--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Dogs are blameless, devoid of…" description: "\"“Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can't really be held responsible for what they do. But ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04e/jon-katz-11360_blameless_dogs-are-blameless-devoid-of-calculation_2210440.png" --- # Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed… ![“Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can't really be held responsible for what they do. But we can." --from The Dogs of Bedlam Farm” quote by Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04e/jon-katz-11360_blameless_dogs-are-blameless-devoid-of-calculation_2210440.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04e/jon-katz-11360_blameless_dogs-are-blameless-devoid-of-calculation_2210440.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/04e/jon-katz-11360_blameless_dogs-are-blameless-devoid-of-calculation_2210440.png) > ““Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. They can't really be held responsible for what they do. But we can." --from The Dogs of Bedlam Farm”” [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Dogs act without moral calculation, so they cannot be blamed for their behavior, unlike humans who are accountable for choices. **In simple terms:** Dogs act without moral; humans are responsible. Key Takeaway Recognize human responsibility for actions. Themes responsibility ethics human nature animal behavior morality Mood reflective serious thoughtful Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - pet ownership - ethical decision making - leadership accountability - animal rights advocacy Key Concepts free will accountability moral agency Questions to Reflect On - How do we hold ourselves accountable for our choices? - What responsibilities arise from our moral agency? A Different Perspective Humans often rationalize blame on animals, ignoring deeper systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blameless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blameless/) [Blameless Devoid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blameless-devoid-4892466/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs/) [Dogs Bedlam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs-bedlam-4892467/) [Dogs Blameless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs-blameless-4892464/) [Dogs-and-humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs-and-humans/) [Responsible Dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsible-dogs-4892465/) ## Related quotes > [“In dog culture, when someone calls you, you should absolutely not come if that results in the ending of something you like or initiation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-donaldson/in-dog-culture-when-someone-calls-you-you-should-absolutely-not-come/) [Jean Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-donaldson/) > [“For the dog, colour doesn't matter, reputation doesn't matter, wealth doesn't matter. 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And from that day, whenever she and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avijeet-das/the-first-day-we-met-she-kept-on-looking-at-me-with-her-tender-and/) [Avijeet Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avijeet-das/) > [“Imagine you live on a planet where the dominant species is far more intellectually sophisticated than human beings but often keeps humans as companion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-donaldson/imagine-you-live-on-a-planet-where-the-dominant-species-is-far-more/) [Jean Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-donaldson/) > [“Aggression in a dog is similar to aggression in a human. We re both scared of what we don't understand, and our need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-gatling/aggression-in-a-dog-is-similar-to-aggression-in-a-human-we-re-both/) [Andre Gatling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-gatling/) > [“Dogs are the best of gods.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fakeer-ishavardas/dogs-are-the-best-of-gods/) [Fakeer Ishavardas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fakeer-ishavardas/) ## More by Jon Katz > [My beloved dog defied treatment from the best and most expensive veterinarians, holistic practitioners, trainers, and animal communicators. He was simply beyond my ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/my-beloved-dog-defied-treatment-from-the-best-and-most-expensive/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [When people buy, rescue, or otherwise acquire a dog from unscrupulous breeders or amateur rescue groups, they are making a decision with ethical consequences.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/when-people-buy-rescue-or-otherwise-acquire-a-dog-from-unscrupulous/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [If you're going to love animals and have a life with them, the odds are you're going to lose them. It's helpful when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/if-you-re-going-to-love-animals-and-have-a-life-with-them-the-odds/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [Personally, I don't want to own a dog that inspires fear. I choose my dogs carefully, have their temperaments observed and evaluated, train and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/personally-i-don-t-want-to-own-a-dog-that-inspires-fear-i-choose-my/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [Animals have come to mean so much in our lives. We live in a fragmented and disconnected culture. Politics are ugly, religion is struggling,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/animals-have-come-to-mean-so-much-in-our-lives-we-live-in-a/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [“I am not mad here, but clear and calm. I am not transformed, but allowed to be wholly myself.I am isolated, but have never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/i-am-not-mad-here-but-clear-and-calm-i-am-not-transformed-but-allowed/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [It's natural canine behavior to chew on all sorts of things, roll in other animals' droppings, hump and fight other dogs, menace anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/it-s-natural-canine-behavior-to-chew-on-all-sorts-of-things-roll-in/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [Actual evil probably requires much more creativity, passion, and political ideology than anyone at or near the top of Microsoft seems to possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/actual-evil-probably-requires-much-more-creativity-passion-and/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [It's