--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Man is still an ape in that he forgets…" description: "\"Man is still an ape in that he forgets what is not ever before his eyes.\" — Robert E. Howard" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/robert-e-howard-3742_apes_man-is-still-an-ape-in-that-he-forgets-w_1746555.jpg" --- # Man is still an ape in that he forgets what is not ever… ![“Man is still an ape in that he forgets what is not ever before his eyes.” quote by Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/robert-e-howard-3742_apes_man-is-still-an-ape-in-that-he-forgets-w_1746555.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/robert-e-howard-3742_apes_man-is-still-an-ape-in-that-he-forgets-w_1746555.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/137/robert-e-howard-3742_apes_man-is-still-an-ape-in-that-he-forgets-w_1746555.jpg) > “Man is still an ape in that he forgets what is not ever before his eyes.” [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans retain primitive instincts, forgetting unseen possibilities and relying on familiar perceptions. **In simple terms:** People often ignore what they cannot see. Key Takeaway Recognize and question blind spots. Themes psychology human nature perception Mood reflective thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - personal growth - decision making - creative problem solving Key Concepts cognitive bias evolutionary instinct Questions to Reflect On - What do you overlook because it’s not obvious? - How can you broaden your perspective? A Different Perspective Awareness alone may not change behavior. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ape Forgets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ape-forgets-1566106/) [Apes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apes/) [Eye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eye/) [Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eyes/) [Forget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forget/) [Forgets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgets/) [Forgets Eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forgets-eyes-1566107/) [His eyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/his-eyes/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) ## Related quotes > [You have the effrontery to be squeamish, it thought at him. But we were dragons. We were supposed to be cruel, cunning, heartless and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/you-have-the-effrontery-to-be-squeamish-it-thought-at-him-but-we-were/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [My characters are more like men than these real men are, see. They're rough and rude, they got hands and they got bellies. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/my-characters-are-more-like-men-than-these-real-men-are-see-they-re/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Break the skin of civilization and you find the ape, roaring and red-handed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/break-the-skin-of-civilization-and-you-find-the-ape-roaring-and-red/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [It was no ape, neither was it a man. It was some shambling horror spawned in the mysterious, nameless jungles of the south, where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/it-was-no-ape-neither-was-it-a-man-it-was-some-shambling-horror/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Cast in the mold of humanity, they were distinctly not men. They were winged and of heroic proportions; not a branch on the mysterious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/cast-in-the-mold-of-humanity-they-were-distinctly-not-men-they-were/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [He who sees without loving is only straining his eyes in the darkness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-maeterlinck/he-who-sees-without-loving-is-only-straining-his-eyes-in-the-darkness/) [Maurice Maeterlinck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-maeterlinck/) > [The unicorn was white, with hoofs of silver and graceful horn of pearl... The glorious thing about him was his eye. There was a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white-2/the-unicorn-was-white-with-hoofs-of-silver-and-graceful-horn-of-pearl/) [T. H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white-2/) > [I wanted to live the inner life of every man I saw, look at the world through his eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleksandr-kuprin/i-wanted-to-live-the-inner-life-of-every-man-i-saw-look-at-the-world/) [Aleksandr Kuprin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleksandr-kuprin/) > [Quit the world, and the world forgets you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-disraeli/quit-the-world-and-the-world-forgets-you/) [Benjamin Disraeli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-disraeli/) > [God forgives,but he never forgets!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/god-forgives-but-he-never-forgets/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [“He captures memories because if he forgets them, it's as though they didn't happen.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/he-captures-memories-because-if-he-forgets-them-it-s-as-though-they/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“The nation which forgets its defenders will itself be forgotten.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/the-nation-which-forgets-its-defenders-will-itself-be-forgotten/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [No actor ever forgets a role, so I should have realized something was wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maureen-reagan/no-actor-ever-forgets-a-role-so-i-should-have-realized-something-was/) [Maureen Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maureen-reagan/) > [My boyfriend does this really cute thing where he forgets to exsist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/unkown/my-boyfriend-does-this-really-cute-thing-where-he-forgets-to-exsist/) [Unkown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/unkown/) > [Flesh forgets. Bone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jefferson-bass/flesh-forgets-bone-remembers/) [Jefferson Bass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jefferson-bass/) ## More by Robert E. Howard > [Don't you think that as a people, Americans have less poetry, real poetry, in their souls than any other nations?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/don-t-you-think-that-as-a-people-americans-have-less-poetry-real/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I became a writer in spite of my environments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-became-a-writer-in-spite-of-my-environments/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Over the souls of men spread the condor wings of colossal monsters and all manner of evil things prey upon the heart and soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/over-the-souls-of-men-spread-the-condor-wings-of-colossal-monsters/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no life in the Abyss, save that which was incorporated in me," it tolled. "Nor was there light, nor motion, nor any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-life-in-the-abyss-save-that-which-was-incorporated-in-me/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“That's the way with civilized men. When they can't explain something by their half-baked science, they refuse to believe it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/that-s-the-way-with-civilized-men-when-they-can-t-explain-something/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I live, I burn with life, I love, I slay, & am content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-live-i-burn-with-life-i-love-i-slay-am-content/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Coming, as I do, from mountain folk on one side and sea followers on the other, there are few old songs of the hills…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/coming-as-i-do-from-mountain-folk-on-one-side-and-sea-followers-on/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“A true fanatic, his promptings were reasons enough for his actions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/a-true-fanatic-his-promptings-were-reasons-enough-for-his-actions/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I have put off the past like a worn-out cloak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-have-put-off-the-past-like-a-worn-out-cloak/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Again the governor knelt, for part of his wisdom was the knowledge that a woman in such an emotional tempest is as perilous as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/again-the-governor-knelt-for-part-of-his-wisdom-was-the-knowledge/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“When you allow the elevation of a man, one can be sure that you'll profit by his advancement. I've earned everything I've won, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/when-you-allow-the-elevation-of-a-man-one-can-be-sure-that-you-ll/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [I never saw a man fight as Conan fought. He put his back to the courtyard wall, and before they overpowered him the dead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/i-never-saw-a-man-fight-as-conan-fought-he-put-his-back-to-the/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“There was no explaining this thing, but it was so. he was on Xapur, and that fantastic heap of towering masonry was on Xapur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/there-was-no-explaining-this-thing-but-it-was-so-he-was-on-xapur-and/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [“Gleaming shell of an outworn lie; fable of Right divine— You gained your crowns by heritage, but Blood was the price of mine. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/gleaming-shell-of-an-outworn-lie-fable-of-right-divine-you-gained/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) > [Civilization is a natural and inevitable consequence - whether good or evil I am not prepared to state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-howard/civilization-is-a-natural-and-inevitable-consequence-whether-good-or/) [Robert E. Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) [Explore all 123 Robert E. Howard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-howard/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "Man is still an ape in that he forgets what is not ever before his eyes.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert E. 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