Animals Quote by Stevie Smith
““Wild creatures' eyes, the colonel said, Are innocent and fathomless And when I look at them I see That they are not aware of me And oh I find and oh I bless A comfort in this emptiness They only see me when they want To pounce upon me at the hunt; But in the tame variety There couches an anxiety As if they yearned, yet knew not what They yearned for, nor they yearned for not. And so my dog would look at me And it was pitiful to see Such love and such dependency. The human heart is not at ease With animals that look like these.””
About This Quote
The speaker reflects on the unsettling emptiness of animal eyes, seeing both innocence and a hidden yearning that mirrors human loneliness and dependence.
In simple terms: Animal eyes reveal hidden longing and human emptiness.
Key Takeaway
Observing animals exposes our own anxieties.
Themes
nature
loneliness
dependence
existentialism
Mood
melancholic
contemplative
Type
poetic
philosophical
When to use this quote
- Pet ownership
- Wildlife observation
- Therapeutic animal‑assisted programs
Key Concepts
projection
psychological mirroring
Practical Applications
- Use animal companionship for emotional support
- Practice mindful observation to understand self
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the animal’s gaze teach us about our own vulnerabilities?
- How can we differentiate projection from genuine empathy?
A Different Perspective
Projecting human emotions onto animals can misinterpret their behavior.
