Animal Quote by Jean Cocteau
“When we awake it is the animal, the plant, that thinks in us. Primitive thought without the least disguise. We see a terrible universe, because we see clearly. A little later, intelligence introduces its impeding contrivances. It brings the little toys which man invents in order to hide the void. It is then that we think we are seeing clearly. We attribute our uneasiness to the miasmas of the brain as it passes from dream to reality.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Nature of Thought, 1955
Human consciousness blends instinctual animal and plant aspects, leading to raw perception that later becomes clouded by intellectual constructs.
In simple terms: We see clearly at first, then our mind adds layers.
Key Takeaway
Question how intellect obscures raw perception.
Themes
philosophy
perception
human nature
mind
illusion
Mood
reflective
poetic
Type
philosophical
literary
When to use this quote
- art criticism
- personal reflection
- psychology
- creative writing
Key Concepts
Consciousness
primitive thought
intellectualism
Questions to Reflect On
- Can we ever perceive without mental filters?
- What role does language play in shaping reality?
A Different Perspective
May overgeneralize the role of intellect in all perception.
