Animals Quote by George Saunders
““And proceeded past Trevor Williams, former hunter, seated before the tremendous heap of all the animals he had dispatched in his time: hundreds of deer, thirty-two black bear, three bear cubs, innumerable coons, lynx, foxes, mink, chipmunks, wild turkeys, woodchucks, and cougars; scores of mice and rats, a positive tumble of snakes, hundreds of cows and calves, one pony (carriage-struck), twenty thousand or so insects, each of which he must briefly hold, with loving attention, for a period ranging from several hours to several months, depending on the quality of loving attention he could muster and the state of fear the beast happened to have been in at the time of its passing.””
About This Quote
Source Short Story: “Pastoralia” by George Saunders, 2000
A hunter obsessively catalogs his kills, reflecting on the paradox of love and violence toward animals he has taken.
In simple terms: Obsessive tally of hunted animals shows conflicted affection.
Key Takeaway
Recognize when pride masks cruelty.
Themes
humor
violence
nature
paradox
Mood
darkly humorous
ironic
critical
Type
literary
satirical
When to use this quote
- hunting trips
- wildlife management
- personal reflection
- ethical debates
Key Concepts
ethical reflection
human-animal relationship
Questions to Reflect On
- How does counting kills affect one's view of nature?
- Can love coexist with killing?
A Different Perspective
The quote glorifies killing, ignoring ecological impact.
