--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most accomplished monkey cannot draw…" description: "\"The most accomplished monkey cannot draw a monkey, this only man can do; just as it is also only man who regards his ability to do this as a distinct m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/georg-christoph-lichtenberg-22_ability_the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw_3159163.jpg" --- # The most accomplished monkey cannot draw a monkey, this… ![“The most accomplished monkey cannot draw a monkey, this only man can do; just as it is also only man who regards his ability to do this as a distinct merit” quote by Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/georg-christoph-lichtenberg-22_ability_the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw_3159163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/georg-christoph-lichtenberg-22_ability_the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw_3159163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/georg-christoph-lichtenberg-22_ability_the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw_3159163.jpg) > “The most accomplished monkey cannot draw a monkey, this only man can do; just as it is also only man who regards his ability to do this as a distinct merit” [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans uniquely recognize their own creative ability, distinguishing them from other animals. **In simple terms:** Only humans can see their own skill as a special merit. Key Takeaway Acknowledge and responsibly use your unique talents. Themes creativity self‑awareness human nature Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - leadership - innovation - personal development Key Concepts metacognition artistic expression Questions to Reflect On - How do you value your abilities without pride? - What responsibilities come with unique talents? A Different Perspective Talent can lead to arrogance if not balanced. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) [Accomplished Monkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished-monkey-5703657/) [Draw Monkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/draw-monkey-5703656/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Monkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkey/) [Monkey Draw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkey-draw-5703655/) [Monkey Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkey-man-2922712/) ## Related quotes > [The surest way to make a monkey of a man is to quote him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/the-surest-way-to-make-a-monkey-of-a-man-is-to-quote-him/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [God Schmod, I want my Monkey man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-simpson/god-schmod-i-want-my-monkey-man/) [Bart Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-simpson/) > [“If monkey became a man, then a man can become a hero.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/if-monkey-became-a-man-then-a-man-can-become-a-hero/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [I am just a monkey man, I'm glad you are a monkey woman, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-rolling-stones/i-am-just-a-monkey-man-i-m-glad-you-are-a-monkey-woman-too/) [The Rolling Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-rolling-stones/) > [I am not nearly so interested in what monkey man was derived from as I am in what kind of monkey he is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/loren-eiseley/i-am-not-nearly-so-interested-in-what-monkey-man-was-derived-from-as/) [Loren Eiseley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/loren-eiseley/) > [The character of the monkey just grew from something out of his face and my granddad's personality. They fused, and that's what I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-conti/the-character-of-the-monkey-just-grew-from-something-out-of-his-face/) [Nina Conti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-conti/) > [Well, there's no monkey on my back,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-clijsters/well-there-s-no-monkey-on-my-back/) [Kim Clijsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-clijsters/) > [A monkey was the President, though maybe not the first. And there was peace and harmony throughout the universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-t-hall/a-monkey-was-the-president-though-maybe-not-the-first-and-there-was/) [Tom T. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-t-hall/) > [It wasn't until a few years ago, when I was going through old Facebook pictures with a friend, and happened upon a photo of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lolly-adefope/it-wasn-t-until-a-few-years-ago-when-i-was-going-through-old-facebook/) [Lolly Adefope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lolly-adefope/) > [My dream pet? I like a couple of them, man: monkey, I love dogs. See, tigers, I don't know - I can't be playing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/french-montana/my-dream-pet-i-like-a-couple-of-them-man-monkey-i-love-dogs-see/) [French Montana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/french-montana/) > [The higher a monkey climbs, the more you see of its behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-stilwell/the-higher-a-monkey-climbs-the-more-you-see-of-its-behind/) [Joseph Stilwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-stilwell/) > [But then, after all, we are all alike, for we are all derived from the monkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/but-then-after-all-we-are-all-alike-for-we-are-all-derived-from-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The fountain of youth is like the monkey's paw in the W. W. Jacobs story. It never ends well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-monette/the-fountain-of-youth-is-like-the-monkey-s-paw-in-the-w-w-jacobs/) [Sarah Monette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-monette/) > [Monkeys who very sensibly refrain from speech, lest they should be set to earn their livings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-grahame/monkeys-who-very-sensibly-refrain-from-speech-lest-they-should-be-set/) [Kenneth Grahame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-grahame/) > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) ## More by Georg Christoph Lichtenberg > [“...if we gained only one incontestable truth every ten years from each of our philosophical writers the harvest we reaped would be sufficient.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/if-we-gained-only-one-incontestable-truth-every-ten-years-from-each/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [A book is a mirror: If an ass peers into it, you can't expect an apostle to look out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/a-book-is-a-mirror-if-an-ass-peers-into-it-you-can-t-expect-an/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [Man loves company even if only that of a small burning candle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/man-loves-company-even-if-only-that-of-a-small-burning-candle/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“It is impossible to have bad taste, but many people have none at all.