--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An animal takes freely anything that it…" description: "\"An animal takes freely anything that it wishes: it commits no sin and is not held responsible for its action because it knows no better. But as soon as..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/max-heindel-9366_action_an-animal-takes-freely-anything-that-it_1283941.jpg" --- # An animal takes freely anything that it wishes: it commits… ![“An animal takes freely anything that it wishes: it commits no sin and is not held responsible for its action because it knows no better. But as soon as the idea of 'mine' and 'thine' has been imprinted upon our consciousness, then also the responsibility comes.” quote by Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/max-heindel-9366_action_an-animal-takes-freely-anything-that-it_1283941.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/max-heindel-9366_action_an-animal-takes-freely-anything-that-it_1283941.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/531/max-heindel-9366_action_an-animal-takes-freely-anything-that-it_1283941.jpg) > “An animal takes freely anything that it wishes: it commits no sin and is not held responsible for its action because it knows no better. But as soon as the idea of 'mine' and 'thine' has been imprinted upon our consciousness, then also the responsibility comes.” [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Suggests moral responsibility emerges when we develop a sense of ownership and distinction between self and others. **In simple terms:** Responsibility follows self‑awareness. Key Takeaway Recognize and own your choices. Themes ethics responsibility consciousness Mood thoughtful reflective Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - personal decisions - legal accountability - environmental stewardship Key Concepts philosophy psychology spirituality Questions to Reflect On - When does shared ownership dilute accountability? - How do cultural norms shape responsibility? A Different Perspective Responsibility can be ambiguous in complex systems. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Consciousness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/consciousness/) [Idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/idea/) [Philosophy of Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy-of-mind/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Sin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sin/) [Wishes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wishes/) ## Related quotes > [“There are many examples of animals coming to surprising living arrangements...where an animal takes a human being or another animal to be one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yann-martel/there-are-many-examples-of-animals-coming-to-surprising-living/) [Yann Martel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yann-martel/) > [Christ removed self as the force in His perfect life. It was, 'Not my will, but thine be done.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/christ-removed-self-as-the-force-in-his-perfect-life-it-was-not-my/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Prayer is a privilege and the soul's sincere desire. We can move beyond routine and 'checklist' prayers and engage in meaningful prayer as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/prayer-is-a-privilege-and-the-soul-s-sincere-desire-we-can-move/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [Men would live exceedingly quiet if these two words, mine and thine, were taken away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anaxagoras/men-would-live-exceedingly-quiet-if-these-two-words-mine-and-thine/) [Anaxagoras](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anaxagoras/) > [Forget not, O Lord, that I am one of those whom Thou hast created, and with Thine own blood hast redeemed. 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No work truly done, no word earnestly spoken, no sacrifice freely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-william-robertson/in-god-s-world-for-those-who-are-in-earnest-there-is-no-failure-no/) [Frederick William Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-william-robertson/) > [What I'm trying to do is get a change in the mindset so people move from a level of mere tolerance to total acceptance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/what-i-m-trying-to-do-is-get-a-change-in-the-mindset-so-people-move/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [In a person who is open to experience each stimulus is freely relayed through the nervous system, without being distorted by any process of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-rogers/in-a-person-who-is-open-to-experience-each-stimulus-is-freely-relayed/) [Carl Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-rogers/) > [Human Rights Watch wants Rwandans to be able to speak freely about their ethnic hatreds, and to allow political parties connected with the defeated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kinzer/human-rights-watch-wants-rwandans-to-be-able-to-speak-freely-about/) [Stephen Kinzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kinzer/) > [Feminism is, I hope, a way to a better future for everyone who inhabits this world. 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Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-b-meyer/) > [“Contrafreeloading,” a term coined by the animal psychologist Glen Jensen, refers to the finding that many animals prefer to earn food rather than simply…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-ariely/contrafreeloading-a-term-coined-by-the-animal-psychologist-glen/) [Dan Ariely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-ariely/) > [A liar freely gives his oath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-malloch/a-liar-freely-gives-his-oath/) [Douglas Malloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-malloch/) > [The chains will fall off freely, no more worries](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dl-watson/the-chains-will-fall-off-freely-no-more-worries/) DL WATSON ## More by Max Heindel > [Regarding lack of vision or disabilities of the organ of sight, it has long been known among researchers that it is the effect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/regarding-lack-of-vision-or-disabilities-of-the-organ-of-sight-it-has/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [We read that Adam and Methuselah lived so many centuries; at that time, it was the custom to marry in the family - marry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/we-read-that-adam-and-methuselah-lived-so-many-centuries-at-that-time/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [The hand is man's most valuable servant; its dexterity enables it to respond to his slightest bidding.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/the-hand-is-man-s-most-valuable-servant-its-dexterity-enables-it-to/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [Because of the revolution of the Earth upon its axis, a new degree of the zodiac rises every four minutes, and thus even the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/because-of-the-revolution-of-the-earth-upon-its-axis-a-new-degree-of/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [Virtue is a positive quality developed by taking a firm stand for the right in temptation, or by the suffering endured in consequence of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-heindel/virtue-is-a-positive-quality-developed-by-taking-a-firm-stand-for-the/) [Max Heindel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-heindel/) > [Christ said, The Truth shall make you free, but Truth is not found once and forever. 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