"Every animal leaves traces of what it was; man alone leaves traces of what he created"
- Jacob Bronowski
About this Quote
This quote by Jacob Bronowski speaks with the special nature of mankind and our capacity for imagination. It suggests that while all animals leave traces of their presence, people are the only species that leave traces of what we have created. This might refer to the physical artifacts we have actually developed, such as structures, tools, and art, however it could likewise refer to the intangible developments of our minds, such as ideas, approaches, and stories. This quote suggests that our capacity for imagination is what sets us apart from other animals, which it is this imagination that has allowed us to form the world around us. It is a tip of the power of human ingenuity and the significance of preserving and commemorating our creative achievements.
"Often and often afterwards, the beloved Aunt would ask me why I had never told anyone how I was being treated. Children tell little more than animals, for what comes to them they accept as eternally established"
"Certainly it is wrong to be cruel to animals and the destruction of a whole species can be a great evil. The capacity for feelings of pleasure and pain and for the form of life of which animals are capable clearly impose duties of compassion and humanity in their case"
