--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I reject the idea that humans are…" description: "\"I reject the idea that humans are superior to other life forms. . . Man is just an ape with an overly developed sense of superiority.\" — Paul Watson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58b/paul-watson-1855_apes_i-reject-the-idea-that-humans-are-superi_1605163.jpg" --- # I reject the idea that humans are superior to other life… ![“I reject the idea that humans are superior to other life forms. . . Man is just an ape with an overly developed sense of superiority.” quote by Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58b/paul-watson-1855_apes_i-reject-the-idea-that-humans-are-superi_1605163.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58b/paul-watson-1855_apes_i-reject-the-idea-that-humans-are-superi_1605163.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/58b/paul-watson-1855_apes_i-reject-the-idea-that-humans-are-superi_1605163.jpg) > “I reject the idea that humans are superior to other life forms. . . Man is just an ape with an overly developed sense of superiority.” [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans are not inherently superior; all life shares intrinsic value. **In simple terms:** Humans aren't the top species. Key Takeaway Respect all living beings. Themes environmental ethics humility species equality Mood thoughtful concerned Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - conservation work - animal rights activism - ethical consumption - education - policy advocacy Key Concepts anthropocentrism intrinsic value ecocentrism Questions to Reflect On - How does recognizing equality change your daily choices? - What responsibilities arise from this view? A Different Perspective Humans often prioritize self-interest over other species. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideas/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) ## Related quotes > [“Throughout this book we have repeatedly asked what makes humans superior to other animals. Dataism has a new and simple answer. In themselves, human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/throughout-this-book-we-have-repeatedly-asked-what-makes-humans/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [Even the most abject have a sense of superiority based on powerful though undefined merits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mason-cooley/even-the-most-abject-have-a-sense-of-superiority-based-on-powerful/) [Mason Cooley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mason-cooley/) > [If you want to enter into a state of pure connection with your child, you can achieve this by setting aside any sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-tsabary/if-you-want-to-enter-into-a-state-of-pure-connection-with-your-child/) [Shefali Tsabary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-tsabary/) > [I did not read from a sense of superiority, or advancement, or even learning. I read because I loved it more than any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-did-not-read-from-a-sense-of-superiority-or-advancement-or-even/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“can take his inflated sense of superiority and shove it up his ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-godwin/can-take-his-inflated-sense-of-superiority-and-shove-it-up-his-ass/) [Pam Godwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-godwin/) > [“to enter into a state of pure connection with your child, you can achieve this by setting aside any sense of superiority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shefali-tsabary/to-enter-into-a-state-of-pure-connection-with-your-child-you-can/) [Shefali Tsabary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shefali-tsabary/) > [That's right... I never felt a sense of superiority because I could see spirits. And I never once thought that I could make a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tite-kubo/that-s-right-i-never-felt-a-sense-of-superiority-because-i-could-see/) [Tite Kubo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tite-kubo/) > [Be kind; you're only here for a while. No sense of superiority, just do things for others. It's really fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/be-kind-you-re-only-here-for-a-while-no-sense-of-superiority-just-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [What a sense of superiority it gives one to escape reading some book which everyone else is reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-james/what-a-sense-of-superiority-it-gives-one-to-escape-reading-some-book/) [Alice James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-james/) > [Being six feet off the ground does give one a sense of superiority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-whalen-turner/being-six-feet-off-the-ground-does-give-one-a-sense-of-superiority/) [Megan Whalen Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-whalen-turner/) > [Because I've never had any higher education of any sort, I've never held in awe those who have had it or have a sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-corbyn/because-i-ve-never-had-any-higher-education-of-any-sort-i-ve-never/) [Jeremy Corbyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-corbyn/) > [“Clever people are entertaining and stupid ones give me such a pleasant sense of superiority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gwen-bristow/clever-people-are-entertaining-and-stupid-ones-give-me-such-a/) [Gwen Bristow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gwen-bristow/) > [The modern age has a false sense of superiority, because of the great mass of data at its disposal. But the valid criterion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-modern-age-has-a-false-sense-of-superiority-because-of-the-great/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“Selfishness may result in one's sense of superiority, but life as such will surely deny them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eraldo-banovac/selfishness-may-result-in-one-s-sense-of-superiority-but-life-as-such/) [Eraldo Banovac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eraldo-banovac/) > [What sense of superiority it gives one to escape reading some book which every one else is reading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-james/what-sense-of-superiority-it-gives-one-to-escape-reading-some-book/) [Alice James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-james/) ## More by Paul Watson > [Social change comes through people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/social-change-comes-through-people/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [Sea Shepherd is to terrorism what Groucho was to Marxism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/sea-shepherd-is-to-terrorism-what-groucho-was-to-marxism/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [You don't get anywhere unless you've had a little bit of a complicated life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/you-don-t-get-anywhere-unless-you-ve-had-a-little-bit-of-a/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [Here's the thing: Nobody gets extradited for a crime where nobody's been hurt, where no property's been damaged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/here-s-the-thing-nobody-gets-extradited-for-a-crime-where-nobody-s/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [The shark is the apex predator in the sea. Sharks have molded evolution for 450 million years. All fish species that are prey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/the-shark-is-the-apex-predator-in-the-sea-sharks-have-molded/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [We are literally eating the oceans alive and there are simply not enough fish to continue to feed an ever expanding population of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/we-are-literally-eating-the-oceans-alive-and-there-are-simply-not/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [I want to stay in the ocean. I'm not going to be able to do that from some holding cell in Japan.