Born Quote by John Mortimer
“On the three pigs he and his wife own: "We acquired the pigs last year. My wife was born on a pig farm and has always been very fond of pigs. Of course, they are for eating, which is why they are named Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. You wouldn’t want to eat Rufus, Marcus and Esmeralda.”
About This Quote
Source Play: The Mysterious Death of Mr. Lundy, 1975
Naming pigs after meals humorously highlights the absurdity of treating living beings as mere commodities.
In simple terms: Humor reveals ethical contradictions in how we view animals.
Key Takeaway
Question the language we use for sentient beings.
Themes
ethics
humor
animal rights
language
Mood
thoughtful
ironic
Type
satirical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- dinner party
- farm life
- food marketing
Key Concepts
moral reflection
social critique
cultural commentary
Questions to Reflect On
- Do you notice similar naming patterns elsewhere?
- How does language shape our treatment of animals?
A Different Perspective
Humor can mask deeper moral issues.
![“Take sex, for instance.' 'What do you want me to do with it?' 'Try to be serious for a moment. Take the sex life of our father.' [...] Even after a couple of brandies he felt extremely reluctant to discuss sex and his father. 'It's something I'd rather not think about,' he said. 'We all come into…” quote by John Mortimer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/280/john-mortimer-7362_immaculate-conceptio_take-sex-for-instance-what-do-you-want-m_4946.jpg)
