--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The most beautiful ape is ugly when…" description: "\"The most beautiful ape is ugly when compared to a human. The wisest human will seem like an ape when compared to a god with respect to wisdom, beauty, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/heraclitus-1050_apes_the-most-beautiful-ape-is-ugly-when-comp_2227651.jpg" --- # The most beautiful ape is ugly when compared to a human… ![“The most beautiful ape is ugly when compared to a human. The wisest human will seem like an ape when compared to a god with respect to wisdom, beauty, and everything else.” quote by Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/heraclitus-1050_apes_the-most-beautiful-ape-is-ugly-when-comp_2227651.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/heraclitus-1050_apes_the-most-beautiful-ape-is-ugly-when-comp_2227651.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/930/heraclitus-1050_apes_the-most-beautiful-ape-is-ugly-when-comp_2227651.jpg) > “The most beautiful ape is ugly when compared to a human. The wisest human will seem like an ape when compared to a god with respect to wisdom, beauty, and everything else.” [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beauty and wisdom are limited; divine standards surpass all, making humans appear primitive in comparison. **In simple terms:** Divine ideals outshine humanity. Key Takeaway Seek higher wisdom. Themes philosophy humility comparative transcendence Mood contemplative inspirational Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - personal development - spiritual practice - ethical debates - educational curricula Key Concepts metaphysics ethics ontology Questions to Reflect On - What virtues can we pursue despite limits? - How does recognizing higher standards motivate growth? A Different Perspective May discourage self‑esteem. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ape Compared](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ape-compared-559956/) [Ape Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ape-ugly-559955/) [Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) [Beautiful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful/) [Beautiful Ape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beautiful-ape-559954/) [Beauty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beauty/) [Human will](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-will/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Like Ape](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-ape-4942139/) [Relativism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relativism/) [Respect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/respect/) [Seems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seems/) [Ugly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ugly/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wisest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisest/) [Wisest Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisest-human-1086268/) ## Related quotes > [“The most beautiful ape is ugly compared to the human race, so, the wisest of men is an ape compared with God, both in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herakleitos-of-ephesos/the-most-beautiful-ape-is-ugly-compared-to-the-human-race-so-the/) [Herakleitos of Ephesos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herakleitos-of-ephesos/) > [“And I must borrow every changing shape To find expression ... dance, dance Like a dancing bear, Cry like a parrot, chatter like an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-s-eliot-2/and-i-must-borrow-every-changing-shape-to-find-expression-dance-dance/) [T.S. Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-s-eliot-2/) > [“The first time Enokizu met me, the first words he said were: "You look like an ape." When someone is that outrageously rude, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuhiko-kyogoku/the-first-time-enokizu-met-me-the-first-words-he-said-were-you-look/) [Natsuhiko Kyogoku](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuhiko-kyogoku/) > [I think William Shakespeare was the wisest human being I ever heard of. To be perfectly frank, though, that's not saying much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-think-william-shakespeare-was-the-wisest-human-being-i-ever-heard/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“I think Willim Shakespeare was the wisest human being I ever heard of. To be perfectly frank though, that's not saying much. We are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/i-think-willim-shakespeare-was-the-wisest-human-being-i-ever-heard-of/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“My belief is that, the mystics will never be happy nor sad because I took their side. Indeed, this is the right path that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mwanandeke-kindembo/my-belief-is-that-the-mystics-will-never-be-happy-nor-sad-because-i/) [Mwanandeke Kindembo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mwanandeke-kindembo/) > [Human will is the strongest will ever created. There are those who are born to succeed and those who are determined to succeed. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/human-will-is-the-strongest-will-ever-created-there-are-those-who-are/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [No amount of human willfulness can overcome God's determined love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/no-amount-of-human-willfulness-can-overcome-god-s-determined-love/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [In war the chief incalculable is the human will, which manifests itself in resistance, which in turn lies in the province of tactics. Strategy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-h-liddell-hart/in-war-the-chief-incalculable-is-the-human-will-which-manifests/) [B. H. Liddell Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-h-liddell-hart/) > [Honestly, I cannot understand what people mean when they talk about the freedom of the human will. I have a feeling, for instance, that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/honestly-i-cannot-understand-what-people-mean-when-they-talk-about/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [No waving of enchanted wands but heightened perception. No magic objects, but a transformed and enhanced reality. No spells or chants, but the raw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/no-waving-of-enchanted-wands-but-heightened-perception-no-magic/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [How can it be said that the weakness of the human will is aided so as to enable it to aspire effectually to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/how-can-it-be-said-that-the-weakness-of-the-human-will-is-aided-so-as/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [However gross a man may be, the minute he expresses a strong and genuine affection, some inner secretion alters his features, animates his gestures,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/however-gross-a-man-may-be-the-minute-he-expresses-a-strong-and/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) > [The normal objective of my thought affords no insight into the dark places of human will and feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-normal-objective-of-my-thought-affords-no-insight-into-the-dark/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [Deaths, births, and marriages, considering how much they are separately dependent on the freedom of the human will, should seem to be subject to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-kant/deaths-births-and-marriages-considering-how-much-they-are-separately/) [Immanuel Kant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-kant/) ## More by Heraclitus > [Learning many things does not teach understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/learning-many-things-does-not-teach-understanding/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Dogs, also, bark at what they do not know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/dogs-also-bark-at-what-they-do-not-know/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The fairest harmony springs from discord.