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Almost always when I told someone I was writing a book about "eating animals", they assumed, even without knowing anything about my views, that it was a case for vegetarianism. It's a telling assumption, one that implies not only that a thorough inquiry into animal agriculture would lead one away from eating meat, but that most people already know that to be the case.
Jonathan Safran Foer
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote highlights the common assumption that investigating animal agriculture will naturally lead to vegetarianism.

Jonathan Safran Foer discusses the prevalent belief that exploring the ethics and realities of animal agriculture will result in a rejection of meat consumption. He points out that this assumption reflects a deeper societal understanding or predisposition towards vegetarianism, suggesting that many people may already suspect the ethical implications of eating animals even before conducting a thorough inquiry.

Themes

Animal AgricultureVegetarianismEthicsMeat ConsumptionInquiry

In practice

Example use cases

In a debate on environmental sustainability, this quote can highlight ethical considerations related to diet.

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