A dead cow or sheep lying in a pasture is recognized as carrion. The same sort of a carcass dressed and hung up in a butcher's stall passes as food.

Summary

This quote highlights the contrast between the perception of a dead animal in different contexts. It suggests that while a dead animal in a natural setting is seen as carrion, which is regarded as something repulsive, the same animal, when displayed in a butcher's stall, is transformed into a desirable and edible food item. It brings attention to the subjective nature of how society and cultural norms shape our perception of things, and how the same object or situation can be viewed differently depending on the context.

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