--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: But we think as people and countries, not…" description: "\"But we think as people and countries, not as a species.\" — Jose Mujica" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/jose-mujica-9597_country_but-we-think-as-people-and-countries-not_872167.png" --- # But we think as people and countries, not as a species. ![“But we think as people and countries, not as a species.” quote by Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/jose-mujica-9597_country_but-we-think-as-people-and-countries-not_872167.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/jose-mujica-9597_country_but-we-think-as-people-and-countries-not_872167.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/jose-mujica-9597_country_but-we-think-as-people-and-countries-not_872167.png) > “But we think as people and countries, not as a species.” [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We think as individuals or nations, not as a global species, limiting cooperation. **In simple terms:** Shift perspective to a planetary view. Key Takeaway Think globally, act collectively. Themes environment politics global responsibility Mood thoughtful urgent Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - policy making - international negotiations - education - community projects Key Concepts collective identity speciesism systems thinking Questions to Reflect On - What would a species‑wide perspective change? - How can leaders foster global unity? A Different Perspective Changing mindset is politically challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Humble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humble/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I think the ideal way of living is to live like the vast majority of people whom we attempt to serve and represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-think-the-ideal-way-of-living-is-to-live-like-the-vast-majority-of/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [What's sad is that an 80-year-old grandpa has to be the open-minded one. 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But if I can serve as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/help-does-not-mean-to-intervene-i-will-not-meddle-if-i-am-not-invited/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [We have sacrificed the old immaterial gods, and now we are occupying the temple of the Market-God. He organizes our economy, our politics, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/we-have-sacrificed-the-old-immaterial-gods-and-now-we-are-occupying/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [We applied a very simple principle: Recognize the facts. Abortion is old as the world. Gay marriage, please - it's older than the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/we-applied-a-very-simple-principle-recognize-the-facts-abortion-is/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I'm not the poorest president. The poorest is the one who needs a lot to live. My lifestyle is a consequence of my wounds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-m-not-the-poorest-president-the-poorest-is-the-one-who-needs-a-lot/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [It has always been like that with changes. In 1913, we established divorce as a right for women in Uruguay. You know what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/it-has-always-been-like-that-with-changes-in-1913-we-established/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) ## More by Jose Mujica > [“I'm called 'the poorest president', but I don't feel poor. Poor people are those who only work to try to keep an expensive lifestyle,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-m-called-the-poorest-president-but-i-don-t-feel-poor-poor-people/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [No country can solve climate change alone, we have to take global measures.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/no-country-can-solve-climate-change-alone-we-have-to-take-global/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I think the ideal way of living is to live like the vast majority of people whom we attempt to serve and represent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-think-the-ideal-way-of-living-is-to-live-like-the-vast-majority-of/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [What's sad is that an 80-year-old grandpa has to be the open-minded one. 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My lifestyle is a consequence of my wounds.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-m-not-the-poorest-president-the-poorest-is-the-one-who-needs-a-lot/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [We applied a very simple principle: Recognize the facts. Abortion is old as the world. Gay marriage, please - it's older than the world.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/we-applied-a-very-simple-principle-recognize-the-facts-abortion-is/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [If we lived within our means - by being prudent - the 7 billion people in the world could have everything they needed. Global…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/if-we-lived-within-our-means-by-being-prudent-the-7-billion-people-in/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I was no assassin. I got out during the amnesty because I had not committed any violent crimes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-was-no-assassin-i-got-out-during-the-amnesty-because-i-had-not/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [I am an austere president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/i-am-an-austere-president/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [We have sacrificed the old immaterial gods, and now we are occupying the temple of the Market-God. He organizes our economy, our politics, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/we-have-sacrificed-the-old-immaterial-gods-and-now-we-are-occupying/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [Help does not mean to intervene. I will not meddle if I am not invited to do so. But if I can serve as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/help-does-not-mean-to-intervene-i-will-not-meddle-if-i-am-not-invited/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) > [A president is a high-level official who is elected to carry out a function. He is not a king, not a god. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-mujica/a-president-is-a-high-level-official-who-is-elected-to-carry-out-a/) [Jose Mujica](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) [Explore all 71 Jose Mujica quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-mujica/) ## More Country quotes > [I love playing for my country, getting the support. 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The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [It's very nice to be a rebel saying, 'I stand on my principles,' but if in fact that's not going to have any impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-grieve/it-s-very-nice-to-be-a-rebel-saying-i-stand-on-my-principles-but-if/) [Dominic Grieve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-grieve/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [That's what this country is. It's made up of immigrants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bria-vinaite/that-s-what-this-country-is-it-s-made-up-of-immigrants/) [Bria Vinaite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bria-vinaite/) > [You, of Canada, are building a magnificent record of achievement. My country rejoices in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/you-of-canada-are-building-a-magnificent-record-of-achievement-my/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [The United States cannot and should not discriminate on the basis of religion. 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