--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We take these animals and completely…" description: "\"We take these animals and completely violate who they are. We use them, abuse them, and deprive them all their lives…then we cut their throats, shred t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/river-phoenix-11883_abuse_we-take-these-animals-and-completely-vio_3122264.jpg" --- # We take these animals and completely violate who they are… ![“We take these animals and completely violate who they are. We use them, abuse them, and deprive them all their lives…then we cut their throats, shred them and eat them! Morally, I’m against it, ethically, I can’t justify it, and ecologically, it’s just insane. The thought of meat-eating makes me…” quote by River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/river-phoenix-11883_abuse_we-take-these-animals-and-completely-vio_3122264.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/river-phoenix-11883_abuse_we-take-these-animals-and-completely-vio_3122264.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bde/river-phoenix-11883_abuse_we-take-these-animals-and-completely-vio_3122264.jpg) > “We take these animals and completely violate who they are. We use them, abuse them, and deprive them all their lives…then we cut their throats, shred them and eat them! Morally, I’m against it, ethically, I can’t justify it, and ecologically, it’s just insane. The thought of meat-eating makes me shudder. As far as wearing fur is concerned, it is the rudest, most inconsiderate, selfish and sick façade I can imagine.” [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He condemns animal exploitation for food, fur, and entertainment, calling it immoral, unethical, and ecologically destructive. **In simple terms:** Opposes using animals for human purposes. Key Takeaway Advocate for animal rights and ethical consumption. Themes animal rights ethics environment vegetarianism animal welfare Mood passionate urgent Type advocacy ethical When to use this quote - dietary choices - fashion industry - policy advocacy - public awareness campaigns Key Concepts moral philosophy ecological impact activism Questions to Reflect On - What steps can individuals take to reduce animal exploitation? - How can societies shift cultural norms around animal use? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched habits is challenging. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abuse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Meat eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meat-eating/) ## Related quotes > [We eat animals because they taste good. And if that's O.K., what's wrong with wearing fur? We need as a society to think seriously…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/we-eat-animals-because-they-taste-good-and-if-that-s-o-k-what-s-wrong/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) > [When I see someone wearing fur, I just want to sit them down in front of one of PETA's videos and show them just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-howard/when-i-see-someone-wearing-fur-i-just-want-to-sit-them-down-in-front/) [Tim Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-howard/) > [When I see a person wearing a fur coat, I see not only the coat but the animals who were cruelly abused, killed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/when-i-see-a-person-wearing-a-fur-coat-i-see-not-only-the-coat-but/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [I've always been an animal lover. People should be made aware of all the issues. Some people think that the whole wearing-fur thing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-frost/i-ve-always-been-an-animal-lover-people-should-be-made-aware-of-all/) [Sadie Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-frost/) > [The pleasure of jogging and running is rather like that of wearing a fur coat in Texas in August: the true joy comes in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-epstein/the-pleasure-of-jogging-and-running-is-rather-like-that-of-wearing-a/) [Joseph Epstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-epstein/) > [It's terrible because people see stars like JLo and Beyoncé wearing fur and they don't think about the cruelty that goes into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-anderson/it-s-terrible-because-people-see-stars-like-jlo-and-beyonc-wearing/) [Pamela Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-anderson/) > [I'm wearing fur pajamas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talking-heads/i-m-wearing-fur-pajamas/) [Talking Heads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talking-heads/) > [“And they would laugh at me. The dress was all sticking out around me and it was dark green with a pattern of animals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irmgard-keun/and-they-would-laugh-at-me-the-dress-was-all-sticking-out-around-me/) [Irmgard Keun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irmgard-keun/) > [It is true that every being is enjoying life or suffering as a direct result of his or her own past actions. The animals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/it-is-true-that-every-being-is-enjoying-life-or-suffering-as-a-direct/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) > [The hardest part of returning to a truly healthy environment may be changing the current totally unsustainable heavy-meat-eating culture of increasing numbers of people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/the-hardest-part-of-returning-to-a-truly-healthy-environment-may-be/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“Michael Pollan likens consumer choices to pulling single threads out of a garment. We pull a thread from the garment when we refuse to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/michael-pollan-likens-consumer-choices-to-pulling-single-threads-out/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“Twenty years ago, the vast majority of persons, as we then wrote, had never tasted a really new-laid egg, and did not know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-wright/twenty-years-ago-the-vast-majority-of-persons-as-we-then-wrote-had/) Lewis Wright > [Food conditions the nature of the mind. Mind guides the thinking. Thinking results in action. Actions lead to commensurate or matching results and effects.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sathya-sai-baba/food-conditions-the-nature-of-the-mind-mind-guides-the-thinking/) [Sathya Sai Baba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sathya-sai-baba/) > [Meat-eating is condemned by the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Sravakas; if one devours meat out of shamelessness he will always be devoid of sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/meat-eating-is-condemned-by-the-buddhas-bodhisattvas-and-sravakas-if/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [Human overconsumption is a greater problem than human population growth, and meat eating is a big part of that problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-gannon/human-overconsumption-is-a-greater-problem-than-human-population/) [Sharon Gannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-gannon/) ## More by River Phoenix > [I've always felt somewhat out of place with other kids my own age", said River. "I was constantly reminded by people's reaction to our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-ve-always-felt-somewhat-out-of-place-with-other-kids-my-own-age/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [Although I can't stop all cruelty to living creatures on the planet, I can be kinder to every living creature in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/although-i-can-t-stop-all-cruelty-to-living-creatures-on-the-planet-i/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [It's a great feeling to think that I can be a friend to so many people through my movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/it-s-a-great-feeling-to-think-that-i-can-be-a-friend-to-so-many/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I really like acting because you can create a character. You can make someone who has never existed before. That's neat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-really-like-acting-because-you-can-create-a-character-you-can-make/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I wouldn't eat a hamburger for 40,000 dollars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-wouldn-t-eat-a-hamburger-for-40-000-dollars/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [Sometimes I wish I wasn't as conscious as I am. It would be so much easier.