A Quote by Gerald Brenan

Words are as recalcitrant as circus animals, and the unskilled trainer can crack his whip at them in vain.

Gerald Brenan

Quote Topics

Animals Circus Crack His Recalcitrant Them Trainer Unskilled Vain Whip Words

Quote Author

Gerald Brenan
English - Writer
April 7, 1894 - January 19, 1987

Circus dogs jump when the trainer cracks his whip, but the really well-trained dog is the one that turns his somersault when there is no whip.

George Orwell

Circus dogs jump when the trainer cracks his whip.

George Orwell

When children see animals in a circus, they learn that animals exist for our amusement. Quite apart from the cruelty involved in training and confining these animals, the whole idea that we should enjoy the humiliating spectacle of an elephant or lion made to perform circus tricks shows a lack of respect for the animals as individuals.

Peter Singer

I'm not the best fly fisherman, but I can fly-fish, because I crack a whip. I learned to crack a whip as a boy... I have skills, mad skills.

Alex O'Loughlin

The idea that it is funny to see wild animals coerced into acting like clumsy humans, or thrilling to see powerful beasts reduced to cringing cowards by a whip-cracking trainer, is primitive and medieval. It stems from the old idea that we are superior to other species and have the right to hold dominion over them.

Desmond Morris

I find I think of myself not as a writer so much as someone who provides a gateway, a tangential route for readers to reach the circus. To visit the circus again, if only in their minds, when they are unable to attend it physically. I relay it through printed words on crumpled newsprint, words that they can read again and again, returning to the circus whenever they wish, regardless of time of day or physical location. Transporting them at will. When put that way, it sounds rather like magic, doesn't it? p.369

Erin Morgenstern

Cirque du Soleil distinguished itself by being a circus with no animals. Before then, circus was partly about showing how man can tame other species.

Robert Lepage

I hate to witness animals in captivity - or see circus elephants paraded down the streets. When animals are caged, it's a loss of what they are.

K. A. Applegate

It is ... necessary to whip up the population in support of foreign adventures. Usually the population is pacifist, just like they were during the First World War. The public sees no reason to get involved in foreign adventures, killing, and torture. So you have to whip them up. And to whip them up you have to frighten them.

Noam Chomsky

Against fortune the carter cracks his whip in vain. [Fr., Centre fortune, la diverse un chartier rompit nazardes son fouet.]

Francois Rabelais

Like People, animals will become frightened and likely do whatever you say if you whip them enough.

Daniel Handler

Most people don't get a fair crack of the whip.

Fatboy Slim

Being smart as a whip includes knowing when not to crack it.

Vera Nazarian

When I was a kid I joined the circus. I did that. It is true. But it's not like you think. There was a guy, he had his own circus. His name was Carol Jacobs and he owned it. It was a small thing.