--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There’s little in the way of common…" description: "\"“There’s little in the way of common ground between us and other animals. Think about dolphins. Cute, cuddly, friendly dolphins. Everyone loves dolphin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/084/peter-cawdron-40149_character_there-s-little-in-the-way-of-common-grou_1664091.jpg" --- # There’s little in the way of common ground between us and… ![“There’s little in the way of common ground between us and other animals. Think about dolphins. Cute, cuddly, friendly dolphins. Everyone loves dolphins, right? They’re the good guys of the ocean. And yet for all we think we know about them, we really don’t understand them at all. Dolphins will…” quote by Peter Cawdron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/084/peter-cawdron-40149_character_there-s-little-in-the-way-of-common-grou_1664091.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/084/peter-cawdron-40149_character_there-s-little-in-the-way-of-common-grou_1664091.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/084/peter-cawdron-40149_character_there-s-little-in-the-way-of-common-grou_1664091.jpg) > ““There’s little in the way of common ground between us and other animals. Think about dolphins. Cute, cuddly, friendly dolphins. Everyone loves dolphins, right? They’re the good guys of the ocean. And yet for all we think we know about them, we really don’t understand them at all. Dolphins will gang-rape females for days on end. Rival males will kill newborns to bring a female back in heat. As playful as they seem in a dolphin show, as intelligent as they appear, they’re not people, and we shouldn’t treat them as such. Our morals, our values simply do not apply to them.”” [Peter Cawdron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cawdron/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that human moral frameworks cannot be applied to animal behavior, using dolphins as an example of misunderstood but morally alien creatures. **In simple terms:** Human morals don’t fit animal behavior. Key Takeaway Recognize species differences, avoid anthropomorphism. Themes ethics animal behavior anthropomorphism Mood thoughtful critical Type ethical philosophical When to use this quote - wildlife research - conservation policy - animal welfare education Key Concepts moral relativism speciesism Questions to Reflect On - Should we develop animal-specific ethics? - How do we balance empathy with scientific objectivity? A Different Perspective Humans often project their values onto animals, which can mislead understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Common ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-ground/) [Good guy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guy/) [Good guys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-guys/) [Whale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/whale/) ## Related quotes > [ “They \[dolphins\] are my least favorite member of the animal kingdom. 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For all we know, whales sing in three act plays—but they can't write them down.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bronwen-wallace/it-s-all-in-the-opposition-of-the-thumbs-for-all-we-know-whales-sing/) Bronwen Wallace > [“Whale oil beef hooked,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/whale-oil-beef-hooked/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [Must whales and dolphins be subjected to deafening noise that will cause more than 3.5 million instances of temporary and/or permanent hearing loss? For…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/must-whales-and-dolphins-be-subjected-to-deafening-noise-that-will/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [I am glad The Worst Journey is coming out in Penguins: after all it is largely about penguins.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apsley-cherry-garrard/i-am-glad-the-worst-journey-is-coming-out-in-penguins-after-all-it-is/) [Apsley Cherry-Garrard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apsley-cherry-garrard/) ## More by Peter Cawdron > [“In Africa, we have a saying,” Alile said. “To get lost is to learn the way.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cawdron/in-africa-we-have-a-saying-alile-said-to-get-lost-is-to-learn-the-way/) [Peter Cawdron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cawdron/) > [“Freedom is the ability to think, the ability to choose. Freedom is the ability to direct, to move your life where you decide, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cawdron/freedom-is-the-ability-to-think-the-ability-to-choose-freedom-is-the/) [Peter Cawdron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cawdron/) > [“With hope and fear as equal possibilities, why not choose the positive?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cawdron/with-hope-and-fear-as-equal-possibilities-why-not-choose-the-positive/) [Peter Cawdron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cawdron/) > [“Your granddad, your grandmother, your mom and dad, your brothers and sisters. There’s nothing more valuable than them. There’s no dollar figure you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-cawdron/your-granddad-your-grandmother-your-mom-and-dad-your-brothers-and/) [Peter Cawdron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-cawdron/) > [“Life should never end that way. Life is too precious. 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