---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If I'm right, the only reason our species…"
description: "\"If I'm right, the only reason our species is still around is because of our friendship with the canines.\" — W. Bruce Cameron"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-bruce-cameron-4604_animal_if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species_2089256.png"
---

#  If I'm right, the only reason our species is still around…

![“If I'm right, the only reason our species is still around is because of our friendship with the canines.” quote by W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-bruce-cameron-4604_animal_if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species_2089256.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-bruce-cameron-4604_animal_if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species_2089256.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-bruce-cameron-4604_animal_if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species_2089256.png)

> “If I'm right, the only reason our species is still around is because of our friendship with the canines.”

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

## About This Quote

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

Human survival depends on our bond with dogs, which provides companionship and support.

**In simple terms:** Dogs help humanity survive.

Key Takeaway

Nurture relationships with dogs.

Themes

friendship animals survival

Mood

affectionate hopeful

Type

narrative inspirational

When to use this quote

- family life
- therapy work
- emergency rescue

Key Concepts

human‑animal bond mutual support

Questions to Reflect On

- How have dogs impacted your life?
- What responsibilities come with caring for dogs?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on dogs may overlook other survival factors.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Around](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/around/) [Canines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/canines-2610791/) [Dogs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dogs/) [Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship/) [Friendship Canines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/friendship-canines-4121854/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) [Reason Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason-species-4121855/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Friendship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-friendship-4121853/)

## Related quotes

> [In science, we take large numbers of disparate facts and reduce them to see patterns. We use the patterns to reduce the amount of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-stern/in-science-we-take-large-numbers-of-disparate-facts-and-reduce-them/)

[Alan Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-stern/)

> [Dogs are my favorite role models. I want to work like a dog, doing what I was born to do with joy and purpose.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/dogs-are-my-favorite-role-models-i-want-to-work-like-a-dog-doing-what/)

[Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/)

> [“Oh, go right ahead,' she replied. 'You seem to have such an affinity for canines.' 'Clearly,' he shot back, keeping his voice low so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/oh-go-right-ahead-she-replied-you-seem-to-have-such-an-affinity-for/)

[Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/)

> [I've always had quite long canines. It's a very strange thing. My parents don't have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-evans/i-ve-always-had-quite-long-canines-it-s-a-very-strange-thing-my/)

[Luke Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-evans/)

> [“Humans know everything, not just how to take car rides or where to find bacon but also when dogs are good or bad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/humans-know-everything-not-just-how-to-take-car-rides-or-where-to/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [That's the lesson of the dogs, that it's important to both live in the moment and then go on to the next wonderful thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/that-s-the-lesson-of-the-dogs-that-it-s-important-to-both-live-in-the/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [“Where are the ethical concerns, that so many people called animal lovers invoke, when you steal the children of wild dog mothers and other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-nther-bloch/where-are-the-ethical-concerns-that-so-many-people-called-animal/)

[Günther Bloch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-nther-bloch/)

> [My baby boo&lt;3](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/my-baby-boo-3/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think if you look all across the country, the so-called Blue Dogs are all gone to kennel. There are no more Blue Dogs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-think-if-you-look-all-across-the-country-the-so-called-blue-dogs/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Dogs are great. Bad dogs, if you can really call them that, are perhaps the greatest of them all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-grogan/dogs-are-great-bad-dogs-if-you-can-really-call-them-that-are-perhaps/)

[John Grogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-grogan/)

> [I have 3 dogs myself - I actually have a kennel license in order to do so. I love them so much I couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/i-have-3-dogs-myself-i-actually-have-a-kennel-license-in-order-to-do/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I joined PETA for minks and dogs. I need my beef, my chicken, my seafood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waka-flocka-flame/i-joined-peta-for-minks-and-dogs-i-need-my-beef-my-chicken-my-seafood/)

[Waka Flocka Flame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waka-flocka-flame/)

> [Mr. Peabody is this genetic anomaly. He does have brothers and sisters, all of them non-speaking, not super-smart dogs. He's an outcast, but has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-minkoff/mr-peabody-is-this-genetic-anomaly-he-does-have-brothers-and-sisters/)

[Rob Minkoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-minkoff/)

