---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Even dogs and horses have their actions…"
description: "\"Even dogs and horses have their actions modified by association with human beings; they form different habits because human beings are concerned with w..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/john-dewey-545_action_even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions_1967500.png"
---

#  Even dogs and horses have their actions modified by…

![“Even dogs and horses have their actions modified by association with human beings; they form different habits because human beings are concerned with what they do.” quote by John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/john-dewey-545_action_even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions_1967500.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/john-dewey-545_action_even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions_1967500.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/john-dewey-545_action_even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions_1967500.png)

> “Even dogs and horses have their actions modified by association with human beings; they form different habits because human beings are concerned with what they do.”

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Human interaction shapes animal behavior, suggesting that habits form through social context and expectations.

**In simple terms:** Animals learn habits from human influence.

Key Takeaway

Consider how social environments shape behavior.

Themes

behavioral science social influence habits

Mood

thoughtful analytical

Type

philosophical educational

When to use this quote

- Pet training
- workplace culture
- education methods

Key Concepts

Ethology psychology

Questions to Reflect On

- How do human expectations alter animal behavior?
- What ethical limits exist in modifying animal habits?

A Different Perspective

Animals also have innate drives that limit conditioning.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Habit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habit/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Horse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/horse/) [Human beings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-beings/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/)

## Related quotes

> [Zoo: An excellent place to study the habits of human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/zoo-an-excellent-place-to-study-the-habits-of-human-beings/)

[Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/)

> [“Zoo: An excellent lace to study the habits of human beings”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/zoo-an-excellent-lace-to-study-the-habits-of-human-beings/)

[Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/)

> [No philosophers so thoroughly comprehend us as dogs and horses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/no-philosophers-so-thoroughly-comprehend-us-as-dogs-and-horses/)

[Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/)

> [I love dogs, horses and generally all animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-winspear/i-love-dogs-horses-and-generally-all-animals/)

[Jacqueline Winspear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-winspear/)

> [“If you push people, they snap. It’s just like dogs. Or horses.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-mugrage/if-you-push-people-they-snap-it-s-just-like-dogs-or-horses/)

[Jennifer Mugrage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-mugrage/)

> [Competition is for dogs and horses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geri-halliwell/competition-is-for-dogs-and-horses/)

[Geri Halliwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geri-halliwell/)

> [I have four dogs, four horses, a cat, and a bunch of wild frogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-hannah/i-have-four-dogs-four-horses-a-cat-and-a-bunch-of-wild-frogs/)

[Daryl Hannah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-hannah/)

> [Some of my best leading men have been dogs and horses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/some-of-my-best-leading-men-have-been-dogs-and-horses/)

[Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/)

> [Democracy is a form of government only because it is a form of moral and spiritual association.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/democracy-is-a-form-of-government-only-because-it-is-a-form-of-moral/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [Independent self-reliant people would be a counterproductive anachronism in the collective society of the future where people will be defined by their associations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/independent-self-reliant-people-would-be-a-counterproductive/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [Even today, in our industrial life, apart from certain values of industriousness and thrift, the intellectual and emotional reaction of the forms of human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/even-today-in-our-industrial-life-apart-from-certain-values-of/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [While every social arrangement is educative in effect, the educative effect first becomes an important part of the purpose of the association in connection…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/while-every-social-arrangement-is-educative-in-effect-the-educative/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [One code prevails in the family; another, on the street; a third, in the workshop or store; a fourth, in the religious association. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/one-code-prevails-in-the-family-another-on-the-street-a-third-in-the/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [So few men are really worth knowing, that it seems a shameful waste to let an anthropoid prejudice stand in the way of free…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/so-few-men-are-really-worth-knowing-that-it-seems-a-shameful-waste-to/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [If you are poor, shun association with him who measures men with the yardstick of riches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalil-gibran/if-you-are-poor-shun-association-with-him-who-measures-men-with-the/)

[Khalil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalil-gibran/)

## More by John Dewey

> [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [“Empirically, things are poignant, tragic, beautiful, humorous, settled, disturbed, comfortable, annoying, barren, harsh, consoling, splendid, fearful; are such immediately and in their own right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/empirically-things-are-poignant-tragic-beautiful-humorous-settled/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [A good aim surveys the present state of experience of pupils, and forming a tentative plan of treatment, keeps the plan constantly in view…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-good-aim-surveys-the-present-state-of-experience-of-pupils-and/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [Experiences in order to be educative must lead out into an expanding world of subject matter, a subject matter of facts or information and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/experiences-in-order-to-be-educative-must-lead-out-into-an-expanding/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [A tribe, let us say, is warlike. The successes for which it strives, the achievements upon which it sets store, are connected with fighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/a-tribe-let-us-say-is-warlike-the-successes-for-which-it-strives-the/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [The phrase "think for one's self" is a pleonasm. Unless one does it for one's self, it isn't thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-phrase-think-for-one-s-self-is-a-pleonasm-unless-one-does-it-for/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [Doctrine that eliminates or even obscures the function of choice of values and enlistment of desires and emotions in behalf of those chosen weakens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/doctrine-that-eliminates-or-even-obscures-the-function-of-choice-of/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [There is no such thing as educational value in the abstract. The notion that some subjects and methods and that acquaintance with certain facts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/there-is-no-such-thing-as-educational-value-in-the-abstract-the/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [Men live in a community in virtue of the things which they have in common; and communication is the way in which they come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/men-live-in-a-community-in-virtue-of-the-things-which-they-have-in/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [We can have facts without thinking but we cannot have thinking without facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/we-can-have-facts-without-thinking-but-we-cannot-have-thinking/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [But progress in knowledge has made us aware of the superficiality of Plato's lumping of individuals and their original powers into a few sharply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/but-progress-in-knowledge-has-made-us-aware-of-the-superficiality-of/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [Even the alleged benefits of war, so far as more than alleged, spring from the fact that conflict of peoples at least enforces intercourse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/even-the-alleged-benefits-of-war-so-far-as-more-than-alleged-spring/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [“When the organization called soul is free, moving and operative, initial as well as terminal, it is spirit. Qualities are both static, substantial, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/when-the-organization-called-soul-is-free-moving-and-operative/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [Since in reality there is nothing to which growth is relative save more growth, there is nothing to which education is subordinate save more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/since-in-reality-there-is-nothing-to-which-growth-is-relative-save/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

> [Creative thinking will improve as we relate the new fact to the old and all facts to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/creative-thinking-will-improve-as-we-relate-the-new-fact-to-the-old/)

[John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

[Explore all 486 John Dewey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/)

## More Action quotes

> [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/)

[Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/)

> [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/)

[Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/)

> [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/)

[William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/)

> [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/)

[Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/)

> [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/)

[Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/)

> [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/)

[Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/)

> [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/)

[Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/)

> [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/)

[Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/)

> [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/)

[Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/)

> [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/)

[Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/)

> [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/)

[Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/)

> [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/)

[Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/)

> [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/)

[Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/)

[Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Even dogs and horses have their actions modified by association with human beings; they form different habits because human beings are concerned with what they do.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Dewey"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions-modified-by-association-with/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Action"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions-modified-by-association-with/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/john-dewey-545_action_even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions_1967500.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/john-dewey-545_action_even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions_1967500.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/251/john-dewey-545_action_even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions_1967500.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Even dogs and horses have their actions modified by association with human beings; they form different…” — John Dewey",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "John Dewey",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Even dogs and horses have their...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions-modified-by-association-with/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/even-dogs-and-horses-have-their-actions-modified-by-association-with/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
