Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

Author

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas is an acclaimed author and anthropologist known for her groundbreaking work on animal behavior, particularly in her book 'The Hidden Life of Dogs.'

Born
January 1, 1931
Quotes
10
Rank
#5890

About Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas — Life and Legacy

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas is a prominent author and anthropologist whose work has significantly contributed to our understanding of animal behavior and the human-animal bond. Her book 'The Hidden Life of Dogs' explores the intricate social dynamics of dogs, revealing their emotional complexity and intelligence. Thomas's insights challenge traditional perceptions of animals as mere companions, instead presenting them as beings with rich inner lives. Through her observations, she articulates the idea that dogs, much like humans, have their own social structures and emotional experiences. For instance, she notes that dogs communicate not just through barks but also through subtle body language, which reflects their feelings and intentions. This perspective encourages a deeper empathy towards animals, urging us to appreciate their individuality and emotional depth. Thomas's work remains relevant today as it fosters a greater understanding of the interconnectedness of all living beings. Her quotes and ideas inspire readers to reconsider their relationships with animals and the natural world, advocating for a more compassionate and respectful approach to coexistence.

Quote collection

Elizabeth Marshall Thomas quotes

10 quotes — follow a thought to its full quote page.

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"To write a book such as Tiger Bone & Rhino Horn is a formidable undertaking. You must accumulate thousands of facts and spare no detail, no matter how terrible. It is always easier to write a piece of fluff and leave everybody smiling. But then, the horrors of poaching would continue unchallenged?like as tent caterpillars consuming an apple orchard, our species mindlessly consumes the others of the earth. At present, the most significant hope for our planet may be knowledge, and Richard Ellis has done a heroic job in providing a large measure of that."

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"As the cherub is to the angel, so the cat is to the tiger."

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"Dogs who chase cars evidently see them as large, unruly ungulates badly in need of discipline and shepherding."

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"I saw that animals were important. I saw that plants were even more important. I was also to learn that compared to many of the other species, we weren't important at all except for the damage we do. We do not rule the natural world, despite our conspicuous position in it. On the contrary, it is our lifeline, and we do well to try to understand its rules."

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"People can be a fine substitute for other dogs. But I think that if they had to choose, dogs by and large would choose the company of other dogs."

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"No cat purrs unless someone is around to listen."

Cat
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"We recognize caste in dogs because we rank ourselves by the familiar dog system, a ladderlike social arrangement wherein one individual outranks all others, the next outranks all but the first, and so on down the hierarchy. But the cat system is more like a wheel, with a high-ranking cat at the hub and the others arranged around the rim, all reluctantly acknowledging the superiority of the despot but not necessarily measuring themselves against one another."

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"In truth, most of us don't know our cats."

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"In the past even scientists have been led to believe that only human beings have thoughts or emotions. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth... After all, thoughts and emotions have evolutionary value."

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"What do dogs want? They want each other. Human beings are merely a cynomorphic substitute."

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