important to remember that the animals are not grieving with us. They're very accepting. They're not lying there thinking 'How could you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/it-s-important-to-remember-that-the-animals-are-not-grieving-with-us/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [“It inspires a bit of awe to see working dogs really do their jobs, to see thousands of years of history, instinct, and breeding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/it-inspires-a-bit-of-awe-to-see-working-dogs-really-do-their-jobs-to/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [“I am no theologian, and do not have the answers to these questions, and one of the reasons I enjoy the animals on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/i-am-no-theologian-and-do-not-have-the-answers-to-these-questions-and/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [Some rescue groups are highly organized, experienced, well-funded, nearly professional. Others are small amateur operations run out of garages and back yards. Their members…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/some-rescue-groups-are-highly-organized-experienced-well-funded/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [“That, even with imperfect masters, the canine soul is pure, loyal, and dependable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/that-even-with-imperfect-masters-the-canine-soul-is-pure-loyal-and/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [Lifetime dogs intersect with our lives with particular impact; they're dogs we love in especially powerful, sometimes inexplicable, ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/lifetime-dogs-intersect-with-our-lives-with-particular-impact-they-re/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) > [I owe my dogs much - more than I can say - but they are not my 'companions' - as if we voluntarily chose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-katz/i-owe-my-dogs-much-more-than-i-can-say-but-they-are-not-my-companions/) [Jon Katz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) [Explore all 60 Jon Katz quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-katz/) ## More Blameless quotes > [I'm not saying that all women are blameless - all women are not. There are women with despicable characters who are cruel and terrible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-m-not-saying-that-all-women-are-blameless-all-women-are-not-there/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [I do not pretend that I have led a blameless life, or that one fault justifies another, but the public in judging a case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-kelly/i-do-not-pretend-that-i-have-led-a-blameless-life-or-that-one-fault/) [Ned Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-kelly/) > [“when something does go wrong, we conduct blameless post-mortems, not to punish anyone, but to better understand what caused the accident and how to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kim/when-something-does-go-wrong-we-conduct-blameless-post-mortems-not-to/) [Gene Kim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kim/) > [I want to be an example, the person who when they look at, they say, "That guy is a Christian, there's no doubt about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-hosoi/i-want-to-be-an-example-the-person-who-when-they-look-at-they-say/) [Christian Hosoi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-hosoi/) > [The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-pope/the-world-forgetting-by-the-world-forgot-eternal-sunshine-of-the-2/) [Alexander Pope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-pope/) > [Let there be wicked kings and beheadings, battles and dungeons, giants and dragons, and let the villans be soundly killed at the end of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/let-there-be-wicked-kings-and-beheadings-battles-and-dungeons-giants/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [No action will be considered blameless, unless the will was so, for by the will the act was dictated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/no-action-will-be-considered-blameless-unless-the-will-was-so-for-by/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [Why ... do the myths of America the Hateful take such powerful hold? Because anti-Americanism provides a useful emotional function which goes beyond logic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-gove/why-do-the-myths-of-america-the-hateful-take-such-powerful-hold/) [Michael Gove](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-gove/) > [I lead a life of blameless domesticity and always have done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-johnson/i-lead-a-life-of-blameless-domesticity-and-always-have-done/) [Boris Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-johnson/) > [Who is blameless? Only those that blame no one for aught that is, has been or may be. Only in creating hope, life, understanding,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/who-is-blameless-only-those-that-blame-no-one-for-aught-that-is-has/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [Believe, meditate, see. Be harmless, be blameless. Awake to the law. And from all sorrows free yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/believe-meditate-see-be-harmless-be-blameless-awake-to-the-law-and/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“Blessed Saviour, blameless LORD.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/blessed-saviour-blameless-lord/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [The white flower of a blameless life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/the-white-flower-of-a-blameless-life/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) > [... people who'd led dull and blameless lives did not give thanks for second chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-morton/people-who-d-led-dull-and-blameless-lives-did-not-give-thanks-for/) [Kate Morton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-morton/) > [Ours is a lost generation, it may be, but it is more blameless than those earlier generations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franz-kafka/ours-is-a-lost-generation-it-may-be-but-it-is-more-blameless-than/) [Franz Kafka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franz-kafka/) [Browse all 66 Blameless quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blameless/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Dogs are blameless, devoid of calculation, neither blessed nor cursed with human motives. 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