"It is hard for the ape to believe he descended from man"

This quote by H. L. Mencken is a commentary on the difficulty of accepting one's own history and origins. It recommends that it is difficult for an individual to accept that they are descended from a less innovative ancestor. This could be translated as a metaphor for the trouble of accepting one's own past, or the past of their family or culture. It could likewise be translated as a commentary on the trouble of accepting the concept of development, which suggests that human beings evolved from apes. Mencken's quote suggests that it is difficult to accept the idea that people progressed from a less innovative species, which it is much easier to reject this truth than to accept it. Ultimately, this quote is a suggestion that it is important to accept and learn from our past, no matter how difficult it may be.