L. J. Smith Quotes

Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass.

Lots of people talk to animals... Not very many listen, though... That's the problem.

It was because the chimps are so eye-catching, so like us and teach us so much that my work was recognised worldwide.

I've always had a fascination for animals. I loved watching them, and even then I thought of them as beings rather than pets. I call it a birth affect!

Sheep are never going to talk to you about cricket.

When I write about animals, I use anthropological techniques and the language you would use for a person. You don't have to anthropomorphize animals, just acknowledge their individuality.

One of the things we found out as we filmed with people who dealt with chimps, and with all animals, and it's really incredible, is their levels of intelligence that we don't recognize right away.

The more we learn of the true nature of non-human animals, especially those with complex brains and corresponding complex social behavior, the more ethical concerns are raised regarding their use in the service of man - whether this be in entertainment, as "pets," for food, in research laboratories, or any of the other uses to which we subject them.

Not being heard is no reason for silence.

I do love animals so much, and have a great respect for them emotionally and intellectually, because they are so different from human beings.

I love all animals. I have a fascination with fish, birds, whales - sentient life - insects, reptiles.

I will be doing a film called Whispers, for Disney. It's about elephants, and doesn't have any people in it. It will be a live action film - I don't know how much I can say about it, since I still don't know too much about it.

Future benefits rarely figure in the minds of animals.

Animals interest me more than anything else.

The un-conscious distortion of the facts is almost harmless compared to the unconscious neglect of an animal's mental life until it verges on the unusual and marvelous.

I was always interested in animals, but when I was little, animal behavior was still a new science. It was available to become a veterinarian, it was available to study biology, but not specifically animal behavior. In the '60s, Jane Goodall was the founder of this new science.

Animals are a continuous source of inspiration and wonder to me. I would love to play a dog.

The important thing to remember is that bugs don't actually talk.

Whether animals admit it or not, they and I communicate.

Animals are very easy to love and be friends with.

When I'd written my 'Silverwing' series - I'd imbued the bats with full human awareness and vocabulary.

There is no evidence that an animal can take on the sophisticated task of deciding to end his life and to communicate that decision to us.

I think that there are many aspects to the relationship between humans and animals. But briefly, humans appear to have always been fascinated by them from the time of cave paintings and before.

I'm in the role of helping these apes negotiate the human role. I'm just a temporary intermediary in what I think will be eventual communication between the two species.

Working with animals is always going to be tough because the animal doesn't know it's an actor.