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Frans de Waal

Frans de Waal Quotes

Primatologist

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Famous Frans de Waal Quotes

“It is not only visitors to the zoo who are fascinated but uneasy in the presence of chimpanzees; the same is true of scientists. The more they learn about these great apes, the deeper our identity crisis seems to become. The resemblance between humans and chimpanzees is not only external. If we look straight and deep into a chimpanzee’s eyes, an intelligent, self-assured personality looks back at us. If they are animals, what must we be?”

IfsHumansLooksSelfSeemsEyeAnimalIdentityPersonalityScientistIntelligentCrisisDeeperFascinatedAssuredApesVisitorsZoosUneasyResemblanceChimpanzeesIdentity Crisis
Book:Chimpanzee Politics: Power and Sex Among Apes
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“Why not assume that our humanity, including the self-control needed for livable societies, is built into us? Does anyone truly believe that our ancestors lacked social norms before they had religion? Did they never assist others in need, or complain about an unfair deal? Humans must have worried about the functioning of their communities well before the current religions arose, which is only a few thousand years ago.”

NeedsYearsBelieveHumansWellsDoeSelfHumanitySocialCommunityDealsNeededThousandBuiltYears AgoAssumingIncludingCurrentsComplainingWorriedWhy NotAncestorSelf ControlUnfairThousand YearsNormSocial Norms
Author:Frans de Waal
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