--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Eating wildlife is probably not the…" description: "\"Eating wildlife is probably not the smartest thing that we can do in terms of maintaining the integrity of natural systems.\" — Sylvia Earle" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/sylvia-earle-1756_animals_eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smar_1403309.jpg" --- # Eating wildlife is probably not the smartest thing that we… ![“Eating wildlife is probably not the smartest thing that we can do in terms of maintaining the integrity of natural systems.” quote by Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/sylvia-earle-1756_animals_eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smar_1403309.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/sylvia-earle-1756_animals_eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smar_1403309.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/sylvia-earle-1756_animals_eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smar_1403309.jpg) > “Eating wildlife is probably not the smartest thing that we can do in terms of maintaining the integrity of natural systems.” [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker warns that consuming wildlife harms ecosystem integrity, urging protection of natural systems **In simple terms:** Eating wildlife damages ecosystems Key Takeaway Protect natural habitats, avoid wildlife consumption Themes environment conservation ethics food systems biodiversity Mood urgent concerned hopeful Type lecture advocacy statement When to use this quote - policy making - educational programs - culinary industry reforms - tourism guidelines Key Concepts sustainability ecological balance food ethics Questions to Reflect On - How can societies shift dietary habits sustainably? - What policies best protect wildlife while respecting cultures? A Different Perspective Cultural traditions may conflict with conservation goals ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Can do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-do/) [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Eating Wildlife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating-wildlife-4924399/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) [Integrity Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity-natural-4924401/) [Maintaining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maintaining/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural Systems](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-systems-1089032/) [Term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/term/) [Wildlife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wildlife/) [Wildlife Probably](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wildlife-probably-4924400/) ## Related quotes > [We have the capacity to alter the nature of nature. No, we don't have just the capacity - we are altering the nature of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-have-the-capacity-to-alter-the-nature-of-nature-no-we-don-t-have/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [In the past few decades, Earth's natural systems have endured more pressure than in all preceding human history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/in-the-past-few-decades-earth-s-natural-systems-have-endured-more/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I see the day in our own lifetime that reverence for the natural systems, the oceans, the rainforests, the soil, the grasslands, and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-brown/i-see-the-day-in-our-own-lifetime-that-reverence-for-the-natural/) [Jerry Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-brown/) > [Rapid population growth and technological innovation, combined with our lack of understanding about how the natural systems of which we are a part work,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/rapid-population-growth-and-technological-innovation-combined-with/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [There are a lot of human-created systems that we like to tout as being logical that are actually riddled with illogic. And then, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-vandermeer/there-are-a-lot-of-human-created-systems-that-we-like-to-tout-as/) [Jeff Vandermeer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-vandermeer/) > [“...we need to remind ourselves that natural systems are much more finely tuned than we think, and if we like the way they currently…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-jacobsen/we-need-to-remind-ourselves-that-natural-systems-are-much-more-finely/) [Rowan Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-jacobsen/) > [It is science that brings us an understanding of the true complexity of natural systems. The insights from the science of ecology are teaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-goode/it-is-science-that-brings-us-an-understanding-of-the-true-complexity/) [Jamie Goode](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-goode/) > [By employing the intelligence of natural systems we can create industry, buildings, even regional plans that see nature and commerce not as mutually exclusive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-pitt/by-employing-the-intelligence-of-natural-systems-we-can-create/) [Brad Pitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-pitt/) > [We believe that climate change must be viewed not only as a danger to natural systems, but also as a direct threat to human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maumoon-abdul-gayoom/we-believe-that-climate-change-must-be-viewed-not-only-as-a-danger-to/) [Maumoon Abdul Gayoom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maumoon-abdul-gayoom/) > [Our numbers expand, but Earth's natural systems do not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lester-r-brown/our-numbers-expand-but-earth-s-natural-systems-do-not/) [Lester R. