"They are just too much like us."

"Humans --- who enslave, castrate, experiment on,

 

and fillet other animals ---

 

have an understandable penchant for pretending

 

animals do not feel pain.  A sharp distinction between humans

 

and 'animals' is essential if we are to bend them to our will,

 

make them work for us, wear them, eat them ---

 

without any disquieting tinges of guilt or regret.. 

 

It is unseemly of us, who often behave so unfeelingly toward

 

other animals, to contend that only humans can suffer.  The 

 

behavior of other animals renders such pretensions specious. 

 

They are just too much like us."

 

~ Carl Sagan

 

 

*Carl Edward Sagan (/ˈseɪɡən/; November 9, 1934 – December 20, 1996) was an American astronomer, astrophysicist, cosmologist, author, science popularizer and science communicator in astronomy and natural sciences. He spent most of his career as a professor of astronomy at Cornell University where he directed the Laboratory for Planetary Studies. He published more than 600 scientific papers^[2] and articles and was author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books.

 

 

Source:

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