--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Let's get into talking about how autism…" description: "\"Let's get into talking about how autism is similar animal behavior. The thing is I don't think in a language, and animals don't think in a language. It..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/temple-grandin-1219_about_let-s-get-into-talking-about-how-autism_2459507.png" --- # Let's get into talking about how autism is similar animal… ![“Let's get into talking about how autism is similar animal behavior. The thing is I don't think in a language, and animals don't think in a language. It's sensory based thinking, thinking in pictures, thinking in smells, thinking in touches. It's putting these sensory based memories into categories.” quote by Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/temple-grandin-1219_about_let-s-get-into-talking-about-how-autism_2459507.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/temple-grandin-1219_about_let-s-get-into-talking-about-how-autism_2459507.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf1/temple-grandin-1219_about_let-s-get-into-talking-about-how-autism_2459507.png) > “Let's get into talking about how autism is similar animal behavior. The thing is I don't think in a language, and animals don't think in a language. It's sensory based thinking, thinking in pictures, thinking in smells, thinking in touches. It's putting these sensory based memories into categories.” [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) ## 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 compares autistic cognition to animal cognition, emphasizing non‑verbal, sensory‑based thinking and categorization. **In simple terms:** Thinking in senses, not language. Key Takeaway Value sensory insights. Themes neurodiversity cognition animal behavior sensory perception Mood thoughtful inspirational Type neurodiversity educational When to use this quote - education design - workplace accommodations - creative problem solving - animal training Key Concepts visual thinking category formation embodied cognition Questions to Reflect On - How can we better support sensory‑based thinkers? - What strengths do non‑verbal thinkers bring? A Different Perspective Sensory thinking may be misunderstood by language‑centric societies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-behavior/) [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Autism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/autism/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Habits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/habits/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Memories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memories/) [Sensory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sensory/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [Lets get into talking about how autism is similar animal behavior. The thing is I dont think in a language, and animals dont think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/lets-get-into-talking-about-how-autism-is-similar-animal-behavior-the/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [I studied a lot of animal behavior and one of the things I find really interesting is the whole idea that animals are sensory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-studied-a-lot-of-animal-behavior-and-one-of-the-things-i-find/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [I want get people to think about sensory based of thinking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-want-get-people-to-think-about-sensory-based-of-thinking/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [When you've grown up always knowing that there's something that seemed to be different about you from most people - and not being able…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hegerty/when-you-ve-grown-up-always-knowing-that-there-s-something-that/) [Anne Hegerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hegerty/) > [We are a unique ape. We have language. Other animals have systems of communication that fall far short of that. They don't have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-are-a-unique-ape-we-have-language-other-animals-have-systems-of/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [ Not bad in short, though the last one \[understanding the language of animals\], isn't half as useful as you might expect, since when all's… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-stroud/not-bad-in-short-though-the-last-one-understanding-the-language-of/) [Jonathan Stroud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-stroud/) > [Love is the language all animals understand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-d-williams/love-is-the-language-all-animals-understand/) [Anthony D. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-d-williams/) > [One thing I'd like to just keep on doing is I want to educate people about animal behavior and about autism. I've been doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/one-thing-i-d-like-to-just-keep-on-doing-is-i-want-to-educate-people/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“The evolution of animal behavior does constitute a learning process, but it is learning by the species, not by the individual, and the fruits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-kurzweil/the-evolution-of-animal-behavior-does-constitute-a-learning-process/) [Ray Kurzweil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-kurzweil/) > [With animal behavior, they're all fine until you introduce some rogue element into the cage, and then they go crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanette-winterson/with-animal-behavior-they-re-all-fine-until-you-introduce-some-rogue/) [Jeanette Winterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanette-winterson/) > [I've always been interested in animal behavior, and I keep reading about it because it's so surprising all the time - so many things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-rossellini/i-ve-always-been-interested-in-animal-behavior-and-i-keep-reading/) [Isabella Rossellini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-rossellini/) > [“A know-it-all attitude and presentation annihilates credibility.