--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Make ethical choices in what we buy, do…" description: "\"Make ethical choices in what we buy, do, and watch. In a consumer-driven society our individual choices, used collectively for the good of animals and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/marc-bekoff-24667_animal_make-ethical-choices-in-what-we-buy-do-a_1754784.png" --- # Make ethical choices in what we buy, do, and watch. In a… ![“Make ethical choices in what we buy, do, and watch. In a consumer-driven society our individual choices, used collectively for the good of animals and nature, can change the world faster than laws.” quote by Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/marc-bekoff-24667_animal_make-ethical-choices-in-what-we-buy-do-a_1754784.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/marc-bekoff-24667_animal_make-ethical-choices-in-what-we-buy-do-a_1754784.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/312/marc-bekoff-24667_animal_make-ethical-choices-in-what-we-buy-do-a_1754784.png) > “Make ethical choices in what we buy, do, and watch. In a consumer-driven society our individual choices, used collectively for the good of animals and nature, can change the world faster than laws.” [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Individual consumer decisions, when aggregated, can drive rapid environmental and animal welfare improvements, often outpacing legislation. **In simple terms:** Our buying habits can quickly help animals and nature. Key Takeaway Choose ethically to create change. Themes ethics environment consumerism activism Mood inspirational reflective Type philosophical activist When to use this quote - shopping - media consumption - investment decisions - dietary choices Key Concepts collective impact behavioral change market power Questions to Reflect On - How can you align daily purchases with your values? - What barriers prevent ethical consumption? A Different Perspective Impact depends on widespread participation; not everyone can afford ethical options. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals And Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals-and-nature/) [Change the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change-the-world/) [Changing the world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/changing-the-world/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Consumers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consumers/) [Decision making](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decision-making/) [Driven](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driven/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [My hope is that if people have the knowledge, and if they actually see where their food comes from and have access to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/my-hope-is-that-if-people-have-the-knowledge-and-if-they-actually-see/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [There's an ethical dimension to my life and all of our lives, from the time we get up in the morning to the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-kucinich/there-s-an-ethical-dimension-to-my-life-and-all-of-our-lives-from-the/) [Dennis Kucinich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-kucinich/) > [Because past environmental destruction was the result of ignorance, we can easily forgive it. Today, we are better informed. Therefore, it's essential that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/because-past-environmental-destruction-was-the-result-of-ignorance-we/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [It's tempting to think that decisions that are not life-and-death are therefore unimportant, and that the little compromises we make don't matter to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-williamson/it-s-tempting-to-think-that-decisions-that-are-not-life-and-death-are/) [Marianne Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-williamson/) > [There's less of a connection for a lot of people between the technical decisions we make and the ethical ramifications we are responsible for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-o-neil/there-s-less-of-a-connection-for-a-lot-of-people-between-the/) [Cathy O'Neil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-o-neil/) > [We don't usually think of what we eat as a matter of ethics. Stealing, lying, hurting people - these acts are obviously relevant to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/we-don-t-usually-think-of-what-we-eat-as-a-matter-of-ethics-stealing/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Those ethical choices often are made every day at a time, minute by minute in ways that you may not even relate to ethics,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayson-blair/those-ethical-choices-often-are-made-every-day-at-a-time-minute-by/) [Jayson Blair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayson-blair/) > [“Face the complexity involved in making ethical choices.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-fisher-thornton/face-the-complexity-involved-in-making-ethical-choices/) [Linda Fisher Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-fisher-thornton/) > [Thus, and not otherwise, the world was made. Either something or nothing must depend on individual choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/thus-and-not-otherwise-the-world-was-made-either-something-or-nothing/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [A system of limitless individual choices, with respect to communications, is not necessarily in the interest of citizenship and self-government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cass-sunstein/a-system-of-limitless-individual-choices-with-respect-to/) [Cass Sunstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cass-sunstein/) > [“our personality type is the “canvas” and our individual choices and experiences are the “paint” we each use in creating our unique lives.