--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: These birds and animals and fish cannot…" description: "\"These birds and animals and fish cannot speak, but they can suffer, and our God who created them, knows their sufferings, and will hold him who causes ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/george-q-cannon-20238_abuse_these-birds-and-animals-and-fish-cannot_197532.png" --- # These birds and animals and fish cannot speak, but they… ![“These birds and animals and fish cannot speak, but they can suffer, and our God who created them, knows their sufferings, and will hold him who causes them to suffer unnecessarily to answer for it. It is a sin against their Creator.” quote by George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/george-q-cannon-20238_abuse_these-birds-and-animals-and-fish-cannot_197532.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/george-q-cannon-20238_abuse_these-birds-and-animals-and-fish-cannot_197532.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/207/george-q-cannon-20238_abuse_these-birds-and-animals-and-fish-cannot_197532.png) > “These birds and animals and fish cannot speak, but they can suffer, and our God who created them, knows their sufferings, and will hold him who causes them to suffer unnecessarily to answer for it. It is a sin against their Creator.” [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. All creatures can suffer; God knows their pain and will hold accountable those who cause unnecessary suffering, which is sinful. **In simple terms:** God sees animal suffering and will judge perpetrators. Key Takeaway Respect and protect all living beings. Themes compassion justice stewardship Mood solemn thoughtful Type theological ethical When to use this quote - animal welfare legislation - conservation efforts - ethical farming - corporate responsibility Key Concepts ethical responsibility theodicy environmental ethics Questions to Reflect On - What actions can reduce unnecessary animal suffering? - How does belief in divine accountability influence behavior? A Different Perspective Human needs sometimes conflict with animal welfare. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-abuse/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bird/) [Creating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creating/) [Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creator/) [Cruel world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruel-world/) [Cruelty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cruelty/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lord/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Suffering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suffering/) [Sufferings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sufferings/) [Violence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/violence/) ## Related quotes > [Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/until-we-stop-harming-all-other-living-beings-we-are-still-savages/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [What do I mean by sin? Answer: Any human condition or act that robs God of glory by stripping one of His children of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-schuller/what-do-i-mean-by-sin-answer-any-human-condition-or-act-that-robs-god/) [Robert H. Schuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-schuller/) > [No, but it’s what I need to know the answer to. (Sin) Yes, Sin. I missed you. I’ve mourned for you. I’ve hated you.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/no-but-it-s-what-i-need-to-know-the-answer-to-sin-yes-sin-i-missed/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [“the priority stays with creatively changing the situation that causes us to suffer. But the superiority goes to the “know-how to suffer,” if need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-e-frankl/the-priority-stays-with-creatively-changing-the-situation-that-causes/) [Viktor E. Frankl](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-e-frankl/) > [If God causes you to suffer much it is a sign that He has great designs for you and that He certainly intends to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-god-causes-you-to-suffer-much-it-is-a-sign-that-he-has-great/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As we see, the priority stays with creatively changing the situation that causes us to suffer. But the superiority goes to the “know-how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-e-frankl/as-we-see-the-priority-stays-with-creatively-changing-the-situation/) Victor E. Frankl > [It isn't what happens to us that causes us to suffer; it's what we say to ourselves about what happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-isn-t-what-happens-to-us-that-causes-us-to-suffer-it-s-what-we-say/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [Without enlightenment, everything in life is harsh. Sooner or later you see everyone you love die, unless you die first, of course. This causes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/without-enlightenment-everything-in-life-is-harsh-sooner-or-later-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [It isn't the things that happen to us in our lives that cause us to suffer, it's how we relate to the things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pema-ch-dr-n/it-isn-t-the-things-that-happen-to-us-in-our-lives-that-cause-us-to/) [Pema Chodron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pema-ch-dr-n/) > [If God causes you to suffer much, it is a sign that He certainly intends to make you a saint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-loyola/if-god-causes-you-to-suffer-much-it-is-a-sign-that-he-certainly/) [Ignatius of Loyola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-loyola/) > [THROUGH THE PAIN WE REALIZED HOW