--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On those remote pages [of 'a certain…" description: "\"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) embal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/jorge-luis-borges-275_animal_on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chine_1416502.jpg" --- # On those remote pages \[of 'a certain Chinese… ![“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/i/6bd/jorge-luis-borges-275_animal_on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chine_1416502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/jorge-luis-borges-275_animal_on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chine_1416502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/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.” [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Animals Divided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals-divided-4713426/) [Broken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/broken/) [Brushes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brushes/) [Camels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/camels/) [Certain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain/) [Certain Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/certain-chinese-1791295/) [Chinese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chinese/) [Classification](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/classification/) [Distance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance/) [Divided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/divided/) [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [Dogs Included](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs-included-5005138/) [Emperor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emperor/) [Encyclopedia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/encyclopedia/) [Fabulous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fabulous/) [Fine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fine/) [Flower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flower/) [Hair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hair/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Mad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad/) [Mermaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mermaid/) [Pages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pages/) [Pigs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pigs/) [Stray dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stray-dogs/) [Vases](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vases/) [Written](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written/) [Written Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/written-animals-590389/) ## Related quotes > [ “This book first arose out of a passage in \[Jorge Luis\] Borges, out of the laughter that shattered, as I read the passage, all… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-foucault/this-book-first-arose-out-of-a-passage-in-jorge-luis-borges-out-of/) [Michel Foucault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-foucault/) > [ Once, in Lisbon, I tried my best to work the phone book in a way that would assuage a longing \[Alice and I\] had… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-trillin/once-in-lisbon-i-tried-my-best-to-work-the-phone-book-in-a-way-that/) [Calvin Trillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-trillin/) > [“I couldn't think of anything helpful to say, so I resorted to humor, my shield of last resort. 'Just please tell me they don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/i-couldn-t-think-of-anything-helpful-to-say-so-i-resorted-to-humor-my/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [I've always written about animals. I'm still trying to process why that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-a-obreht/i-ve-always-written-about-animals-i-m-still-trying-to-process-why/) [Tea Obreht](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-a-obreht/) > [“This book is written for our animals, who trust us with their safekeeping. To keep them healthy, we turn to modern medicine, but it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-thacher-jensen/this-book-is-written-for-our-animals-who-trust-us-with-their/) [Wendy Thacher Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-thacher-jensen/) > [A friend told me of visiting the Dalai Lama in India and asking him for a succinct definition of compassion. 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Ladies touch babies like a banker touches gold, outlaws touch ladies somewhere deep down in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waylon-jennings/ladies-love-outlaws-like-babies-love-stray-dogs-ladies-touch-babies/) [Waylon Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waylon-jennings/) > [I watch the confusion of friends all numb with love moving like stray dogs to the anthem of night long conversations of pulsing rhythms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-cockburn/i-watch-the-confusion-of-friends-all-numb-with-love-moving-like-stray/) [Bruce Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-cockburn/) > [I'm still useful in my capacity as an arts educator and caretaker for the stray dogs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/araya-rasdjarmrearnsook/i-m-still-useful-in-my-capacity-as-an-arts-educator-and-caretaker-for/) [Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/araya-rasdjarmrearnsook/) > [But I was thinking about this, the Obamas want to adopt a stray dog from the pound. And I think that is admirable. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/but-i-was-thinking-about-this-the-obamas-want-to-adopt-a-stray-dog/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [ The story \[of Allied\] stayed with me, like a stray dog outside the office, waiting. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-knight/the-story-of-allied-stayed-with-me-like-a-stray-dog-outside-the/) [Steven Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-knight/) > [“I have done the journey between Tientsin and Peking so many times that I recognize even the stray dogs (known locally as wonks )…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniele-var/i-have-done-the-journey-between-tientsin-and-peking-so-many-times/) [Daniele Varè](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniele-var/) > [The city might be savage, stray dogs might share the streets with grimy urchins whose blank eyes reflected the knowledge that they might soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/the-city-might-be-savage-stray-dogs-might-share-the-streets-with/) [Jeff VanderMeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [It is great to see people feeding stray dogs, taking care of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mimi-chakraborty/it-is-great-to-see-people-feeding-stray-dogs-taking-care-of-them/) [Mimi Chakraborty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mimi-chakraborty/) ## More by Jorge Luis Borges > [“No hables a menos que puedas mejorar el silencio.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/no-hables-a-menos-que-puedas-mejorar-el-silencio/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The execution was set for the 29th of March, at nine in the morning. This delay was due to a desire on the part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-execution-was-set-for-the-29th-of-march-at-nine-in-the-morning/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [How can we manage to illuminate the pathos of our lives?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/how-can-we-manage-to-illuminate-the-pathos-of-our-lives/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Loneliness does not worry me; life is difficult enough, putting up with yourself and with your own habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/loneliness-does-not-worry-me-life-is-difficult-enough-putting-up-with/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The fact is that all writers create their precursors. Their work modifies our conception of the past, just as it is bound to modify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-fact-is-that-all-writers-create-their-precursors-their-work/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I don't think we're capable of knowledge, but I like to keep an open mind. So if you ask me whether I believe in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-don-t-think-we-re-capable-of-knowledge-but-i-like-to-keep-an-open/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The web of time - the strands of which approach one another, bifurcate, intersect, or ignore each other through the centuries - embraces "every"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-web-of-time-the-strands-of-which-approach-one-another-bifurcate/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“My memory, sir, is like a garbage disposal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/my-memory-sir-is-like-a-garbage-disposal/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [When I write, I do it urged by an intimate necessity. I don't have in mind an exclusive public, or a public of multitudes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/when-i-write-i-do-it-urged-by-an-intimate-necessity-i-don-t-have-in/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [The mind was dreaming. The world was its dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/the-mind-was-dreaming-the-world-was-its-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I foresee that man will resign himself each day to new abominations, and soon that only bandits and soldiers will be left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/i-foresee-that-man-will-resign-himself-each-day-to-new-abominations/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [“If I could live again - I will travel light, If I could live again - I'll try to work bare feet at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/if-i-could-live-again-i-will-travel-light-if-i-could-live-again-i-ll/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Every man should be capable of all ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/every-man-should-be-capable-of-all-ideas/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [Writing is only a guided dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/writing-is-only-a-guided-dream/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) [Explore all 558 Jorge Luis Borges quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) ## 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. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. 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. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. 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": "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.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jorge Luis Borges" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chinese-encyclopedia-it-is-written/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chinese-encyclopedia-it-is-written/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/jorge-luis-borges-275_animal_on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chine_1416502.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/jorge-luis-borges-275_animal_on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chine_1416502.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6bd/jorge-luis-borges-275_animal_on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chine_1416502.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On those remote pages [of 'a certain Chinese encyclopedia'] it is written that animals are divided into (a)…” — Jorge Luis Borges", "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": "Jorge Luis Borges", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "On those remote pages [of 'a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chinese-encyclopedia-it-is-written/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/on-those-remote-pages-of-a-certain-chinese-encyclopedia-it-is-written/#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 } } ] } ```