Though man is the only beast that can write, he has small reason to be proud of it. When he utters something that is wise it is nothing that the river horse does not know, and most of his creations are the result of accident.

Summary

This quote highlights the insignificance of man's ability to write and underscores the limited grounds for pride in this skill. It suggests that the wisdom expressed through writing is already known by many other creatures, implying that humans are not as unique or exceptional as they might believe. Additionally, the quote insinuates that much of what is written is not deliberate or intentional, but rather the unintended outcome of random occurrences or chance. Thus, the quote challenges the notion of human superiority and questions the true value and purpose of writing.

Topics