What sort of philosophers are we who know absolutely nothing of the origin and destiny of cats?
About This Quote
The line appears in Thoreau’s journal entry dated December 12, 1856, where he marvels at how nonhuman animals—cats in particular—can live closely alongside humans despite not sharing human education, religion, or culture. He uses the thought to criticize human ignorance about cats’ deeper nature and place in the world.
Interpretation
Thoreau is using cats as a philosophical challenge: even with daily proximity to them, people lack real understanding of their beginnings and ultimate purpose. The remark underscores humility about human knowledge and invites wonder about animal life beyond human categories.
Extended Quotation
Think of cats, for instance; they are neither Chinese nor Tartars; they do not go to school, nor read the Testament. Yet how near they come to doing so–how much they are like us! What sort of philosophers are we who know absolutely nothing of the origin & destiny of cats?
Variations
What sort of philosophers are we, who know absolutely nothing of the origin and destiny of cats?
What sort of philosophers are we, who know absolutely nothing about the origin and destiny of cats?
Misattributions
- Grace Goodman Mauran
Source
https://thoreau.library.ucsb.edu/ (The Writings of Henry D. Thoreau, Online Journal Transcripts; Journal, Manuscript Volume 22; entry dated December 12, 1856)
