--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We know that there are many animals on…" description: "\"“We know that there are many animals on this continent not found in the Old World. These must have been carried from here to the ark, and then brought ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_absurdity_we-know-that-there-are-many-animals-on-t_2514984.jpg" --- # We know that there are many animals on this continent not… ![“We know that there are many animals on this continent not found in the Old World. These must have been carried from here to the ark, and then brought back afterwards. Were the peccary, armadillo, ant-eater, sloth, agouti, vampire-bat, marmoset, howling and prehensile-tailed monkey, the raccoon and…” quote by Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_absurdity_we-know-that-there-are-many-animals-on-t_2514984.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_absurdity_we-know-that-there-are-many-animals-on-t_2514984.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a59/robert-g-ingersoll-4527_absurdity_we-know-that-there-are-many-animals-on-t_2514984.jpg) > ““We know that there are many animals on this continent not found in the Old World. These must have been carried from here to the ark, and then brought back afterwards. Were the peccary, armadillo, ant-eater, sloth, agouti, vampire-bat, marmoset, howling and prehensile-tailed monkey, the raccoon and muskrat carried by the angels from America to Asia? How did they get there? Did the polar bear leave his field of ice and journey toward the tropics? How did he know where the ark was? Did the kangaroo swim or jump from Australia to Asia? Did the giraffe, hippopotamus, antelope and orang-outang journey from Africa in search of the ark? Can absurdities go farther than this?”” [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He questions how animals crossed continents, using absurdity to challenge literal interpretations of religious stories. **In simple terms:** Question animal origins and reject literal ark myths. Key Takeaway Seek scientific explanations over myth. Themes science myth animal migration critical thinking history Mood inquisitive skeptical analytical Type educational critical When to use this quote - education - debate - public lecture - writing Key Concepts Biogeography skepticism religious critique Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports animal migration? - How do myths shape our view of nature? A Different Perspective Literal interpretations ignore evidence. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Absurdity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Angels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/angels/) [Antelope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antelope/) [Ark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ark/) [Asia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asia/) [Australia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/australia/) [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Fable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fable/) [Fantasy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fantasy/) [Flood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flood/) [Funny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny/) [Hippopotamus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hippopotamus/) [Humor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humor/) [Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ice/) [Journey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journey/) [Kangaroo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kangaroo/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Myth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myth/) [Noah 's ark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/noah-s-ark/) [Old world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/old-world/) [Polar Bear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polar-bear/) [Sloth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sloth/) [Tropics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tropics/) ## Related quotes > [“When I speak of God, I mean that god who prevented man from putting forth his hand and taking also of the fruit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/when-i-speak-of-god-i-mean-that-god-who-prevented-man-from-putting/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [My mother on her death bed told me, 'Where the hell did that kangaroo come from!?' - it just popped out of nowhere and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-mochrie/my-mother-on-her-death-bed-told-me-where-the-hell-did-that-kangaroo/) [Colin Mochrie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-mochrie/) > [America, you have it better than our continent, the old one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/america-you-have-it-better-than-our-continent-the-old-one/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Ah Come on! I can't believe, The drama that I'm in, The flood is getting closer, I don't think they know that I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/escape-the-fate/ah-come-on-i-can-t-believe-the-drama-that-i-m-in-the-flood-is-getting/) [Escape The Fate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/escape-the-fate/) ## More by Robert G. Ingersoll > [“So, I think that when we become civilized, great corporations will make provision for men who have given their lives to their service. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/so-i-think-that-when-we-become-civilized-great-corporations-will-make/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“With every drop of my blood I hate and execrate every form of tyranny, every form of slavery. I hate dictation. I love liberty.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/with-every-drop-of-my-blood-i-hate-and-execrate-every-form-of-tyranny/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“I have heard them preach, when I sat in the pew and my feet did not touch the floor, about the final home of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/i-have-heard-them-preach-when-i-sat-in-the-pew-and-my-feet-did-not/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“When you go home you ought to go like a ray of light—so that it will, even in the night, burst out of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/when-you-go-home-you-ought-to-go-like-a-ray-of-light-so-that-it-will/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Notwithstanding the fact that infidels in all ages have battled for the rights of man, and have at all times been the fearless advocates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/notwithstanding-the-fact-that-infidels-in-all-ages-have-battled-for/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Jonathan Edwards, the dear old soul, who, if his doctrine is true, is now in heaven rubbing his holy hands with glee, as he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/jonathan-edwards-the-dear-old-soul-who-if-his-doctrine-is-true-is-now/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [ “He \[Alexander von Humboldt\] was to science what Shakespeare was to the drama.