Chimpanzee Quote by Phillip Andrew Bennett Low
““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 she was, clinging tightly to his shoulders. The hunch on his back wasn’t a hunch at all, but as fine a specimen of a female chimpanzee as I’m ever likely to see.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: Unspecified, contemporary fiction
The narrator likens his burden to a monkey named Darwin, symbolizing evolutionary pressure and personal weight.
In simple terms: A personal burden is compared to a monkey named Darwin.
Key Takeaway
Identify and confront personal burdens.
Themes
burden
evolution
self‑reflection
Mood
thoughtful
introspective
Type
metaphorical
literary
When to use this quote
- personal struggle
- creative writing
- self‑analysis
Key Concepts
symbolism
psychology
identity
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the “monkey” represent for you?
- How does evolution relate to personal challenges?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure rather than clarify the issue.
![“Once I saw a chimpanzee gaze at a particularly beautiful sunset for a full 15 minutes, watching the changing colors [and then] retire to the forest without picking a pawpaw for supper.” quote by Adriaan Kortlandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/cb1/adriaan-kortlandt-216467_animal_once-i-saw-a-chimpanzee-gaze-at-a-partic_1292918.jpg)