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ptera-hunter/a-know-it-all-attitude-and-presentation-annihilates-credibility/) Ptera Hunter > [“Every scientist should, after all, regard it as his duty to tell the public, in a generally intelligible way, about what he is doing”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/every-scientist-should-after-all-regard-it-as-his-duty-to-tell-the/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [I had a wonderful teacher about animal behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/i-had-a-wonderful-teacher-about-animal-behavior/) [Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/) > [“A year-long study by the University of Pennsylvania, ending in 2009 and published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science (Elsevier), showed that aggressive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-custo/a-year-long-study-by-the-university-of-pennsylvania-ending-in-2009/) Edward Custo ## More by Temple Grandin > [My problems are sort of more on a nuisance level. I can't stand scratchy clothes, I've got to have soft kinds of cotton against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/my-problems-are-sort-of-more-on-a-nuisance-level-i-can-t-stand/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Language just gradually came in, one or two stressed words a time. Before then, I would just scream. I couldn't talk. I couldn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/language-just-gradually-came-in-one-or-two-stressed-words-a-time/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Autism is a big continuum, going from someone who remains nonverbal, all the way up to geniuses on Silicon Valley. And some kids are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/autism-is-a-big-continuum-going-from-someone-who-remains-nonverbal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Some people with autism who don't talk, all they hear are vowel sounds. Like if I said 'cup,' they might just hear 'uh.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/some-people-with-autism-who-don-t-talk-all-they-hear-are-vowel-sounds/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Mild autism can give you a genius like Einstein. If you have severe autism, you could remain nonverbal. You don't want people to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/mild-autism-can-give-you-a-genius-like-einstein-if-you-have-severe/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Animals do have emotion. But fear tends to be one of the most primal emotions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/animals-do-have-emotion-but-fear-tends-to-be-one-of-the-most-primal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [I think that the definition of autism is too broad. You got to remember, autism definition is a behavioral profiling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-that-the-definition-of-autism-is-too-broad-you-got-to/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [People can live up to high standards, but they can't live up to perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/people-can-live-up-to-high-standards-but-they-can-t-live-up-to/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [There is a small segment of people with autism that have savant skills, where they can memorize entire maps of whole entire city. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-is-a-small-segment-of-people-with-autism-that-have-savant/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [“There's a point where anecdotal evidence becomes truth”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/there-s-a-point-where-anecdotal-evidence-becomes-truth/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [here's certain things that are similar to cats and dogs. Dogs are just hyper social and they have a want to please you way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/here-s-certain-things-that-are-similar-to-cats-and-dogs-dogs-are-just/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [People talk about curing autism. But if you got rid of all those traits, who's going to make the next computer?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/people-talk-about-curing-autism-but-if-you-got-rid-of-all-those/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [It is important that our relationship with farm animals is reciprocal. We owe animals a decent life and a painless death. I have observed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/it-is-important-that-our-relationship-with-farm-animals-is-reciprocal/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [In a dog social cue from a master can override where he saw the being placed. That won’t happen unless we have bred a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/in-a-dog-social-cue-from-a-master-can-override-where-he-saw-the-being/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Well the dog that is the most is the a Labrador retrievers because they tolerate kids tugging on them and things better than other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/well-the-dog-that-is-the-most-is-the-a-labrador-retrievers-because/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) [Explore all 271 Temple Grandin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) ## More About quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. 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That means I write about guys - so far. I'm interested in the people closest to them, the people they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-kearns-goodwin/i-write-about-presidents-that-means-i-write-about-guys-so-far-i-m/) [Doris Kearns Goodwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-kearns-goodwin/) > [That's something a lot of folks don't know about me - I'm pretty darn funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jai-white/that-s-something-a-lot-of-folks-don-t-know-about-me-i-m-pretty-darn/) [Michael Jai White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jai-white/) > [I learned a lot about myself at Oakmont.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-lowry/i-learned-a-lot-about-myself-at-oakmont/) [Shane Lowry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-lowry/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [Sport is not just about entertainment. It is equally about winning and losing, pooling and galvanising the energy of the youth, upgrading people's physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nita-ambani/sport-is-not-just-about-entertainment-it-is-equally-about-winning-and/) [Nita Ambani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nita-ambani/) > [One of the ways that I discovered my confidence and my ability to overpower is becoming a mother. Suddenly, my world wasn't about myself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/one-of-the-ways-that-i-discovered-my-confidence-and-my-ability-to/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [I didn't want to do 'Fashion Police' because I thought, 'This is stupid, this is beneath me, who wants to talk about fashion?' 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