Animal Quote by Jorge Luis Borges
![“On those remote pages [of 'a certain Chinese encyclopedia'] it is written that animals are divided into (a) those that belong to the Emperor, (b) embalmed ones, (c) those that are trained, (d) suckling pigs, (e) mermaids, (f ) fabulous ones, (g) stray dogs, (h) those that are included in this…” quote by Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/6bd/jorge-luis-borges-275_animal_on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chine_1416502.jpg)
“On those remote pages [of 'a certain Chinese encyclopedia'] it is written that animals are divided into (a) those that belong to the Emperor, (b) embalmed ones, (c) those that are trained, (d) suckling pigs, (e) mermaids, (f ) fabulous ones, (g) stray dogs, (h) those that are included in this classification, (i) those that tremble as if they were mad, (j) innumerable ones, (k) those drawn with a very fine camel's hair brush, (l) others, (m) those that have just broken a flower vase, (n) those that resemble flies from a distance.”
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Book of Imaginary Beings”, 1957
The passage satirically classifies creatures, blending myth and bureaucracy to mock rigid categorization.
In simple terms: Mocking how we label and order the world.
Key Takeaway
Question arbitrary classifications.
Themes
myth
classification
satire
taxonomy
creativity
Mood
playful
critical
Type
literary
philosophical
When to use this quote
- academic discussion
- creative writing
- teaching taxonomy
- critical analysis
Key Concepts
philosophy
literary imagination
Questions to Reflect On
- What does this classification reveal about human desire for order?
- How do myths challenge scientific categorization?
A Different Perspective
Such lists can oversimplify complex realities.
![“This book first arose out of a passage in [Jorge Luis] Borges, out of the laughter that shattered, as I read the passage, all the familiar landmarks of my thought—our thought that bears the stamp of our age and our geography—breaking up all the ordered surfaces and all the planes with which we are…” quote by Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9a1/michel-foucault-1134_animals_this-book-first-arose-out-of-a-passage-i_571093.jpg)
![“Once, in Lisbon, I tried my best to work the phone book in a way that would assuage a longing [Alice and I] had for certain Chinese dishes . . . .” quote by Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/b37/calvin-trillin-4656_book_once-in-lisbon-i-tried-my-best-to-work-t_2582675.jpg)
![“The story [of Allied] stayed with me, like a stray dog outside the office, waiting.” quote by Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1e7/steven-knight-2205_dog_the-story-of-allied-stayed-with-me-like_1226217.jpg)
