Animals Quote by Jessica Day George
““The birds screeched and continued to dive at us. One of them settled on a nearby branch and began berating us. I stopped in my tracks, however, when it actually called out, “Stupid creatures!” “Can they talk?” “Yes,” Shardas said curtly, “making them even worse than Marta’s monkey. If you talk to them, they will mimic the words. Unfortunately, most of what they hear are curse words, so please don’t be shocked if they call you ruder things than ‘stupid’.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Last Ember, 2022, fantasy fiction
A creature mimics speech, turning insults into worse slurs, highlighting the danger of teaching negativity.
In simple terms: Teaching bad language leads to worse insults.
Key Takeaway
Guard the words you teach.
Themes
communication
ethics
language
Mood
thoughtful
concerned
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- parenting
- education
- online communities
- media consumption
Key Concepts
mimicry
social influence
Questions to Reflect On
- How does language shape behavior?
- Can we prevent harmful mimicry?
A Different Perspective
May underestimate the creature's agency and broader societal factors.
