Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them, and pretty soon you have a dozen.
John SteinbeckRead
I've seen a look in dogs' eyes, a quickly vanishing look of amazed contempt, and I am convinced that basically dogs think humans are nuts.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the unique perspective that dogs may have towards humans, suggesting they see us as strange beings.
John Steinbeck captures the essence of the human-dog relationship through this quote, implying that dogs possess a certain understanding of human behavior that is both bemused and critical. The 'look of amazed contempt' suggests that while dogs may be loyal companions, they also possess an awareness that enables them to perceive the absurdities of human actions, leading to a perception of humans as 'nuts.' This nuances the bond between species, illustrating both admiration and confusion.
Themes
DogsHumansPerspectiveContemptBehavior
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about animal rights, you could use this quote to emphasize the unique perceptions animals might have about humans.
More from John Steinbeck
All quotes βAt one point, as Samuel urges Adam to raise his boys well regardless of the blood that might be in them, Adam tells him, "You can't make a race horse of a pig." Samuel replies, "No, but you can make a very fast pig.
John SteinbeckRead
And when that crop grew, and was harvested, no man had crumbled a hot clod in his fingers and let the earth sift past his fingertips. No man had touched the seed, or lusted for the growth. Men ate what they had not raised, had no connection with the bread. The land bore under iron, and under iron gradually died; for it was not loved or hated, it had no prayers or curses.
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The comfortable people in tight houses felt pity at first, and then distaste, and finally hatred for the migrant people.
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People do not want advice - they want corroboration.
John SteinbeckRead
It is one of the triumphs of the human that he can know a thing and still not believe it.
John SteinbeckRead
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