--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think by and large, humans prefer to…" description: "\"I think by and large, humans prefer to think of themselves as minds from the neck up. We don't really like to think of ourselves as another animal, ano..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/mary-roach-635_animal_i-think-by-and-large-humans-prefer-to-th_1386188.jpg" --- # I think by and large, humans prefer to think of themselves… ![“I think by and large, humans prefer to think of themselves as minds from the neck up. We don't really like to think of ourselves as another animal, another digesting, excreting, mating, snoring, sleeping kind of sack of guts. I don't think we like that. I think we'd rather not be reminded of it.” quote by Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/mary-roach-635_animal_i-think-by-and-large-humans-prefer-to-th_1386188.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/mary-roach-635_animal_i-think-by-and-large-humans-prefer-to-th_1386188.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/95c/mary-roach-635_animal_i-think-by-and-large-humans-prefer-to-th_1386188.jpg) > “I think by and large, humans prefer to think of themselves as minds from the neck up. We don't really like to think of ourselves as another animal, another digesting, excreting, mating, snoring, sleeping kind of sack of guts. I don't think we like that. I think we'd rather not be reminded of it.” [Mary Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-roach/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans avoid acknowledging their animal bodies, preferring to view themselves as purely mental beings. **In simple terms:** People dislike seeing themselves as physical, biological creatures. Key Takeaway Accept your bodily nature to reduce denial. Themes identity body image psychology human nature Mood reflective critical humorous Type essay observational When to use this quote - self‑assessment - health education - psychological therapy Key Concepts cognitive bias embodiment existentialism Questions to Reflect On - Why do we separate mind and body? - What benefits arise from embracing our full physicality? A Different Perspective Denial of the body can hinder health awareness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Another](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/another/) [Guts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guts/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Large](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/large/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Like Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-think/) [Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/minds/) [Neck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/neck/) [Ourselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ourselves/) [Prefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer/) [Prefer Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prefer-think-351009/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rather/) [Really](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really/) [Reminded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reminded/) [Sack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sack/) [Sleeping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleeping/) [Snoring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/snoring/) [Themselves](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/themselves/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Think Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-animal-386900/) [Think Minds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-minds-2081670/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) ## Related quotes > [If America is to be run by the people, it is the people who must think. 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