---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poor animals! How jealously they guard…"
description: "\"Poor animals! How jealously they guard their pathetic bodies...that which to us is merely an evening's meal, but to them is life itself.\" — T. Casey Br..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/t-casey-brennan-106166_animal_poor-animals-how-jealously-they-guard-th_2597877.jpg"
---

#  Poor animals! How jealously they guard their pathetic…

![“Poor animals! How jealously they guard their pathetic bodies...that which to us is merely an evening's meal, but to them is life itself.” quote by T. Casey Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/t-casey-brennan-106166_animal_poor-animals-how-jealously-they-guard-th_2597877.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/t-casey-brennan-106166_animal_poor-animals-how-jealously-they-guard-th_2597877.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a1/t-casey-brennan-106166_animal_poor-animals-how-jealously-they-guard-th_2597877.jpg)

> “Poor animals! How jealously they guard their pathetic bodies...that which to us is merely an evening's meal, but to them is life itself.”

T. Casey Brennan

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

We tend to devalue life that is not ours, treating it as mere sustenance while it is the whole existence for other beings.

**In simple terms:** We ignore other beings' lives, seeing them only as food.

Key Takeaway

Recognize the intrinsic value of all living creatures.

Themes

compassion animal rights ethical reflection life value humility

Mood

reflective empathetic

Type

Animal:1 Animal - rights:1 Animals:1 Body:0 Compassion:1 Evening:0 Jealously:0 Life itself:1 Meals:0 Pathetic:0 Poor:0 Animals Jealously:0 Poor Animals:0 Jealously Guard:0 Pathetic Bodies:0

When to use this quote

- dietary choices
- animal welfare advocacy
- environmental activism
- philosophical debate

Key Concepts

sentience ethical relativism anthropocentrism

Questions to Reflect On

- How does recognizing animal sentience change our habits?
- What responsibilities arise from seeing all life as valuable?

A Different Perspective

Animals' intrinsic worth may be denied by cultural norms.

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[Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Evening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evening/) [Life itself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-itself/)

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> [“Poor animals, how jealously they guard their bodies, for to us is merely an evening’s meal, but to them is life itself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-casey-brennan/poor-animals-how-jealously-they-guard-their-bodies-for-to-us-is/)

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