Animal Quote by Henry Beston
“We patronize the animals for their incompleteness, for their tragic fate of having taken form so far below ourselves. And therein we err, and greatly err. For the animal shall not be measured by man. In a world older and more complete than ours, they are more finished and complete, gifted with extensions of the senses we have lost or never attained, living by voices we shall never hear. They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other Nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Outermost House by Henry Beston, 1928
Humans often judge animals as inferior, yet they possess unique senses and ways of being that are complete in their own right.
In simple terms: Animals have different but equally valuable abilities.
Key Takeaway
Respect animal differences and learn from them.
Themes
humility
ecology
interconnectedness
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
environmental
When to use this quote
- wildlife observation
- conservation policy
- environmental education
Key Concepts
anthropocentrism
speciesism
sensory diversity
Questions to Reflect On
- How might recognizing animal completeness change our treatment of nature?
- What senses do we lack that animals possess?
A Different Perspective
Animals have their own intrinsic value beyond human comparison.