POWERLESS WE WERE AND TURNED TO GOD FOR HELP. BY ALLOWI G US TO SUFFER,GOD WAS LEADING US…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hebrews/through-the-pain-we-realized-how-powerless-we-were-and-turned-to-god/) Hebrews > [“God never sends suffering. Never. It is never "God's will" that we should suffer. God would like us not to suffer. But since the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-beckett/god-never-sends-suffering-never-it-is-never-god-s-will-that-we-should/) [Wendy Beckett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-beckett/) > [Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/faith-is-not-a-light-which-scatters-all-our-darkness-but-a-lamp-which-2/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [“She glanced up but didn’t smile, realizing she’d been doing exactly that. Pining for what she couldn’t have was making her miserable. “You needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vickie-mcdonough/she-glanced-up-but-didn-t-smile-realizing-she-d-been-doing-exactly/) Vickie McDonough > [“It doesn't say much. Only "Howard Roark, Architect". But it's like those mottoes men carved over the entrance of a castle and died for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/it-doesn-t-say-much-only-howard-roark-architect-but-it-s-like-those/) [Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/) ## More by George Q. Cannon > [ If we get our salvation, we shall have to pass by him \[Joseph Smith\]; if we enter our glory, it will be through the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/if-we-get-our-salvation-we-shall-have-to-pass-by-him-joseph-smith-if/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [The proper education of a man decides his welfare, but the interests of a whole family are secured by the correct education of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/the-proper-education-of-a-man-decides-his-welfare-but-the-interests/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [I feel like saying 'Damn the Law.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/i-feel-like-saying-damn-the-law/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [If I am an angry man, it is my duty to pray for charity, which suffereth long and is kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/if-i-am-an-angry-man-it-is-my-duty-to-pray-for-charity-which/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [Your children…are like diamonds...they may need polish.. and education of the right kind will impart this lustre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/your-children-are-like-diamonds-they-may-need-polish-and-education-of/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [Do not, brethren, put your trust in man though he be a bishop, an apostle, or a president. If you do, they will fail…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/do-not-brethren-put-your-trust-in-man-though-he-be-a-bishop-an/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [“We may pass through the fiery furnace, we may pass through deep waters, but we shall not be consumed nor overwhelmed. We shall emerge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/we-may-pass-through-the-fiery-furnace-we-may-pass-through-deep-waters/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [After the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, there were only two churches upon the earth. They were known respectively as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/after-the-church-of-jesus-christ-of-latter-day-saints-was-organized/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [“No system of education can be perfect which does not teach the principle of righteousness and faith in God. Learning has not saved the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/no-system-of-education-can-be-perfect-which-does-not-teach-the/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [“And shall we say that in some things we are willing to be guided; we think it right to be guided in matters of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/and-shall-we-say-that-in-some-things-we-are-willing-to-be-guided-we/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [It is true that some have greater power of resistance than others, but everyone has the power to close his heart against doubt, against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/it-is-true-that-some-have-greater-power-of-resistance-than-others-but/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [It is a fact worthy of note that the shortest lived nations of which we have record have been monogamic. Rome...was a monogamic nation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/it-is-a-fact-worthy-of-note-that-the-shortest-lived-nations-of-which/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [The saints should always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/the-saints-should-always-remember-that-god-sees-not-as-man-sees-that/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [ “The principles of the Gospel never become stale, nor trite, \[nor\] threadbare. No matter how often we may hear a principle of truth dwelt… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/the-principles-of-the-gospel-never-become-stale-nor-trite-nor/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) > [“The only way to maintain our position in the Kingdom of God is to so conduct ourselves that we may have a living testimony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-q-cannon/the-only-way-to-maintain-our-position-in-the-kingdom-of-god-is-to-so/) [George Q. Cannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) [Explore all 31 George Q. Cannon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-q-cannon/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. 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