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Frans de Waal Quotes

Primatologist

Frans de Waal is a renowned primatologist, born on October 29, 1948. His research focuses on the social behavior and cognitive abilities of non-human primates, having a profound impact on human ethology and social psychology.

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All Humans Animal Ifs Chimpanzees Empathy Primates Apes Needs Emotions Morality Social Bonobos Homo Sapiens Males Evolution People Self Strong Two Groups

Famous Frans de Waal Quotes

“Every morning, the male and female [Siamang] burst into spectacular duets. [...] Since the song reflects their marriage, the more beautiful it is, the more their neighbors realize not to mess with them. A close-harmony duet communicates not only "stay out!" but also "we're one!" (p. 177)”

Primates Animal Behaviour Pair Bond Primatology Siamangs

Book:Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?

Source: Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?

“Contrary to general belief, humans imitate apes more than the reverse. The sight of monkeys or apes induces an irresistible urge in people to jump up and down, exaggeratedly scratch themselves and holler in a way that must make the primates wonder how this otherwise so intelligent species has come to depend on such inferior means of communication.”

“Studies of reconciliation in primates have demonstrated that if the relationship value increases between two parties they are more willing to make peace.”

Ifs Two Values Party Study Willing Increase Reconciliation Making Peace Primates

Author:Frans de Waal

“In humans, the family prevents infanticide. Next to language, the core family, consisting of a mother, a father and children, is the greatest difference between us and other primates.”

Humans Children Mother Next Father Language Differences Core Primates Infanticide

Author:Frans de Waal

“The evolutionary struggle for survival is really a self-serving series of blows and stabs, and yet it can lead to extremely social animals like dolphins, wolves or, for that matter, primates.”

Self Matter Social Animal Struggle Survival Series Blow Serving Dolphins Self Serving Primates Struggle For Survival

Author:Frans de Waal

“We are by far the most contradictory of all primates. An animal with this much internal conflict has never lived on this earth.”

Earth Animal Conflict Internals Contradictory Primates Internal Conflict

Author:Frans de Waal

“To neglect the common ground with other primates, and to deny the evolutionary roots of human morality, would be like arriving at the top of a tower to declare that the rest of the building is irrelevant, that the precious concept of "tower" ought to be reserved for the summit.”

Humans Would Be Common Building Ought Morality Concepts Roots Deny Neglect Towers Irrelevant Summit Reserved Arriving Common Ground Primates

Book:Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved

Source: Primates and Philosophers: How Morality Evolved

“The primate laugh is given in playful contexts, and as such has a strong similarity to the human laugh.”

Humans Strong Given Laughing Similarity Primates

Author:Frans de Waal

“Bonobo studies started in the '70s and came to fruition in the '80s. Then in the '90s, all of a sudden, boom, they ended because of the warfare in the Congo. It was really bad for the bonobo and ironic that people with their warfare were preventing us from studying the hippies of the primate world.”

People World Study Ironic Warfare 80s Hippie Congo Preventing Primates Fruition Bonobos

Author:Frans de Waal

“Unlike the primate hand, the elephant's grasping organ is also its nose. Elephants use their trunks not only to reach food but also to sniff and touch it. With their unparalleled sense of smell, the animals know exactly what they are going for. Vision is secondary.”

Knows Use Hands Animal Vision Smell Noses Organs Elephants Grasping Trunks Primates

Author:Frans de Waal

“There's actually a lot of evidence in primates and other animals that they return favors.”

Inspirational Inspiration Motivational Motivation Animal Return Evidence Favors Primates

Author:Frans de Waal

“I have often noticed how primate groups in their entirety enter a similar mood. All of a sudden, all of them are playful, hopping around. Or all of them are grumpy. Or all of them are sleepy and settle down. In such cases, the mood contagion serves the function of synchronizing activities.”

Cases Groups Activity Function Mood Settling Settling Down Sleepy Entirety Primates Contagion Grumpy Hopping

Author:Frans de Waal

“When we are bad, we are worse than any primate that I know. And when we are good, we are actually better and more altruistic than any primate that I know.”

Knows Primates

Author:Frans de Waal

About the Author

Born: October 29, 1948
Known for: Primatologist
Quotes: 137

Books & Sources

Mama's Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about OurselvesRelated source material

The Bonobo and the Atheist: In Search of Humanism Among the PrimatesRelated source material

Are We Smart Enough to Know How Smart Animals Are?Related source material

Our Inner Ape: A Leading Primatologist Explains Why We Are Who We AreRelated source material

Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex Among ApesRelated source material

Primates and Philosophers: How Morality EvolvedRelated source material

The Age of Empathy: Nature's Lessons for a Kinder SocietyRelated source material

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