Animals Quote by Melanie Joy
““It's just the way things are. Take a moment to consider this statement. Really think about it. We send one species to the butcher and give our love and kindness to another apparently for no reason other than because it's the way things are. When our attitudes and behaviors towards animals are so inconsistent, and this inconsistency is so unexamined, we can safely say we have been fed absurdities. It is absurd that we eat pigs and love dogs and don't even know why. Many of us spend long minutes in the aisle of the drugstore mulling over what toothpaste to buy. Yet most of don't spend any time at all thinking about what species of animal we eat and why. Our choices as consumers drive an industry that kills ten billion animals per year in the United States alone. If we choose to support this industry and the best reason we can come up with is because it's the way things are, clearly something is amiss. What could cause an entire society of people to check their thinking caps at the door-- and to not even realize they're doing so? Though this question is quite complex, the answer is quite simple: carnism.””
About This Quote
Source Book: “The Animals Issue: The Moral Dilemma of Speciesism” by Melanie Joy, 2010
The quote critiques societal inconsistency toward animals, highlighting how cultural norms (carnism) mask the moral implications of eating meat while loving other species.
In simple terms: We accept animal cruelty without questioning it.
Question everyday animal choices.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- grocery shopping
- diet planning
- activism
- education
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does “carnism” influence your daily decisions?
- What steps can you take to align actions with values?
Many people lack awareness of how deep‑seated cultural conditioning shapes their food choices.