--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To restate an old law - when a man bites…" description: "\"“To restate an old law - when a man bites a fish, that's good, but when a fish bites a man, that's bad. This is one way of saying it's all right if man..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/jacques-yves-cousteau-2-55682_animals_to-restate-an-old-law-when-a-man-bites-a_2563255.jpg" --- # To restate an old law - when a man bites a fish, that's… ![“To restate an old law - when a man bites a fish, that's good, but when a fish bites a man, that's bad. This is one way of saying it's all right if man kills an animal, but if an animal attacks man, the act is reprehensible. The animal is labelled "killer," something to be feared, hated, shunned…” quote by Jacques-Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/jacques-yves-cousteau-2-55682_animals_to-restate-an-old-law-when-a-man-bites-a_2563255.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/jacques-yves-cousteau-2-55682_animals_to-restate-an-old-law-when-a-man-bites-a_2563255.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/jacques-yves-cousteau-2-55682_animals_to-restate-an-old-law-when-a-man-bites-a_2563255.jpg) > ““To restate an old law - when a man bites a fish, that's good, but when a fish bites a man, that's bad. This is one way of saying it's all right if man kills an animal, but if an animal attacks man, the act is reprehensible. The animal is labelled "killer," something to be feared, hated, shunned, punished, even killed by man. How dangerous are those sea animals with bad reputations? A few actually kill. A few maim. Some are poisonous when eaten by man. Most sting, stab,or poison and cause mild to severe discomfort to man. Yet man is one of the larger beings that sea creatures encounter, and these poisons usually can't kill him. Very often these poisons are used defensively against predators and offensively in food gathering. There are a few animals that have won themselves a bad reputation even though they have little or no effect on man. They have won their rating through man's interpretation of their attitude towards lower animals. These animals have been seen feeding in what appears to be a savage manner. But this behavior may perhaps be comparable to a man tearing the flesh off a chicken leg with his teeth.”” [Jacques-Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human judgments label animals as dangerous based on fear, not actual threat, revealing bias in how we perceive nature. **In simple terms:** We fear animals because of reputation, not real danger. Key Takeaway Challenge assumptions about animal danger. Themes bias perception human-animal relations misinterpretation ecology Mood thoughtful inquisitive Type ethical environmental When to use this quote - Wildlife education - conservation policy - media reporting - personal encounters Key Concepts Cognitive bias anthropomorphism risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How do reputations affect wildlife protection? - What evidence should guide our fear? A Different Perspective Reputation can distort safety decisions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Bad reputation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-reputation/) [Whale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whale/) ## Related quotes > [To restate an old law - when a man bites a fish, that's good, but when a fish bites a man, that's bad. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/to-restate-an-old-law-when-a-man-bites-a-fish-that-s-good-but-when-a/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [How dangerous are those sea animals with bad reputations? A few actually kill. A few maim. Some are poisonous when eaten by man. Most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau/how-dangerous-are-those-sea-animals-with-bad-reputations-a-few/) [Jacques Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau/) > [The other thing is, visibility is often not very good in fresh water. So if a fish bites something, a part of the body,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-wade/the-other-thing-is-visibility-is-often-not-very-good-in-fresh-water/) [Jeremy Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-wade/) > [When a dog bites a man that is not news, but when a man bites a dog that is news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-dana/when-a-dog-bites-a-man-that-is-not-news-but-when-a-man-bites-a-dog/) [Charles A. Dana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-dana/) > [Animal attacks on humans are extremely hungry and thesick / But attacks on humansare animals to show their bravery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/animal-attacks-on-humans-are-extremely-hungry-and-thesick-but-attacks/) Mak\_786 > [“But trouble is a pack animal, and it attacks again and again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-covert-minneapolis-star-tribune/but-trouble-is-a-pack-animal-and-it-attacks-again-and-again/) Colin Covert Minneapolis Star Tribune > [For example, you go to Fuji, and there are no animal attacks. Why? And I think that gets you into the world of "The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/for-example-you-go-to-fuji-and-there-are-no-animal-attacks-why-and-i/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Either a good or a bad reputation outruns and gets before people wherever they go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/either-a-good-or-a-bad-reputation-outruns-and-gets-before-people/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [An alibi is a reason with a bad reputation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-larson/an-alibi-is-a-reason-with-a-bad-reputation/) [Doug Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-larson/) > [I was willing to accept a bad reputation if I deserved it, but it was going to be based on my actions, not on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/casey-wasserman/i-was-willing-to-accept-a-bad-reputation-if-i-deserved-it-but-it-was/) [Casey Wasserman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/casey-wasserman/) > [People feel feminists are aggressive, men-hating women with a little moustache. I think it's got a bad reputation because when feminism came into being,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/twinkle-khanna/people-feel-feminists-are-aggressive-men-hating-women-with-a-little/) [Twinkle Khanna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/twinkle-khanna/) > [It amazes me how easy it is for things to change, how easy it is to start off down the same road you always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-amazes-me-how-easy-it-is-for-things-to-change-how-easy-it-is-to/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [I don't believe in destroying GOOD mysteries or adding to BAD reputations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-balance/i-don-t-believe-in-destroying-good-mysteries-or-adding-to-bad/) John Balance > [“Because things accumulate around your name," said Berenice. "You have a name and one thing after another happens to you, and you behave in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-mccullers/because-things-accumulate-around-your-name-said-berenice-you-have-a/) [Carson McCullers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-mccullers/) > [One man lies in his words, and gets a bad reputation; another in his manners, and enjoys a good one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/one-man-lies-in-his-words-and-gets-a-bad-reputation-another-in-his/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) ## More by Jacques-Yves Cousteau > [“no one can absolutely control the direction of his life; but each person can certainly influence it. The armchair explorers who complain that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/no-one-can-absolutely-control-the-direction-of-his-life-but-each/) [Jacques-Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/) > [“Every explorer I have met has been driven—not coincidentally but quintessentially—by curiosity, by a single-minded, insatiable, and even jubilant need to know.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/every-explorer-i-have-met-has-been-driven-not-coincidentally-but/) [Jacques-Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/) > [“Human beings had polluted the seawater and mechanically destroyed the nearby coast; all life had paid this price. Often, in airports, on sidewalks, at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/human-beings-had-polluted-the-seawater-and-mechanically-destroyed-the/) [Jacques-Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/) > [“what motivated explorers? What inspired Magellan, battered by South America’s strange williwaw winds, to hold to his course through an unknown strait with no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/what-motivated-explorers-what-inspired-magellan-battered-by-south/) [Jacques-Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/) > [“To enlarge the human perspective, to build on knowledge for future generations, to identify dangers, and to chart the course to a better world:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/to-enlarge-the-human-perspective-to-build-on-knowledge-for-future/) [Jacques-Yves Cousteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/) [Explore all 6 Jacques-Yves Cousteau quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-yves-cousteau-2/) ## More Animals quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) [Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To restate an old law - when a man bites a fish, that's good, but when a fish bites a man, that's bad. This is one way of saying it's all right if man kills an animal, but if an animal attacks man, the act is reprehensible. The animal is labelled \"killer,\" something to be feared, hated, shunned, punished, even killed by man. How dangerous are those sea animals with bad reputations? A few actually kill. A few maim. Some are poisonous when eaten by man. Most sting, stab,or poison and cause mild to severe discomfort to man. 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