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lester-r-brown/) > [If we pollute the air, water and soil that keep us alive and well, and destroy the biodiversity that allows natural systems to function,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-suzuki/if-we-pollute-the-air-water-and-soil-that-keep-us-alive-and-well-and/) [David Suzuki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-suzuki/) > [We have been far too aggressive about extracting ocean wildlife, not appreciating that there are limits and even points of no return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-have-been-far-too-aggressive-about-extracting-ocean-wildlife-not/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [When I arrived on the planet, there were only two billion. Wildlife was more abundant, we were less so; now the situation is reversed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/when-i-arrived-on-the-planet-there-were-only-two-billion-wildlife-was/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I'm not against extracting a modest amount of wildlife out of the ocean for human consumption, but I am really concerned about the large-scale…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-m-not-against-extracting-a-modest-amount-of-wildlife-out-of-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [There is this sweet spot in time when we have an opportunity to stop killing sharks and tunas and swordfish and other wildlife in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/there-is-this-sweet-spot-in-time-when-we-have-an-opportunity-to-stop/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## More by Sylvia Earle > [We still have 10 percent of the sharks. We still have half of the coral reefs. However, if we wait another 50 years, opportunities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-still-have-10-percent-of-the-sharks-we-still-have-half-of-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Health to the ocean means health for us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/health-to-the-ocean-means-health-for-us/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [Evolution is not something to be feared. It's to be celebrated, embraced, and understood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/evolution-is-not-something-to-be-feared-it-s-to-be-celebrated/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [We are depleting this immense diversity and abundance of life, and it matters tremendously for the future of the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/we-are-depleting-this-immense-diversity-and-abundance-of-life-and-it/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [My mother was known as the 'bird lady' of the neighborhood. Anything injured, or any unusual creature somebody found, they would always come to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/my-mother-was-known-as-the-bird-lady-of-the-neighborhood-anything/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [There is this sweet spot in time when we have an opportunity to stop killing sharks and tunas and swordfish and other wildlife in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/there-is-this-sweet-spot-in-time-when-we-have-an-opportunity-to-stop/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The sudden release of five million barrels of oil, enormous quantities of methane and two million gallons of toxic dispersants into an already greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-sudden-release-of-five-million-barrels-of-oil-enormous-quantities/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I've always said, 'Underwater or on top, men and women are compatible.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-ve-always-said-underwater-or-on-top-men-and-women-are-compatible/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [With respect to the ocean being the heart of our blue planet: We are often asked, 'How much protection is enough?' We can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/with-respect-to-the-ocean-being-the-heart-of-our-blue-planet-we-are/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [If the sea is sick, we'll feel it. If it dies, we die. Our future and the state of the oceans are one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/if-the-sea-is-sick-we-ll-feel-it-if-it-dies-we-die-our-future-and-the/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The ocean seemed like a sea of Eden. But now we are facing paradise lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-ocean-seemed-like-a-sea-of-eden-but-now-we-are-facing-paradise/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [When you think about the real cost of so-called cheap energy that has driven our prosperity to unprecedented levels, for some of us, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/when-you-think-about-the-real-cost-of-so-called-cheap-energy-that-has/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [When I arrived on the planet, there were only two billion. Wildlife was more abundant, we were less so; now the situation is reversed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/when-i-arrived-on-the-planet-there-were-only-two-billion-wildlife-was/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [I've had the joy of spending thousands of hours under the sea. I wish I could take people along to see what I see,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/i-ve-had-the-joy-of-spending-thousands-of-hours-under-the-sea-i-wish/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) > [The observations that have developed over the years have given us perspective about where we fit in. We are newcomers, really recent arrivals on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/the-observations-that-have-developed-over-the-years-have-given-us/) [Sylvia Earle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) [Explore all 211 Sylvia Earle quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/) ## More Animals 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [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/) > [“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/) > [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/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) [Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Eating wildlife is probably not the smartest thing that we can do in terms of maintaining the integrity of natural systems.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Sylvia Earle" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smartest-thing-that-we-can-do-in/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animals" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smartest-thing-that-we-can-do-in/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/sylvia-earle-1756_animals_eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smar_1403309.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/sylvia-earle-1756_animals_eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smar_1403309.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/86b/sylvia-earle-1756_animals_eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smar_1403309.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Eating wildlife is probably not the smartest thing that we can do in terms of maintaining the integrity of…” — Sylvia Earle", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Sylvia Earle", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-earle/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Eating wildlife is probably not the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smartest-thing-that-we-can-do-in/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-earle/eating-wildlife-is-probably-not-the-smartest-thing-that-we-can-do-in/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```