--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Monkey see, monkey do. Human being don’t…" description: "\"“Monkey see, monkey do. Human being don’t see, human being don’t do.”\" — Mokokoma Mokhonoana" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/mokokoma-mokhonoana-195_conformity_monkey-see-monkey-do-human-being-don-t-s_462715.jpg" --- # Monkey see, monkey do. Human being don’t see, human being… ![“Monkey see, monkey do. Human being don’t see, human being don’t do.” quote by Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/mokokoma-mokhonoana-195_conformity_monkey-see-monkey-do-human-being-don-t-s_462715.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/mokokoma-mokhonoana-195_conformity_monkey-see-monkey-do-human-being-don-t-s_462715.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e6e/mokokoma-mokhonoana-195_conformity_monkey-see-monkey-do-human-being-don-t-s_462715.jpg) > ““Monkey see, monkey do. Human being don’t see, human being don’t do.”” [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. People imitate what they observe; lack of critical thought leads to mindless copying. **In simple terms:** We copy what we see without thinking. Key Takeaway Cultivate awareness before acting. Themes imitation awareness critical thinking Mood cautious thoughtful Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - education - leadership - media consumption - parenting - workplace training Key Concepts social learning mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - What do you observe before you act? - How can you break the cycle of unthinking copying? A Different Perspective Blind imitation can perpetuate harmful habits. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conformity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conformity/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Monkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkey/) ## Related quotes > [We see the man when we look at the monkey; we see the monkey when we look at the man!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-see-the-man-when-we-look-at-the-monkey-we-see-the-monkey-when-we/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Of course there is a monkey. There is always a monkey.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-dorst/of-course-there-is-a-monkey-there-is-always-a-monkey/) [Doug Dorst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-dorst/) > [Everybody saying this, everybody doing that. I ain't never been good at monkey see monkey do... are you?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gee-linder/everybody-saying-this-everybody-doing-that-i-ain-t-never-been-good-at/) [Gee Linder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gee-linder/) > [Monkey see monkey do monkey sees you!!!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mrawesome/monkey-see-monkey-do-monkey-sees-you/) MrAwesome > [Hello," Magnus said to the monkey. The monkey did not reply. "I shall call you Ragnor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/hello-magnus-said-to-the-monkey-the-monkey-did-not-reply-i-shall-call/) [Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/) > [“monkey see, monkey go blow some sh\*t up”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tank-dempsey/monkey-see-monkey-go-blow-some-sh-t-up/) Tank Dempsey > [“I guess you could say I’ve got a monkey on my back. A monkey named Darwin.” He shrugged off the trench coat and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillip-andrew-bennett-low/i-guess-you-could-say-i-ve-got-a-monkey-on-my-back-a-monkey-named/) [Phillip Andrew Bennett Low](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillip-andrew-bennett-low/) > [“I do not make mistakes, little monkey. A monkey I intended you to be. A monkey you are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-luen-yang/i-do-not-make-mistakes-little-monkey-a-monkey-i-intended-you-to-be-a/) [Gene Luen Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-luen-yang/) > [“You're only human. You don't have to have it together every minute of the day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/you-re-only-human-you-don-t-have-to-have-it-together-every-minute-of/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) > [If you don't know when to be a human being, you don't know when to be a witch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/if-you-don-t-know-when-to-be-a-human-being-you-don-t-know-when-to-be/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“You are not a human being if you don't have a curiosity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-tomar/you-are-not-a-human-being-if-you-don-t-have-a-curiosity/) Anurag Tomar > [As is often the case with children, the rule of 'monkey see, monkey do' plays out in the workplace. It's hard to be good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-is-often-the-case-with-children-the-rule-of-monkey-see-monkey-do/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It has been said that when people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate one another. We look to others for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-berger/it-has-been-said-that-when-people-are-free-to-do-as-they-please-they/) [Jonah Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-berger/) > [It is rather an unpleasant fact, that the ugliest and awkwardest of brute animals have the greatest resemblance to man: the monkey and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/it-is-rather-an-unpleasant-fact-that-the-ugliest-and-awkwardest-of/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [A monkey is unaware that atoms exist. Likewise, our brainpower may not stretch to the deepest aspects of reality. The bedrock nature of space…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-rees/a-monkey-is-unaware-that-atoms-exist-likewise-our-brainpower-may-not/) [Martin Rees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-rees/) ## More by Mokokoma Mokhonoana > [“Poor people do not go on holiday; they go home.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/poor-people-do-not-go-on-holiday-they-go-home/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Salesmanship is usually the art of making it the prospect’s problem, the salesperson’s need or desire to earn money.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/salesmanship-is-usually-the-art-of-making-it-the-prospect-s-problem/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Arguments led by subjectivity are a waste of time. And, if they take place online, add to that, a waste of one’s keyboard.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/arguments-led-by-subjectivity-are-a-waste-of-time-and-if-they-take/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A car is one of the most interesting inventions, but driving is one of the most boring activities.