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/i-want-to-stay-in-the-ocean-i-m-not-going-to-be-able-to-do-that-from/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [It is true that many of the Sea Shepherd crewmembers are inexperienced, but the fact is that these volunteers bring a passion to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/it-is-true-that-many-of-the-sea-shepherd-crewmembers-are/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [We have intelligent species on our planet that we are not even trying to communicate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/we-have-intelligent-species-on-our-planet-that-we-are-not-even-trying/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [I don't think you really have to retire from what you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/i-don-t-think-you-really-have-to-retire-from-what-you-do/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [If you want to know where you would have stood on slavery before the Civil War, don’t look at where you stand on slavery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/if-you-want-to-know-where-you-would-have-stood-on-slavery-before-the/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [People sometimes feel frustrated about what's going on in our oceans and environment, and 'Whale Wars' shows that ordinary people can take action and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/people-sometimes-feel-frustrated-about-what-s-going-on-in-our-oceans/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [The only language that the Japanese whaling industry understands is economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/the-only-language-that-the-japanese-whaling-industry-understands-is/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [I'm not pessimistic about anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/i-m-not-pessimistic-about-anything/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) > [I don't eat fish because there is no such thing as sustainable fishing in the world right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-watson/i-don-t-eat-fish-because-there-is-no-such-thing-as-sustainable/) [Paul Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) [Explore all 203 Paul Watson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-watson/) ## More Apes quotes > [Television's perfect. You turn a few knobs, a few of those mechanical adjustments at which the higher apes are so proficient, and lean back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/television-s-perfect-you-turn-a-few-knobs-a-few-of-those-mechanical/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [As nature made every man with a nose and eyes of his own, she gave him a character of his own, too; and yet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-makepeace-thackeray/as-nature-made-every-man-with-a-nose-and-eyes-of-his-own-she-gave-him/) [William Makepeace Thackeray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-makepeace-thackeray/) > [And the Devil did grin, for his darling sin is pride that apes humility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-taylor-coleridge/and-the-devil-did-grin-for-his-darling-sin-is-pride-that-apes-humility/) [Samuel Taylor Coleridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-taylor-coleridge/) > [Battle For The Planet Of The Apes', was just a film for kids and didn't have any deep meaning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-lee-thompson/battle-for-the-planet-of-the-apes-was-just-a-film-for-kids-and-didn-t/) J. Lee Thompson > [Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-adams/far-out-in-the-uncharted-backwaters-of-the-unfashionable-end-of-the/) [Douglas Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-adams/) > [“Civilization is only a pretense; in the crisis, we become mere apes again, forgetting the rational biped of our pretensions and becoming instead the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orson-scott-card/civilization-is-only-a-pretense-in-the-crisis-we-become-mere-apes/) [Orson Scott Card](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orson-scott-card/) > [The idea that war should be conducted within a moral framework may seem like a quaint medieval practice, but as speech separates humans from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-idea-that-war-should-be-conducted-within-a-moral-framework-may/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/is-man-an-ape-or-an-angel-now-i-am-on-the-side-of-the-angels/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [Mass ought to be in Latin, unless you could do it in Greek or Chinese. In fact, any abracadabra that no bloody member of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-pound/mass-ought-to-be-in-latin-unless-you-could-do-it-in-greek-or-chinese/) [Ezra Pound](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-pound/) > [I think the problem we have as apes is we're asking far bigger questions than we could possibly process.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-brooker/i-think-the-problem-we-have-as-apes-is-we-re-asking-far-bigger/) [Charlie Brooker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-brooker/) > [We admit that we are like apes, but we seldom realise that we are apes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-admit-that-we-are-like-apes-but-we-seldom-realise-that-we-are-apes/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [Lower your gaze because you become less of a human every time you stare at a woman and you stare at her like she's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nouman-ali-khan/lower-your-gaze-because-you-become-less-of-a-human-every-time-you/) [Nouman Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nouman-ali-khan/) > [It was their individuality combined with the shyness of their behavior that remained the most captivating impression of this first encounter with the greatest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dian-fossey/it-was-their-individuality-combined-with-the-shyness-of-their/) [Dian Fossey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dian-fossey/) > [Apes had it worked out. No ape would philosophize, "The mountain is, and is not." They would think, "The banana is. I will eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/apes-had-it-worked-out-no-ape-would-philosophize-the-mountain-is-and/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) [Browse all 444 Apes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I reject the idea that humans are superior to other life forms. . . 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