--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I have observed that almost all those…" description: "\"I have observed that almost all those whose labour lies in the field, and who go down to their business in the green meadows, admit the animal world to..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/richard-jefferies-13649_animal_i-have-observed-that-almost-all-those-wh_3173890.jpg" --- # I have observed that almost all those whose labour lies in… ![“I have observed that almost all those whose labour lies in the field, and who go down to their business in the green meadows, admit the animal world to a share in the faculty of reason. It is the cabinet makers who construct a universe of automatons.” quote by Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/richard-jefferies-13649_animal_i-have-observed-that-almost-all-those-wh_3173890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/richard-jefferies-13649_animal_i-have-observed-that-almost-all-those-wh_3173890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/48a/richard-jefferies-13649_animal_i-have-observed-that-almost-all-those-wh_3173890.jpg) > “I have observed that almost all those whose labour lies in the field, and who go down to their business in the green meadows, admit the animal world to a share in the faculty of reason. It is the cabinet makers who construct a universe of automatons.” [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans recognize that even simple creatures display signs of reasoning, while humans build complex systems that mimic life. **In simple terms:** Animals seem rational; humans create machines. Key Takeaway Acknowledge animal cognition and be cautious of over‑mechanizing life. Themes nature reason technology anthropomorphism Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - farming - wildlife observation - AI development - education Key Concepts cognitive ethology philosophy of mind automation Questions to Reflect On - Do we over‑attribute intelligence to machines? - How does recognizing animal reasoning affect our ethics? A Different Perspective Human-made systems may oversimplify true understanding. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-world/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Equality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/equality/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Lying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lying/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Universe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/universe/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [ What does Reverence for Life say abut the relations between \[humanity\] and the animal world? Whenever I injury any kind of life I must… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/what-does-reverence-for-life-say-abut-the-relations-between-humanity/) [Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/) > [Without risk, we are automatons going through our days with no purpose or meaning. We are safer, perhaps, but we are also, ironically, closer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-strohmeyer/without-risk-we-are-automatons-going-through-our-days-with-no-purpose/) [Sarah Strohmeyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-strohmeyer/) > [What are we promoting in society? Well-behaved automatons that spew back what they learned in a book. That's not science. You can get a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/what-are-we-promoting-in-society-well-behaved-automatons-that-spew/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“We’re automatons in a symphony conducted by a lunatic and performed by blind idealists.” Damon”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleni-papanou/we-re-automatons-in-a-symphony-conducted-by-a-lunatic-and-performed/) [Eleni Papanou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleni-papanou/) > [The illusion of self-awareness. Happy automatons, running on trivial programs. I'll bet you never guess. 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Elsewhere, millions of other human beings are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-c-coates/so-then-man-tortures-and-kills-millions-more-animals-to-look-for/) David C. Coates > [Despite one or two minority appeals our society is not outraged at man's unremitting use of the animal world. Ecologists and environmentalists may talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-linzey/despite-one-or-two-minority-appeals-our-society-is-not-outraged-at/) [Andrew Linzey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-linzey/) > [I hold flesh-food to be unsuited to our species. We err in copying the lower animal world if we are superior to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-hold-flesh-food-to-be-unsuited-to-our-species-we-err-in-copying-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) ## More by Richard Jefferies > [To the soul, there is no past and no future; all is, and will be ever, in now. For artificial purposes time is mutually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/to-the-soul-there-is-no-past-and-no-future-all-is-and-will-be-ever-in/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [A man, to read, must read alone. He may make extracts, he may work at books in company; but to read, to absorb, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/a-man-to-read-must-read-alone-he-may-make-extracts-he-may-work-at/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Grief falls upon human beings as the rain, not selecting good or evil, visiting the innocent, condemning those who have done no wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/grief-falls-upon-human-beings-as-the-rain-not-selecting-good-or-evil/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Ever since the world began, it has been the belief of mankind that desolate places are the special haunt of supernatural beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/ever-since-the-world-began-it-has-been-the-belief-of-mankind-that/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Now is eternity; now is the immortal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/now-is-eternity-now-is-the-immortal-life/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [The labourer's muscle is that of a cart-horse, his motions lumbering and slow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/the-labourer-s-muscle-is-that-of-a-cart-horse-his-motions-lumbering/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [When even the most strictly logical mind looks round and investigates the phenomena attending its own existence, perhaps the first fact to attract attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/when-even-the-most-strictly-logical-mind-looks-round-and-investigates/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [It is quite true that women like courage, and that boldness often goes a long way; but it is questionable whether with high-bred natures…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/it-is-quite-true-that-women-like-courage-and-that-boldness-often-goes/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [It would seem that the ant works its way tentatively, and, observing where it fails, tries another place and succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/it-would-seem-that-the-ant-works-its-way-tentatively-and-observing/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [The impression left after watching the motions of birds is that of extreme mobility - a life of perpetual impulse checked only by fear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/the-impression-left-after-watching-the-motions-of-birds-is-that-of/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [The 'crownd' is still the unit, the favourite coin of the labourers, especially the elder folk. They use the word something in the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/the-crownd-is-still-the-unit-the-favourite-coin-of-the-labourers/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [I desire a greatness of soul, an irradiance of mind, a deeper insight, a broader hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/i-desire-a-greatness-of-soul-an-irradiance-of-mind-a-deeper-insight-a/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [The lover of nature has the highest art in his soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/the-lover-of-nature-has-the-highest-art-in-his-soul/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [Give me power of soul, so that I may actually effect by its will that which I strive for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/give-me-power-of-soul-so-that-i-may-actually-effect-by-its-will-that/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) > [It is injurious to the mind as well as to the body to be always in one place and always surrounded by the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-jefferies/it-is-injurious-to-the-mind-as-well-as-to-the-body-to-be-always-in/) [Richard Jefferies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) [Explore all 49 Richard Jefferies quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-jefferies/) ## More Animal quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) Mak\_786 > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I have observed that almost all those whose labour lies in the field, and who go down to their business in the green meadows, admit the animal world to a share in the faculty of reason. 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