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marissa-baker/our-personality-type-is-the-canvas-and-our-individual-choices-and/) [Marissa Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marissa-baker/) > [“The way we live has less to do with individual choices and more to do with the general bent of our society than many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/the-way-we-live-has-less-to-do-with-individual-choices-and-more-to-do/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [I think when we make choices—for each choice is individual of the choices we have made before—we must examine not only our reasons for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/i-think-when-we-make-choices-for-each-choice-is-individual-of-the/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [I'm trying to mediate between individual agency and structural determination. I accept that people make individual choices, quite thoughtful, quite careful, quite difficult choices,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-clover/i-m-trying-to-mediate-between-individual-agency-and-structural/) [Joshua Clover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-clover/) > [I just find that humans are predictable and stupid and animals and nature are a lot more magical to me. I'm just interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-lytle/i-just-find-that-humans-are-predictable-and-stupid-and-animals-and/) Jason Lytle ## More by Marc Bekoff > [Some people say they love animals and yet harm them nonetheless; I'm glad those people don't love me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/some-people-say-they-love-animals-and-yet-harm-them-nonetheless-i-m/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [Although other animals may be different from us, this does not make them LESS than us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/although-other-animals-may-be-different-from-us-this-does-not-make/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [Hunting and fishing involve killing animals with devices (such as guns) for which the animals have not evolved natural defenses. No animal on earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/hunting-and-fishing-involve-killing-animals-with-devices-such-as-guns/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [“We generally accept that it's natural for carnivorous wild animals to kill other animals in order to live. But people don't often think (or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/we-generally-accept-that-it-s-natural-for-carnivorous-wild-animals-to/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [It's bad biology to rob nonhuman animals of their emotional lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/it-s-bad-biology-to-rob-nonhuman-animals-of-their-emotional-lives/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [A reduction of meat consumption by only 10% would result in about 12 million more tons of grain for human consumption. This additional grain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/a-reduction-of-meat-consumption-by-only-10-would-result-in-about-12/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [Many animals experience pain, anxiety and suffering, physically and psychologically, when they are held in captivity or subjected to starvation, social isolation, physical restraint,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/many-animals-experience-pain-anxiety-and-suffering-physically-and/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [All animals, including humans, have a right to lives of dignity and respect, without forced intrusions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/all-animals-including-humans-have-a-right-to-lives-of-dignity-and/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [The plural of anecdote is not data.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/the-plural-of-anecdote-is-not-data/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [We must remain hopeful that a universal ethic of courage, caring, sharing, respect, radical compassion, and love will make a difference even if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/we-must-remain-hopeful-that-a-universal-ethic-of-courage-caring/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [Often, the greater our ignorance about something, the greater our resistance to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/often-the-greater-our-ignorance-about-something-the-greater-our/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [These enthusiasts often like to hang signs that say "Gone Fishin'" or "Gone Huntin'". But what these slogans really mean is "Gone Killing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/these-enthusiasts-often-like-to-hang-signs-that-say-gone-fishin-or/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [Dominion does not mean domination. We hold dominion over animals only because of our powerful and ubiquitous intellect. Not because we are morally superior.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/dominion-does-not-mean-domination-we-hold-dominion-over-animals-only/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [Lacking a shared language, emotions are perhaps our most effective means of cross-species communication. We can share our emotions, we can understand the language…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/lacking-a-shared-language-emotions-are-perhaps-our-most-effective/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) > [When animals express their feelings they pour out like water from a spout. Animals' emotions are raw, unfiltered, and uncontrolled. Their joy is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-bekoff/when-animals-express-their-feelings-they-pour-out-like-water-from-a/) [Marc Bekoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) [Explore all 24 Marc Bekoff quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-bekoff/) ## 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 > [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": "Make ethical choices in what we buy, do, and watch. 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