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/he-alexander-von-humboldt-was-to-science-what-shakespeare-was-to-the/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“From my childhood I had heard read, and read the Bible myself. Morning and evening the sacred volume was opened and prayers were said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/from-my-childhood-i-had-heard-read-and-read-the-bible-myself-morning/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Suppose after all that death does end all. Next to eternal joy, next to being forever with those we love and those who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/suppose-after-all-that-death-does-end-all-next-to-eternal-joy-next-to/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Strike, with hand of fire, O weird musician, thy harp strung with Apollo's golden hair; fill the vast cathedral aisles with symphonies sweet and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/strike-with-hand-of-fire-o-weird-musician-thy-harp-strung-with-apollo/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“The doctrine that future happiness depends upon belief is monstrous. It is the infamy of infamies. The notion that faith in Christ is to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/the-doctrine-that-future-happiness-depends-upon-belief-is-monstrous/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“The liberty of man is not safe in the hands of any church. Wherever the Bible and sword are in partnership, man is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/the-liberty-of-man-is-not-safe-in-the-hands-of-any-church-wherever/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“I do not see how it is possible for a man to die worth fifty million of dollars, or ten million of dollars, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/i-do-not-see-how-it-is-possible-for-a-man-to-die-worth-fifty-million/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“Christians must show that misery fits the good for heaven, while happiness prepares the bad for hell; that the wicked get all their good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/christians-must-show-that-misery-fits-the-good-for-heaven-while/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“If the Pentateuch is inspired, the civilization of of our day is a mistake and crime. There should be no political liberty. Heresy should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/if-the-pentateuch-is-inspired-the-civilization-of-of-our-day-is-a/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) [Explore all 109 Robert G. Ingersoll quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) ## More Absurdity quotes > [Even though you can't expect to defeat the absurdity of the world, you must make that attempt. That's morality, that's religion. That's art. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-ochs/even-though-you-can-t-expect-to-defeat-the-absurdity-of-the-world-you/) [Phil Ochs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-ochs/) > [The inner defenses are unconscious. They consist of a kind of magic aura which the mind builds around cherished belief. Arguments which penetrate into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/the-inner-defenses-are-unconscious-they-consist-of-a-kind-of-magic/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [For it is an absurdity to call a country civilized in which a decent and industrious man, laboriously mastering a trade which is valuble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/for-it-is-an-absurdity-to-call-a-country-civilized-in-which-a-decent/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [One would think that a system loaded with such gross and vulgar absurdities as Scripture religion is could never have obtained credit; yet we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/one-would-think-that-a-system-loaded-with-such-gross-and-vulgar/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Such squeamish youths as cannot bear to be connected with a little absurdity are not worth a regret.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-austen/such-squeamish-youths-as-cannot-bear-to-be-connected-with-a-little/) [Jane Austen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-austen/) > [Thought of the incomprehensible sequence of changes and chances that make up a life, all the beauties and horrors and absurdities whose conjunctions create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aldous-huxley/thought-of-the-incomprehensible-sequence-of-changes-and-chances-that/) [Aldous Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aldous-huxley/) > [We all live inside the terrible engine of authority, and it grinds and shrieks and burns so that no one will say: lines on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/we-all-live-inside-the-terrible-engine-of-authority-and-it-grinds-and/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [Desire is this absurdity that holds open the infinity of possibility. Ever optimistic, ever resourceful, desire tells us what it sees as it speeds…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-farley/desire-is-this-absurdity-that-holds-open-the-infinity-of-possibility/) Wendy Farley > [I've always felt that comedy doesn't just come from misery. It comes from an absurdity around that misery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-amstell/i-ve-always-felt-that-comedy-doesn-t-just-come-from-misery-it-comes/) [Simon Amstell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-amstell/) > [Unaware of the absurdity of it, we introduce our own petty household rules into the economy of the universe for which the life of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-herzen/unaware-of-the-absurdity-of-it-we-introduce-our-own-petty-household/) [Alexander Herzen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-herzen/) > [“Christianity would be helpless without the idea of free will and the idea of free will would be helpless without incongruity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kedar-joshi/christianity-would-be-helpless-without-the-idea-of-free-will-and-the/) [Kedar Joshi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kedar-joshi/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [The tales of our exploits will survive as long as the human voice itself,' he said. 'And even after that, when the robots recall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/the-tales-of-our-exploits-will-survive-as-long-as-the-human-voice/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [Life packed a clever one-two punch: cruelty and absurdity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dean-koontz/life-packed-a-clever-one-two-punch-cruelty-and-absurdity/) [Dean Koontz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dean-koontz/) [Browse all 689 Absurdity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurdity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“We know that there are many animals on this continent not found in the Old World. These must have been carried from here to the ark, and then brought back afterwards. 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