill-the-innocent-for-one-purpose-and/) [Karl Rove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-rove/) > [No matter how well-born, how intelligent, how highly educated, how virtuous, how rich, how refined, the women of to-day constitutea political class below that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/no-matter-how-well-born-how-intelligent-how-highly-educated-how/) [Mary Corinna Putnam Jacobi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-corinna-putnam-jacobi/) > [I find that truly heartbreaking that, like, it's such a common, constant thing in people's lives - a brutal abuse of people by other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-duritz/i-find-that-truly-heartbreaking-that-like-it-s-such-a-common-constant/) [Adam Duritz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-duritz/) > [I think brutal honesty is extremely important. Don't be afraid of being up-front about your feelings and your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minka-kelly/i-think-brutal-honesty-is-extremely-important-don-t-be-afraid-of/) [Minka Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minka-kelly/) > [When my friends have been heartbroken, I give them a shoulder to cry on and some brutal advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maura-higgins/when-my-friends-have-been-heartbroken-i-give-them-a-shoulder-to-cry/) [Maura Higgins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maura-higgins/) > [Something that comes to us, some gym shoe that comes to us as a result of child labor from a brutal dictatorship, where people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/something-that-comes-to-us-some-gym-shoe-that-comes-to-us-as-a-result/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [In my experience sometimes the darker the material that you're doing, the more necessary it is to have some sort of levity around. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-stahl/in-my-experience-sometimes-the-darker-the-material-that-you-re-doing/) [Nick Stahl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-stahl/) > [I do have one very brutal writing ritual. If I'm working in the morning, I don't allow myself a cup of tea until I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-lane/i-do-have-one-very-brutal-writing-ritual-if-i-m-working-in-the/) [Anthony Lane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-lane/) > [The circle of an empty day is brutal and at night it tightens around your neck like a noose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elena-ferrante/the-circle-of-an-empty-day-is-brutal-and-at-night-it-tightens-around/) [Elena Ferrante](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elena-ferrante/) > [“I had brutal beginnings. I will not let the darkness in.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-jennings/i-had-brutal-beginnings-i-will-not-let-the-darkness-in/) [Melissa Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-jennings/) > [Usually I avoided college students, whom I considered brutal, wrapped up in themselves, particularly in their youth, in which they found material for drama…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/usually-i-avoided-college-students-whom-i-considered-brutal-wrapped/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 790 Brutal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brutal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We are territorial, power-hungry and even more brutal than chimpanzees.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Frans de Waal" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even-more-brutal-than-chimpanzees/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Brutal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even-more-brutal-than-chimpanzees/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/frans-de-waal-2997_brutal_we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even_1331776.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/frans-de-waal-2997_brutal_we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even_1331776.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7d/frans-de-waal-2997_brutal_we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even_1331776.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“We are territorial, power-hungry and even more brutal than chimpanzees.” — 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": "We are territorial, power-hungry and even...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even-more-brutal-than-chimpanzees/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/we-are-territorial-power-hungry-and-even-more-brutal-than-chimpanzees/#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 } } ] } ```