> [I know a lot of people want to buy puppies, but adopting a dog who needs a home is doing something good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-ginobili/i-know-a-lot-of-people-want-to-buy-puppies-but-adopting-a-dog-who/)

[Manu Ginobili](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-ginobili/)

> [My dogs can't do anything--and what a relief. I don't make any demands of them, and I don't try to shape them or their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-chua/my-dogs-can-t-do-anything-and-what-a-relief-i-don-t-make-any-demands/)

[Amy Chua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-chua/)

## More by W. Bruce Cameron

> [That's the lesson of the dogs, that it's important to both live in the moment and then go on to the next wonderful thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/that-s-the-lesson-of-the-dogs-that-it-s-important-to-both-live-in-the/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [Without a dog, no one will listen to your opinions for more than a few minutes without interrupting to tell you their opinions, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/without-a-dog-no-one-will-listen-to-your-opinions-for-more-than-a-few/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [I was riding my mountain bike in Colorado, and I met a dog who reminded me so much of my very first dog in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/i-was-riding-my-mountain-bike-in-colorado-and-i-met-a-dog-who/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [With social media, you don't just publish a book and figure you've done your part; your fans want to talk to you, have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/with-social-media-you-don-t-just-publish-a-book-and-figure-you-ve/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [Because failure isn't an option if success is just a matter of more effort.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/because-failure-isn-t-an-option-if-success-is-just-a-matter-of-more/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [“But humans drive the cars and decide when dogs eat and where dogs live and clearly this was something else in their power -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/but-humans-drive-the-cars-and-decide-when-dogs-eat-and-where-dogs/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [I've tried several diets over the past couple of years - not because I need to lose weight, but because my pants are trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/i-ve-tried-several-diets-over-the-past-couple-of-years-not-because-i/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [My philosophy on snow skiing is that there are less expensive ways to fall down a mountain. Yet every couple of years, I go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/my-philosophy-on-snow-skiing-is-that-there-are-less-expensive-ways-to/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [“You remind me in so many ways of my dog Molly, her gentleness, but also Max, with his self-assurance. Will you tell my angel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/you-remind-me-in-so-many-ways-of-my-dog-molly-her-gentleness-but-also/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [I started writing in fourth grade and never stopped. I faked my way through high school and nearly was flushed from college - I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/i-started-writing-in-fourth-grade-and-never-stopped-i-faked-my-way/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [None of the kids in the neighborhood had dogs. My dad walked in that Labrador, and we started running together and rolling around together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/none-of-the-kids-in-the-neighborhood-had-dogs-my-dad-walked-in-that/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [When I was in seventh grade, I was a scrawny boy with no muscles, so I went out for wrestling. My intention was to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/when-i-was-in-seventh-grade-i-was-a-scrawny-boy-with-no-muscles-so-i/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [“What happened to the Ford?” “God, Gloria made me sell it. Supposedly, I had too much independence—that’s the new theory, that I ran off…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/what-happened-to-the-ford-god-gloria-made-me-sell-it-supposedly-i-had/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [The first cellphone I owned was hardly a slim, high-tech device - it was more like a brick with buttons, only with worse reception.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/the-first-cellphone-i-owned-was-hardly-a-slim-high-tech-device-it-was/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

> [3D printers give us what we've all been craving: another reason to talk to technical support. When you finally get the thing working, though,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/3d-printers-give-us-what-we-ve-all-been-craving-another-reason-to/)

[W. Bruce Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

[Explore all 108 W. Bruce Cameron quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/)

## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "If I'm right, the only reason our species is still around is because of our friendship with the canines.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "W. Bruce Cameron"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species-is-still-around-is-because/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Animal"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species-is-still-around-is-because/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-bruce-cameron-4604_animal_if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species_2089256.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-bruce-cameron-4604_animal_if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species_2089256.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1a/w-bruce-cameron-4604_animal_if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species_2089256.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If I'm right, the only reason our species is still around is because of our friendship with the canines.” — W. Bruce Cameron",
                "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": "W. Bruce Cameron",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-bruce-cameron/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If I'm right, the only reason...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species-is-still-around-is-because/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-bruce-cameron/if-i-m-right-the-only-reason-our-species-is-still-around-is-because/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