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-fairest-harmony-springs-from-discord/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [“One man is worth thousand if he is extraordinary”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/one-man-is-worth-thousand-if-he-is-extraordinary/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Presumption must be quenched even more than a fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/presumption-must-be-quenched-even-more-than-a-fire/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Those unmindful when they hear, for all they make of their intelligence, may be regarded as the walking dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/those-unmindful-when-they-hear-for-all-they-make-of-their/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Everything is in flux.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/everything-is-in-flux/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The Cosmos was not made by gods but always was and is eternal fire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-cosmos-was-not-made-by-gods-but-always-was-and-is-eternal-fire/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [ Men who are lovers of wisdom \[i.e., philosophers\] must be inquirers into many things. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/men-who-are-lovers-of-wisdom-i-e-philosophers-must-be-inquirers-into/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [We do not step in the same river twice, for the waters have moved on and we too have changed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/we-do-not-step-in-the-same-river-twice-for-the-waters-have-moved-on/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [War is the father of all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/war-is-the-father-of-all-things/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The fairest order in the world is a heap of random sweepings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-fairest-order-in-the-world-is-a-heap-of-random-sweepings/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [The seeing have the world in common.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/the-seeing-have-the-world-in-common/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [All men have the capacity of knowing themselves and acting with moderation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/all-men-have-the-capacity-of-knowing-themselves-and-acting-with/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) > [Those who love wisdom must investigate many things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heraclitus/those-who-love-wisdom-must-investigate-many-things/) [Heraclitus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) [Explore all 296 Heraclitus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heraclitus/) ## More Apes quotes > [Television's perfect. You turn a few knobs, a few of those mechanical adjustments at which the higher apes are so proficient, and lean back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/television-s-perfect-you-turn-a-few-knobs-a-few-of-those-mechanical/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/as-nature-made-every-man-with-a-nose-and-eyes-of-his-own-she-gave-him/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/and-the-devil-did-grin-for-his-darling-sin-is-pride-that-apes-humility/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Battle For The Planet Of The Apes', was just a film for kids and didn't have any deep meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lee-thompson/battle-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-was-just-a-film-for-kids-and-didn-t/) [J. Lee Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-lee-thompson/) > [Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/far-out-in-the-uncharted-backwaters-of-the-unfashionable-end-of-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Civilization is only a pretense; in the crisis, we become mere apes again, forgetting the rational biped of our pretensions and becoming instead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/civilization-is-only-a-pretense-in-the-crisis-we-become-mere-apes/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The idea that war should be conducted within a moral framework may seem like a quaint medieval practice, but as speech separates humans from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-idea-that-war-should-be-conducted-within-a-moral-framework-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [I think the problem we have as apes is we're asking far bigger questions than we could possibly process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/i-think-the-problem-we-have-as-apes-is-we-re-asking-far-bigger/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [We admit that we are like apes, but we seldom realise that we are apes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-admit-that-we-are-like-apes-but-we-seldom-realise-that-we-are-apes/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Lower your gaze because you become less of a human every time you stare at a woman and you stare at her like she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/lower-your-gaze-because-you-become-less-of-a-human-every-time-you/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [It was their individuality combined with the shyness of their behavior that remained the most captivating impression of this first encounter with the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dian-fossey/it-was-their-individuality-combined-with-the-shyness-of-their/) [Dian Fossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dian-fossey/) > [Apes had it worked out. No ape would philosophize, "The mountain is, and is not." They would think, "The banana is. I will eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/apes-had-it-worked-out-no-ape-would-philosophize-the-mountain-is-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Browse all 444 Apes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The most beautiful ape is ugly when compared to a human. 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