Animal Quote by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson
““Voltaire responded that, on the contrary, vivisection showed that the dog has the same organes de sentiment that a human has. "Answer me, you who believes that animals are only machines," he wrote. "Has nature arranged for this animal to have all the machinery of feelings only in order for it not to have any at all?””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Moral Lives of Animals, 2005
Voltaire argues that animals possess feelings similar to humans, challenging the view that they are mere machines.
In simple terms: Animals have emotions like humans.
Key Takeaway
Recognize animal sentience.
Themes
ethics
animal rights
philosophy
Mood
thoughtful
inquisitive
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- legislation
- dietary choices
- education
- activism
- research
Key Concepts
sentience
moral consideration
speciesism
Questions to Reflect On
- Do we treat animals ethically?
- What evidence supports animal emotions?
A Different Perspective
Human bias may limit understanding of animal experience.
![“I follow and cultivate my own curiosity. I think curiosity is one of the top two or three human characteristics. It's something that I really like about myself. [...] I want to understand stuff! I want to understand people! Following my curiosity so frequently leads me to better life decisions and…” quote by Hank Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/09d/hank-green-2600_ask-questions_i-follow-and-cultivate-my-own-curiosity_328862.jpg)
