Apes Quote by Paul Watson
“We're just a conceited naked ape, but in our minds we're some 'divine legend' and we see ourselves as some sort of god, thinking we can decide what will live and what will die, what will be saved and what will be destroyed, but honestly we're just a bunch of primates out of control.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Documentary interview, 2015
Human beings overestimate their moral authority while ignoring their animal nature, leading to reckless control over life and death.
In simple terms: We think we’re godlike but are just uncontrolled primates.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits and act responsibly.
Themes
hubility
environment
ethics
anthropocentrism
Mood
cautious
reflective
Type
philosophical
critical
ethical
When to use this quote
- Policy making
- conservation work
- public education
- technology development
Key Concepts
Existentialism
ecocentrism
hubris
Questions to Reflect On
- How does recognizing our animal nature change our decisions?
- Can humility improve environmental stewardship?
A Different Perspective
Our self‑importance can blind us to ecological consequences.
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
