The dog has got more fun out of Man than Man has got out of the dog, for the clearly demonstrable reason that Man is the more laughable of the two animals.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Dogs enjoy humans more than humans enjoy dogs because humans are funnier.
- In plain terms
- People amuse dogs more than dogs amuse people.
- What can you take from it?
- Be careful of how you behave around animals.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- Do dogs laugh at people?
- Are humans more ridiculous than pets?
Another view
It assumes animals perceive humor the same way humans do.
More from James Thurber
Every time is a time for comedy in a world of tension that would languish without it. But I cannot confine myself to lightness in a period of human life that d…
Permalink to quote #35 The dog has seldom been successful in pulling Man up to its level of sagacity, but Man has frequently dragged the dog down to his.
Permalink to quote #37 I do not have a psychiatrist and I do not want one, for the simple reason that if he listened to me long enough, he might become disturbed.
Permalink to quote #34
Related quotes
Cats are smarter than dogs. You can't get eight cats to pull a sled through snow.
Jeff ValdezJeff Valdez quote #1 What good men most biologists are, the tenors of the scientific world-temperamental, moody, lecherous, loud-laughing, and healthy. Your true biologist will sin…
John SteinbeckJohn Steinbeck quote #3 I know at last what distinguishes man from animals; financial worries.
Romain RollandRomain Rolland quote #4