"The un-conscious distortion of the facts is almost harmless compared to the unconscious neglect of an animal's mental life until it verges on the unusual and marvelous"
- Edward Thorndike
About this Quote
In this quote, Edward Thorndike is highlighting the significance of recognizing and comprehending an animal's mental life. He recommends that while it may seem harmless to misshape realities about an animal's habits, it is even more detrimental to neglect their psychological well-being. This neglect can cause unusual and marvelous behaviors that might go unnoticed or misinterpreted. Thorndike is highlighting the requirement for a deeper understanding and appreciation of an animal's mind, instead of merely observing their actions. By ignoring their psychological life, we may lose out on genuinely amazing and fascinating elements of their behavior. This quote works as a pointer to think about the inner workings of animals and not just their outward actions.
"Life is life - whether in a cat, or dog or man. There is no difference there between a cat or a man. The idea of difference is a human conception for man's own advantage"