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/sometimes-i-wish-i-wasn-t-as-conscious-as-i-am-it-would-be-so-much/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I'm a minor, stupid talent compared to my brother (Joaquin).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-m-a-minor-stupid-talent-compared-to-my-brother-joaquin/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I don't want to get into the habit of thinking about my career because when it comes down to it, it's not that important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-don-t-want-to-get-into-the-habit-of-thinking-about-my-career/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [Vegetarianism is a link to perfection and peace. But it's a small link. There are lots of other issues: apartheid , vivisection, political prisoners,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/vegetarianism-is-a-link-to-perfection-and-peace-but-it-s-a-small-link/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I feel that there are great minds up there who would like to see what I can do with an Oscar nomination. I guess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-feel-that-there-are-great-minds-up-there-who-would-like-to-see-what/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [Rich kids gave us their old clothes. They were the best clothes we ever had. We were these very pure, naive, poor children. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/rich-kids-gave-us-their-old-clothes-they-were-the-best-clothes-we/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [We were constantly moving to different countries and adjusting to new things. It was such a free feeling. I'm glad I didn't have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/we-were-constantly-moving-to-different-countries-and-adjusting-to-new/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I'd like to play every type of character, but only once. I like to expierence things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-d-like-to-play-every-type-of-character-but-only-once-i-like-to/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I sometimes lie, especially about personal things, because what does it matter? I am a kind of minute commodity. My name is no longer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-sometimes-lie-especially-about-personal-things-because-what-does-it/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) > [I did my best work in The Mosquito Coast. I know it wasn't such a big hit, but for me it was more meaningful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/river-phoenix/i-did-my-best-work-in-the-mosquito-coast-i-know-it-wasn-t-such-a-big/) [River Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) [Explore all 57 River Phoenix quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/river-phoenix/) ## More Abuse quotes > [I wrote when I was a young teen, but I didn't put an eye on the available markets until I was seventeen. The next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reed/i-wrote-when-i-was-a-young-teen-but-i-didn-t-put-an-eye-on-the/) [Robert Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reed/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Being nice is okay,but don't allow anybody to abuse it...try to fight for your self when you know your on the right way...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-nice-is-okay-but-don-t-allow-anybody-to-abuse-it-try-to-fight/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Build a bridge over shame by teaching kids about sexual abuse. Give them a chance to run to us should they encounter it. Be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carolyn-byers-ruch/build-a-bridge-over-shame-by-teaching-kids-about-sexual-abuse-give/) [Carolyn Byers Ruch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carolyn-byers-ruch/) > [It is sure that those are most desirous of honour or glory who cry out loudest of its abuse and the vanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baruch-spinoza/it-is-sure-that-those-are-most-desirous-of-honour-or-glory-who-cry/) [Baruch Spinoza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baruch-spinoza/) > [“The sole reason I stand to open it up now is that lots of people who are in pain just like I was, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-dsouza/the-sole-reason-i-stand-to-open-it-up-now-is-that-lots-of-people-who/) [Patricia Dsouza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-dsouza/) > [Democracy must be built through open societies that share information. When there is information, there is enlightenment. When there is debate, there are solutions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/atifete-jahjaga/democracy-must-be-built-through-open-societies-that-share-information/) [Atifete Jahjaga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/atifete-jahjaga/) > [I have a theory that all abuse, no matter what kind of abuse it is, is foremost an assault on the mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tara-westover/i-have-a-theory-that-all-abuse-no-matter-what-kind-of-abuse-it-is-is/) [Tara Westover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tara-westover/) > [“Blaming therapy, social work and other caring professions for the confabulation of testimony of 'satanic ritual abuse' legitimated a programme of political and social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/blaming-therapy-social-work-and-other-caring-professions-for-the/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [Finally, the scariest thing about abuse of any shape or form, is, in my opinion, not the abuse itself, but that if it continues…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-cumming/finally-the-scariest-thing-about-abuse-of-any-shape-or-form-is-in-my/) [Alan Cumming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-cumming/) > [“Research on organised abuse emphasises the diversity of organised abuse cases, and the ways in which serious forms of child maltreatment cluster in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-salter/research-on-organised-abuse-emphasises-the-diversity-of-organised/) [Michael Salter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-salter/) > [“Stand up for yourself. Never give any one permission to abuse you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/stand-up-for-yourself-never-give-any-one-permission-to-abuse-you/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [All governments should be pressured to correct their abuses of human rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-stallman/all-governments-should-be-pressured-to-correct-their-abuses-of-human/) [Richard Stallman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-stallman/) > [“Words are free. It does not mean you should abuse them. Be kind with them. They will mirror your actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hadinet-tekie/words-are-free-it-does-not-mean-you-should-abuse-them-be-kind-with/) [Hadinet Tekie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hadinet-tekie/) > [My illness is one often characterized by dramatic overspending - in my case through frenzied shopping sprees, credit card abuse, excessive hoarding of unnecessary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-behrman/my-illness-is-one-often-characterized-by-dramatic-overspending-in-my/) [Andy Behrman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-behrman/) [Browse all 3,113 Abuse quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abuse/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "We take these animals and completely violate who they are. We use them, abuse them, and deprive them all their lives…then we cut their throats, shred them and eat them! Morally, I’m against it, ethically, I can’t justify it, and ecologically, it’s just insane. 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