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-car-is-one-of-the-most-interesting-inventions-but-driving-is-one-of/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Dating is a man-made ideology: if having a lover was a prerequisite to living, one would either be in a relationship, or, six feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/dating-is-a-man-made-ideology-if-having-a-lover-was-a-prerequisite-to/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Work is a vehicle with which man chases some fleeting destination called a full tummy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/work-is-a-vehicle-with-which-man-chases-some-fleeting-destination/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A phone call should be a convenience to the caller, not an inconvenience to the called.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-phone-call-should-be-a-convenience-to-the-caller-not-an/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Employment is an employee’s kissing of an employer’s ass. A salary is the employer’s pretense to be cleaning his ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/employment-is-an-employee-s-kissing-of-an-employer-s-ass-a-salary-is/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“\*Nothing is free\* asserts two things. Both assertions are true.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/nothing-is-free-asserts-two-things-both-assertions-are-true/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“For their never-ending endeavours to obtain or retain wealth, countries desperately need companies, because they—unlike most human beings—have the means of production, and human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/for-their-never-ending-endeavours-to-obtain-or-retain-wealth/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Some of our friends are our friends only because we used to be friends.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/some-of-our-friends-are-our-friends-only-because-we-used-to-be-friends/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“\*You only get one chance to make a first impression.\* Ah, whatever!!! Who said you get three chances to make the second impression?!!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/you-only-get-one-chance-to-make-a-first-impression-ah-whatever-who/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“A prisoner is imprisoned by the crime that he has committed. A jailer is imprisoned — in the very same prison — by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-prisoner-is-imprisoned-by-the-crime-that-he-has-committed-a-jailer/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Life is deadly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/life-is-deadly/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [“Hypocrisy is when you get mad at a friend for telling their other friend a secret that your other friend told you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/hypocrisy-is-when-you-get-mad-at-a-friend-for-telling-their-other/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) [Explore all 959 Mokokoma Mokhonoana quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) ## More Conformity quotes > [“So many people live within unhappy circumstances and yet will not take the initiative to change their situation because they are conditioned by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-supertramp-chris-mccandless/so-many-people-live-within-unhappy-circumstances-and-yet-will-not/) Alexander Supertramp Chris McCandless > [“All to often, on the long road up, young leaders become servants of what is rather than shapers of what might be.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gardner/all-to-often-on-the-long-road-up-young-leaders-become-servants-of/) [John Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gardner/) > [The Chains of conformity click in tiresomely monotonous unison.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-sweet/the-chains-of-conformity-click-in-tiresomely-monotonous-unison/) [Leonard Sweet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-sweet/) > [No shepherd and one herd! Everybody wants the same, everybody is the same: whoever feels different goes voluntarily into a madhouse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/no-shepherd-and-one-herd-everybody-wants-the-same-everybody-is-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [A self is a frightening thing to waste, it's the lens through which one's whole life is viewed, and few people are willing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/a-self-is-a-frightening-thing-to-waste-it-s-the-lens-through-which/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [Ideation is not a synonym for innovation, conformity is not its simple antonym, and innovation is not the automatic consequence of "creative thinking.".](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-levitt/ideation-is-not-a-synonym-for-innovation-conformity-is-not-its-simple/) [Theodore Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-levitt/) > [“I lead with the knowingness that my reality conforms to my wishes and desires instantly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-s-baker/i-lead-with-the-knowingness-that-my-reality-conforms-to-my-wishes-and/) [Robin S. Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-s-baker/) > [Alas, everything that men say to one another is alike; the ideas they exchange are almost always the same, in their conversation. But inside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-de-musset/alas-everything-that-men-say-to-one-another-is-alike-the-ideas-they/) [Alfred de Musset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-de-musset/) > [The search for truth is a cooperative, unending endeavor. We can, and should, engage in it to the extent we can and encourage others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-search-for-truth-is-a-cooperative-unending-endeavor-we-can-and/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [Seeds have the power to preserve species, to enhance cultural as well as genetic diversity, to counter economic monopoly and to check the advance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-pollan/seeds-have-the-power-to-preserve-species-to-enhance-cultural-as-well/) [Michael Pollan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-pollan/) > [“Brontë was attempting to depict a character that adheres to the unchanging principles of her faith though she refused conformity to the particular practices…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-swallow-prior/bront-was-attempting-to-depict-a-character-that-adheres-to-the/) [Karen Swallow Prior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-swallow-prior/) > [Officers conditioned to conformity in peacetime cannot be expected to behave boldly and flexibly in combat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-yingling/officers-conditioned-to-conformity-in-peacetime-cannot-be-expected-to/) Paul Yingling > [The more civilized a nation, the more conformed its population, until that civilization's last age arrives, when multiplicity wages war with conformity. 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