--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Lets get into talking about how autism is…" description: "\"Lets get into talking about how autism is similar animal behavior. The thing is I dont think in a language, and animals dont think in a language. Its s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/temple-grandin-1219_animal_lets-get-into-talking-about-how-autism-i_1394969.png" --- # Lets get into talking about how autism is similar animal… ![“Lets get into talking about how autism is similar animal behavior. The thing is I dont think in a language, and animals dont think in a language. Its sensory based thinking, thinking in pictures, thinking in smells, thinking in touches. Its putting these sensory based memories into categories.” quote by Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/temple-grandin-1219_animal_lets-get-into-talking-about-how-autism-i_1394969.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/temple-grandin-1219_animal_lets-get-into-talking-about-how-autism-i_1394969.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/355/temple-grandin-1219_animal_lets-get-into-talking-about-how-autism-i_1394969.png) > “Lets get into talking about how autism is similar animal behavior. The thing is I dont think in a language, and animals dont think in a language. Its sensory based thinking, thinking in pictures, thinking in smells, thinking in touches. Its 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. Autism processes information through sensory and visual modalities rather than language, categorizing experiences like animals do. **In simple terms:** Autistic thinking is sensory, not linguistic. Key Takeaway Embrace non‑verbal cognition. Themes neurodiversity perception learning empathy Mood thoughtful insightful Type educational inspirational When to use this quote - education - workplace inclusion - design of tools - communication strategies Key Concepts cognitive science sensory processing categorization Questions to Reflect On - How can we design environments that honor sensory cognition? - What strengths arise from visual‑based thinking? A Different Perspective May overlook the value of language‑based reasoning in mixed teams. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Animal behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal-behavior/) [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/) [Smell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smell/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [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…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/let-s-get-into-talking-about-how-autism-is-similar-animal-behavior/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [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/) > [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 think the core criterion is the social awkwardness, but the sensory issues are a serious problem in many, many cases of autism, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/i-think-the-core-criterion-is-the-social-awkwardness-but-the-sensory/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [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/) > [“Many people with Asperger syndrome can suffer from sensory overload – a feeling of being overwhelmed by bright lights, noise or crowds. Situations such…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-searle/many-people-with-asperger-syndrome-can-suffer-from-sensory-overload-a/) Ruth Searle > [“Sensory overload is our biggest struggle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/sensory-overload-is-our-biggest-struggle/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [“We, on the spectrum, are often misconstrued as rude or audacious. Problem is not that we feel too little, but that we feel too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/we-on-the-spectrum-are-often-misconstrued-as-rude-or-audacious-2/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Some children may need a behavioral approach, whereas other children may need a sensory approach.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/some-children-may-need-a-behavioral-approach-whereas-other-children/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [One of the big areas I'd like to see a lot more research done on is the sensory problems, and it's real variable. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/one-of-the-big-areas-i-d-like-to-see-a-lot-more-research-done-on-is/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [An animal’s memory is not in words, they’ve got to be in pictures – it’s very detailed so let’s say the animal gets afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/an-animal-s-memory-is-not-in-words-they-ve-got-to-be-in-pictures-it-s/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [Normal people have an incredible lack of empathy. They have good emotional empathy, but they don't have much empathy for the autistic kid who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/normal-people-have-an-incredible-lack-of-empathy-they-have-good/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) > [One of my sensory problems was hearing sensitivity, where certain loud noises, such as a school bell, hurt my ears. It sounded like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/temple-grandin/one-of-my-sensory-problems-was-hearing-sensitivity-where-certain-loud/) [Temple Grandin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/temple-grandin/) ## 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 Animal 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 > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [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/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“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/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [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/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Lets get into talking about how autism is similar animal behavior. The thing is I dont think in a language, and animals dont think in a language. Its sensory based thinking, thinking in pictures, thinking in smells, thinking in touches. 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