--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To be sure, there are human abilities…" description: "\"“To be sure, there are human abilities that other animals lack, but the more we learn about animals, the more abilities we discover that humans lack. O..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/linda-bender-23139_abilities_to-be-sure-there-are-human-abilities-tha_1031717.jpg" --- # To be sure, there are human abilities that other animals… ![“To be sure, there are human abilities that other animals lack, but the more we learn about animals, the more abilities we discover that humans lack. Obviously, if animals were included in the Olympics, humans wouldn’t take home any gold medals. We can’t run as fast as a cheetah, swim as well as a…” quote by Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/linda-bender-23139_abilities_to-be-sure-there-are-human-abilities-tha_1031717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/linda-bender-23139_abilities_to-be-sure-there-are-human-abilities-tha_1031717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9c2/linda-bender-23139_abilities_to-be-sure-there-are-human-abilities-tha_1031717.jpg) > ““To be sure, there are human abilities that other animals lack, but the more we learn about animals, the more abilities we discover that humans lack. Obviously, if animals were included in the Olympics, humans wouldn’t take home any gold medals. We can’t run as fast as a cheetah, swim as well as a fish, or lift as much weight as an elephant.”” [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human abilities are limited compared to many animals; recognizing this reveals our own gaps. **In simple terms:** Humans lack many animal strengths. Key Takeaway Accept limits, learn from nature. Themes humility comparison biology Mood reflective inquisitive Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - sports training - technology development Key Concepts Evolutionary biology anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How can we leverage animal abilities? - What unique human strengths can we develop? A Different Perspective Human ingenuity can compensate for physical limits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abilities](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Gold medal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gold-medal/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [What could be the basis of our having more inherent value than animals? Their lack of reason, or autonomy, or intellect? 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If they use the power to change themselves, to change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/the-notion-of-superhumans-is-using-bioengineering-and-artificial/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [All designed tools and objects are sort of extensions of human abilities, and they do tend to make life richer for us. But, an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-papanek/all-designed-tools-and-objects-are-sort-of-extensions-of-human/) [Victor Papanek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-papanek/) > [“Believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/believe-in-yourself-and-have-faith-in-your-abilities/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [“One should try to live with his abilities rather than his deprivals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/one-should-try-to-live-with-his-abilities-rather-than-his-deprivals/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [I want to use the abilities that God has given me to do my job well and support my crewmates and mission and NASA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-glover/i-want-to-use-the-abilities-that-god-has-given-me-to-do-my-job-well/) [Victor J. Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-glover/) > [“The abilities distinctive of human beings are abilities of intellect and will. The relevant abilities of intellect are thought, imagination (the cogitative and creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-s-hacker/the-abilities-distinctive-of-human-beings-are-abilities-of-intellect/) P. M. S. Hacker > [As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-advance-in-life-we-learn-the-limits-of-our-abilities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I come from a land afar and a land up high. My abilities are only eclipsed by my excellent turn of phrase and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-william-shaw/i-come-from-a-land-afar-and-a-land-up-high-my-abilities-are-only/) Thomas William Shaw > [“He finally found someone like him. Someone who shared his abilities, someone who understood what he had to go through every day. And she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaxon-reed/he-finally-found-someone-like-him-someone-who-shared-his-abilities/) Jaxon Reed > [I fight in the ring on my natural abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-fight-in-the-ring-on-my-natural-abilities/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) ## More by Linda Bender > [“Has it ever struck you as odd that humans are the only creatures on the planet who wear clothes? Everything else, from aardvarks to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/has-it-ever-struck-you-as-odd-that-humans-are-the-only-creatures-on/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“Most of us are used to thinking that “imaginary” is the opposite of “real.” That is, when we imagine things, we are just making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/most-of-us-are-used-to-thinking-that-imaginary-is-the-opposite-of/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“I take it hard when an animal in my care suffers or dies. I take it even harder when the animal's suffering is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/i-take-it-hard-when-an-animal-in-my-care-suffers-or-dies-i-take-it/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“The inner encounters I have with animals—and will be teaching you to have— are exchanges of meaning.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/the-inner-encounters-i-have-with-animals-and-will-be-teaching-you-to/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“Every species embodies a solution to some environmental challenge, and some of these solutions are breathtaking in their elegance.