Quote by Mark Twain
Man is the Reasoning Animal. Such is the claim. I think it is open to dispute. Indeed, my experiments have proven to me that he is the Unreasoning Animal... In truth, man is incurably foolish. Simple things which other animals easily learn, he is incapable of learning. Among my experiments was this. In an hour I taught a cat and a dog to be friends. I put them in a cage. In another hour I taught them to be friends with a rabbit. In the course of two days I was able to add a fox, a goose, a squirrel and some doves. Finally a monkey. They lived together in peace; even affectionately.Next, in another cage I confined an Irish Catholic from Tipperary, and as soon as he seemed tame I added a Scotch Presbyterian from Aberdeen. Next a Turk from Constantinople; a Greek Christian from Crete; an Armenian; a Methodist from the wilds of Arkansas; a Buddhist from China; a Brahman from Benares. Finally, a Salvation Army Colonel from Wapping. Then I stayed away for two whole days. When I came back to note results, the cage of Higher Animals was all right, but in the other there was but a chaos of gory odds and ends of turbans and fezzes and plaids and bones and flesh--not a specimen left alive. These Reasoning Animals had disagreed on a theological detail and carried the matter to a Higher Court.
Summary
This quote by Mark Twain satirically challenges the notion that humans are the most rational beings. Through his experiments, the narrator highlights the irrationality and foolishness inherent to human nature. While animals with diverse backgrounds coexist peacefully, the inclusion of individuals from different religions and cultures results in chaotic violence. Twain uses this anecdote to critique the destructive consequences of religious and cultural differences, suggesting that humans often let their beliefs and prejudices override their ability to reason and live harmoniously together.
By Mark Twain
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.
Random Quotations