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/it-is-impossible-to-have-bad-taste-but-many-people-have-none-at-all/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [Nothing is more conductive to peace of mind than not having any opinions at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/nothing-is-more-conductive-to-peace-of-mind-than-not-having-any/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“The most brightly colored birds sing the worst; the same goes for people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/the-most-brightly-colored-birds-sing-the-worst-the-same-goes-for/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“To make clever people believe we are what we are not is in most instances harder than really to become what we want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/to-make-clever-people-believe-we-are-what-we-are-not-is-in-most/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“After all, is our idea of God anything more than personified incomprehensibility? {Said in a letter to Voltaire }”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/after-all-is-our-idea-of-god-anything-more-than-personified-2/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“I would give something to know for precisely whom the deeds were really done, of which it is publicly stated they were done 'for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/i-would-give-something-to-know-for-precisely-whom-the-deeds-were/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“In his Comedy , Dante Alighieri names Virgil, with many tokens of respect, as his teacher, and yet as Herr Meinhard remarks, makes such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/in-his-comedy-dante-alighieri-names-virgil-with-many-tokens-of/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“The most dangerous of all falsehoods is a slightly distorted truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/the-most-dangerous-of-all-falsehoods-is-a-slightly-distorted-truth/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [I cannot stop thinking that I died before I was born and that at my death I will return to the same state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/i-cannot-stop-thinking-that-i-died-before-i-was-born-and-that-at-my/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“Don't judge a man by his opinions, but what his opinions have made of him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/don-t-judge-a-man-by-his-opinions-but-what-his-opinions-have-made-of/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“A book is a mirror; if an ass peers into it, you can't expect an apostle to peer out.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/a-book-is-a-mirror-if-an-ass-peers-into-it-you-can-t-expect-an-2/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) > [“The fly that does not want to be swatted is safest if it sits on the fly-swat.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/the-fly-that-does-not-want-to-be-swatted-is-safest-if-it-sits-on-the/) [Georg Christoph Lichtenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) [Explore all 17 Georg Christoph Lichtenberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/) ## More Ability quotes > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [The ability of the gospel to unite us on common strengths and common truths is one of the great miracles . . . of the gospel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-r-holland/the-ability-of-the-gospel-to-unite-us-on-common-strengths-and-common/) [Jeffrey R. Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-r-holland/) > [Maybe law enforcement would like the ability to turn on the camera on your Mac.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cook/maybe-law-enforcement-would-like-the-ability-to-turn-on-the-camera-on/) [Tim Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cook/) > [I've seen guys come along with more ability - they've been faster or bigger or stronger - but they never worked hard to develop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-largent/i-ve-seen-guys-come-along-with-more-ability-they-ve-been-faster-or/) [Steve Largent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-largent/) > [The youth of India has the strength to move the entire World with a click of a mouse, we have generated that ability!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/the-youth-of-india-has-the-strength-to-move-the-entire-world-with-a/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [An absolutely necessary part of a writer's equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irwin-shaw/an-absolutely-necessary-part-of-a-writer-s-equipment-almost-as/) [Irwin Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irwin-shaw/) > [I'd be more frightened by not using whatever abilities I'd been given. I'd be more frightened by procrastination and laziness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-washington/i-d-be-more-frightened-by-not-using-whatever-abilities-i-d-been-given/) [Denzel Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-washington/) > [Bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. Take what I cannot give: my heart, body, thoughts, time, abilities, money, health, strength,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-prentiss/bring-into-captivity-every-thought-to-the-obedience-of-christ-take/) [Elizabeth Prentiss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-prentiss/) > [You can only do the work to the very best of your ability.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-baranski/you-can-only-do-the-work-to-the-very-best-of-your-ability/) [Christine Baranski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-baranski/) > [Judge a person not by his ability to make money but by his ability to retain it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vikrant-parsai/judge-a-person-not-by-his-ability-to-make-money-but-by-his-ability-to/) [Vikrant Parsai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vikrant-parsai/) > [Balance is the ability to be happy in the midst of the most chaotic or even boring or transient circumstance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/balance-is-the-ability-to-be-happy-in-the-midst-of-the-most-chaotic/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Bobby had faith in my ability as a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-london/bobby-had-faith-in-my-ability-as-a-singer/) [Julie London](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-london/) [Browse all 9,990 Ability quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ability/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most accomplished monkey cannot draw a monkey, this only man can do; just as it is also only man who regards his ability to do this as a distinct merit", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Georg Christoph Lichtenberg" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw-a-monkey-this-only-man-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Ability" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw-a-monkey-this-only-man-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/georg-christoph-lichtenberg-22_ability_the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw_3159163.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/georg-christoph-lichtenberg-22_ability_the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw_3159163.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fbd/georg-christoph-lichtenberg-22_ability_the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw_3159163.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The most accomplished monkey cannot draw a monkey, this only man can do; just as it is also only man who…” — Georg Christoph Lichtenberg", "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": "Georg Christoph Lichtenberg", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The most accomplished monkey cannot draw...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw-a-monkey-this-only-man-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-christoph-lichtenberg/the-most-accomplished-monkey-cannot-draw-a-monkey-this-only-man-can/#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 } } ] } ```