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/every-species-embodies-a-solution-to-some-environmental-challenge-and/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“Animals remind us that all beings who walk, stand, swim, crawl, or fly are radiant, mysterious, and unique expressions of the Source. 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Their own suffering has made them aware of human suffering. More frequent contact with us has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/the-animals-feel-that-this-urgency-is-mutual-their-own-suffering-has/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“Because we tend to equate intelligence with language--particularly the ability to use language to think and communicate abstractions--it is natural to conclude that animals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/because-we-tend-to-equate-intelligence-with-language-particularly-the/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“Animals suffer both emotionally and physically, but they don't suffer metaphysically. 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(Anima, which means 'soul,' is also the root of the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/the-belief-that-every-living-thing-has-an-individual-soul-is-called/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) > [“The fewer plants and animals we are able to recognize as individuals—recognize well enough to name—the more alienated we have come to feel from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-bender/the-fewer-plants-and-animals-we-are-able-to-recognize-as-individuals/) [Linda Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) [Explore all 26 Linda Bender quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-bender/) ## More Abilities quotes > [An actor has to evaluate his own abilities and be honest with himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-newman/an-actor-has-to-evaluate-his-own-abilities-and-be-honest-with-himself/) [Paul Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-newman/) > [I fight in the ring on my natural abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/i-fight-in-the-ring-on-my-natural-abilities/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [“He finally found someone like him. Someone who shared his abilities, someone who understood what he had to go through every day. And she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaxon-reed/he-finally-found-someone-like-him-someone-who-shared-his-abilities/) Jaxon Reed > [“I come from a land afar and a land up high. My abilities are only eclipsed by my excellent turn of phrase and if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-william-shaw/i-come-from-a-land-afar-and-a-land-up-high-my-abilities-are-only/) Thomas William Shaw > [As we advance in life, we learn the limits of our abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-we-advance-in-life-we-learn-the-limits-of-our-abilities/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The abilities distinctive of human beings are abilities of intellect and will. The relevant abilities of intellect are thought, imagination (the cogitative and creative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-m-s-hacker/the-abilities-distinctive-of-human-beings-are-abilities-of-intellect/) P. M. S. Hacker > [I want to use the abilities that God has given me to do my job well and support my crewmates and mission and NASA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-j-glover/i-want-to-use-the-abilities-that-god-has-given-me-to-do-my-job-well/) [Victor J. Glover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-j-glover/) > [“One should try to live with his abilities rather than his deprivals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-h-rakib/one-should-try-to-live-with-his-abilities-rather-than-his-deprivals/) [M.H. Rakib](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-h-rakib/) > [“Believe in yourself and have faith in your abilities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/believe-in-yourself-and-have-faith-in-your-abilities/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [No matter our age, our circumstances, or abilities... Each one of us can create something remarkable with our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/no-matter-our-age-our-circumstances-or-abilities-each-one-of-us-can/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [“Capability can handle challenges, it doesn't accept charity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/capability-can-handle-challenges-it-doesn-t-accept-charity/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When I hire actors I believe in their abilities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-durkin/when-i-hire-actors-i-believe-in-their-abilities/) [Sean Durkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-durkin/) > [“Earl "The Goat" Manigault was probably the greatest basketball player of all time, but Michael Jordan is universally regarded as the best ever. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tucker-max/earl-the-goat-manigault-was-probably-the-greatest-basketball-player/) [Tucker Max](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tucker-max/) > [A hero is defined by what he or she can do, not by what he or she cannot do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-throop/a-hero-is-defined-by-what-he-or-she-can-do-not-by-what-he-or-she/) Damon Throop > [“There are different kinds of birds and there are different situations and places to find these birds. Some of these birds choose to eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/there-are-different-kinds-of-birds-and-there-are-different-situations/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) [Browse all 259 Abilities quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abilities/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“To be sure, there are human abilities that other animals lack, but the more we learn about animals, the more abilities we discover that humans lack. Obviously, if animals were included in the Olympics, humans wouldn’t take home any gold medals. 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