--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man and other civilized animals are the…" description: "\"Man and other civilized animals are the only creatures that ever become dirty.\" — John Muir" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/john-muir-678_animal_man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the_2853626.png" --- # Man and other civilized animals are the only creatures… ![“Man and other civilized animals are the only creatures that ever become dirty.” quote by John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/john-muir-678_animal_man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the_2853626.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/john-muir-678_animal_man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the_2853626.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/john-muir-678_animal_man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the_2853626.png) > “Man and other civilized animals are the only creatures that ever become dirty.” [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Only humans and civilized animals become dirty; nature remains pure. **In simple terms:** Only humans get dirty; nature stays pure. Key Takeaway Preserve natural purity by reducing human impact. Themes environment purity human impact Mood reflective urgent Type environmental activist When to use this quote - hiking - wildlife protection - clean‑up drives Key Concepts conservation ethics ecology Questions to Reflect On - What actions pollute nature? - How can societies reduce waste? A Different Perspective Defining “dirty” can be subjective. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Animals Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals-creatures-3811075/) [Civilized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized/) [Civilized Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized-animals-1800108/) [Cleanliness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cleanliness/) [Creatures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures/) [Creatures Dirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creatures-dirty-3811074/) [Dirty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dirty/) [Man Civilized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-civilized-620597/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [“Humans are animals, but aren’t we supposed to be civilized animals?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-monikue/humans-are-animals-but-aren-t-we-supposed-to-be-civilized-animals/) [Justine Monikue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-monikue/) > [We are civilized animals, right? Then why do we continue to slaughter for sport? What if you were a Chicken, how would you feel?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buckethead/we-are-civilized-animals-right-then-why-do-we-continue-to-slaughter/) [Buckethead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buckethead/) > [Religion has not civilized man, man has civilized religion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/religion-has-not-civilized-man-man-has-civilized-religion/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [Is not the history of real civilization the slow and gradual emancipation of the intellect, of the judgment, from the mastery of passion? Is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/is-not-the-history-of-real-civilization-the-slow-and-gradual/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [No man, however civilized, can listen for very long to African drumming, or Indian chanting, or Welsh hymn singing, and retain intact his critical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/no-man-however-civilized-can-listen-for-very-long-to-african-drumming/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [No doubt it was necessary to civilize man in relation to man. That work is already advanced and is making progress every day. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/no-doubt-it-was-necessary-to-civilize-man-in-relation-to-man-that/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > […their eager, childlike attention was refreshing to see as compared with the decent, deathlike apathy of weary civilized people, in whom natural curiosity has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/their-eager-childlike-attention-was-refreshing-to-see-as-compared/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/thousands-of-tired-nerve-shaken-over-civilized-people-are-beginning-2/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Juliet's version of cleanliness was next to godliness, which was to say it was erratic, past all understanding and was seldom seen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/juliet-s-version-of-cleanliness-was-next-to-godliness-which-was-to/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Women are dirt searchers; their greatest worth is irradicating rings on collars and tables. Never mind real-estate boards' corruption and racism, here's your soapsuds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florynce-kennedy/women-are-dirt-searchers-their-greatest-worth-is-irradicating-rings/) [Florynce Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florynce-kennedy/) > [There is a road to freedom. Its milestones are obedience, endeavour, honesty, order, cleanliness, sobriety, truthfulness, sacrifice, and love of the fatherland.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-hitler/there-is-a-road-to-freedom-its-milestones-are-obedience-endeavour/) [Adolf Hitler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-hitler/) > [I think toilets are more important than temples. No matter how many temples we go to, we are not going to get salvation. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jairam-ramesh/i-think-toilets-are-more-important-than-temples-no-matter-how-many/) [Jairam Ramesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jairam-ramesh/) > [Night fell clean and cold in Dublin, and wind moaned beyond my room as if a million pipes played the air.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-cornwell/night-fell-clean-and-cold-in-dublin-and-wind-moaned-beyond-my-room-as/) [Patricia Cornwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-cornwell/) > [Cleanliness is the scourge of art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-brown/cleanliness-is-the-scourge-of-art/) [Craig Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-brown/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) ## More by John Muir > [I will follow my instincts, be myself for good or ill, and see what will be the upshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/i-will-follow-my-instincts-be-myself-for-good-or-ill-and-see-what/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [While cares will drop off like autumn leaves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/while-cares-will-drop-off-like-autumn-leaves/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [...full of God's thoughts, a place of peace and safety amid the most exalted grandeur and enthusiastic action, a new song, a place of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/full-of-god-s-thoughts-a-place-of-peace-and-safety-amid-the-most/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“Here are the roots of all the life of the valleys, and here more simply than elsewhere is the eternal flux of nature manifested.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/here-are-the-roots-of-all-the-life-of-the-valleys-and-here-more/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Spring work is going on with joyful enthusiasm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/spring-work-is-going-on-with-joyful-enthusiasm/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Our lives are rounded with a sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/our-lives-are-rounded-with-a-sleep/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Another glorious day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/another-glorious-day-the-air-as-delicious-to-the-lungs-as-nectar-to/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Long, blue, spiky-edged shadows crept out across the snow-fields, while a rosy glow, at first scarce discernible, gradually deepened and suffused every mountain-top, flushing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/long-blue-spiky-edged-shadows-crept-out-across-the-snow-fields-while/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [“This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/this-grand-show-is-eternal-it-is-always-sunrise-somewhere-the-dew-is/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/when-one-tugs-at-a-single-thing-in-nature-he-finds-it-attached-to-the/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [In studying the fate of our forest king, we have thus far considered the action of purely natural causes only; but, unfortunately, man is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/in-studying-the-fate-of-our-forest-king-we-have-thus-far-considered/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [The forests of America, however slighted by man, must have been a great delight to God; for they were the best he ever planted.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-forests-of-america-however-slighted-by-man-must-have-been-a-great/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Man seems to be the only animal whose food soils him, making necessary much washing and shield-like bibs and napkins. Moles living in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/man-seems-to-be-the-only-animal-whose-food-soils-him-making-necessary/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls and birds and winds sing. I'll interpret the rocks, learn the language of flood, storm, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/as-long-as-i-live-i-ll-hear-waterfalls-and-birds-and-winds-sing-i-ll/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) [Explore all 409 John Muir quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. 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He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. 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Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Man and other civilized animals are the only creatures that ever become dirty.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Muir" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the-only-creatures-that-ever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the-only-creatures-that-ever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/john-muir-678_animal_man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the_2853626.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/john-muir-678_animal_man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the_2853626.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a0d/john-muir-678_animal_man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the_2853626.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Man and other civilized animals are the only creatures that ever become dirty.” — John Muir", "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 Muir", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Man and other civilized animals are...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the-only-creatures-that-ever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/man-and-other-civilized-animals-are-the-only-creatures-that-ever/#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 } } ] } ```