Physically there is nothing to distinguish human society from the farm-yard except that children are more troublesome and costly than chickens and calves, and that men and women are not so completely enslaved as farm stock.[3]
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Shaw draws a stark comparison between human society and a farmyard, noting the similarities in treatment and cost.
- In plain terms
- Human society is like a farmyard where people are like livestock.
- What can you take from it?
- Critiques societal structures by comparing them to animal farming.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How does society treat individuals?
- Is the comparison to animals fair?
Another view
The comparison is hyperbolic and ignores human agency.
More from George Bernard Shaw
Confusing monogamy with morality has done more to destroy the conscience of the human race than any other error.[2]
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