Animals Quote by John Steinbeck
““Our hosts had been kind to us and considerate as only Mexicans can be. Furthermore, they had taught us the best ways to go hunting, and we shall never use any other. We have, however, made one slight improvement on their method: we shall not take a gun, thereby ovbiating the last remote possibility of having the hunt cluttered up with game. We have never understood why men mount the heads of animals and hang them up to look down on their conquerors. Possibly it feels food to these men to be superior to animals, but it does seem that if they were sure of it they would not have to prove it. Often a man who is afraid must constantly demonstrate his courage and, in the case of the hunter, must keep a tangible record of his courage. for ourselves, we have mounted in a small hardwood plaque one perfect borrego dropping. And where another man can say "There was an animal, but because I am greater than he, he is dead and I am alive, and there is his head to prove it," we can say, "There was an animal, and for all we know there still is and here is the proof of it. he was very healthy when we last heard of him””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, 1939
The narrator critiques hunting trophies as symbols of dominance, preferring evidence of a living animal’s health over dead remains.
In simple terms: Criticizes trophy hunting as a show of power, values living proof.
Question the purpose of displaying dominance through dead animals.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- wildlife conservation
- ethical debates
- museum displays
- education programs
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- Do trophies truly reflect skill?
- How can we honor wildlife without killing?
Some may argue trophies preserve tradition and provide scientific data.