Shame Quote by Jonathan Safran Foer
![“I came to feel a certain kind of shame at the aquarium […] [T]here was a shame in being human: the shame of knowing that twenty of the roughly thirty-five classified species of sea horse worldwide are threatened with extinction because they are killed "unintentionally" in seafood production. The…” quote by Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/98a/jonathan-safran-foer-136_shame_i-came-to-feel-a-certain-kind-of-shame-a_1483890.jpg)
““I came to feel a certain kind of shame at the aquarium […] [T]here was a shame in being human: the shame of knowing that twenty of the roughly thirty-five classified species of sea horse worldwide are threatened with extinction because they are killed "unintentionally" in seafood production. The shame of indiscriminate killing for no nutritional necessity or political cause or irrational hatred or intractable human conflict. I felt shame in the deaths my culture justified by so thin a concern as the taste of canned tuna […] or the fact that shrimp make convenient hors d’oeuvres […] I felt shame for living in a nation of unprecedented prosperity--a nation that spends a smaller percentage of income on food than any other civilization has in human history--but in the name of affordability treats the animals it eats with cruelty so extreme it would be illegal if inflicted on a dog.””
About This Quote
The author expresses deep shame over humanity’s destructive impact on sea horses and broader marine life, driven by consumer choices and economic pressures.
In simple terms: Human consumption harms marine species, causing shame.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and reduce harmful consumption.
Themes
environmental guilt
consumerism
species extinction
Mood
concerned
urgent
Type
ethical
environmental
When to use this quote
- dietary choices
- policy advocacy
- education
- sustainable seafood
Key Concepts
ethics
ecology
food systems
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals reduce their ecological footprint?
- What policies could protect marine species?
A Different Perspective
Shame alone may not change behavior without actionable pathways.
![“I guarantee you [Hillary Clinton] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that [Donald] Trump's the guy to do it. That was great.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/702/rush-limbaugh-28_clinton_i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoki_4403.jpg)
