“So some respectable dodo in the Mauritius might have lorded it in his nest, and discussed the arrival of that shipful of pitiless sailors in want of animal food. “We will peck them to death tomorrow, my dear.”
Explore This Quote Further
H.G. Wells' Use of Satire in "The Time Machine"
In this satirical passage from H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine," the author imagines a conversation between a dodo in Mauritius discussing the arrival of sailors in search of animal food. The dodo humorously suggests pecking the sailors to death as a solution.
Quote Analysis:
In this quote by H.G. Wells, the author paints a vivid picture of the arrogance and ignorance of humans through the perspective of a dodo bird. The dodo, a now extinct bird from Mauritius, is depicted as naive and unaware of the danger posed by the arrival of sailors in need of food. The phrase "We will peck them to death tomorrow, my dear" highlights the dodo's misguided sense of power and control, ultimately foreshadowing its untimely demise at the hands of the sailors. This quote serves as a commentary on human impact on the environment and the consequences of human arrogance and exploitation.
The Perils of Ignorance in a Changing World
This quote from H.G. Wells reflects on the arrogance and ignorance of those in power, who fail to understand the consequences of their actions. In our modern world, this serves as a reminder of the dangers of complacency and the importance of being informed and proactive in addressing challenges. In a time where environmental degradation and exploitation of resources threaten our planet, it is crucial that we heed the lessons of the past and work towards a more sustainable future.
Reflection Questions
The quote from H.G. Wells prompts us to consider the perspective of the dodo bird in Mauritius facing the arrival of sailors in need of food. Reflecting on this scenario, the following questions may help explore various aspects of the situation:
How does this quote challenge our perceptions of human impact on wildlife and ecosystems?
What can we learn about human behavior and its consequences from the dodo's perspective in this narrative?
In what ways does this quote highlight the power dynamics between humans and nature, and how can we strive for more ethical interactions with the environment?
How does the portrayal of the dodo planning to attack the sailors make us reflect on concepts of defense, survival, and self-preservation in the face of threats?
What lessons can we draw from this quote about the importance of empathy and understanding in our relationships with other species on Earth?
Similar quotes
“A shell in the pit," said I, "if the worst comes to worst will kill them all."The intense excitement of the events had no doubt left my perceptive powers in a state of erethism. I remember that dinner table with extraordinary vividness even now. My dear wife's sweet anxious face peering at me from under the pink lampshade, the white cloth with it silver and glass table furniture—for in those days even philosophical writers had luxuries—the crimson-purple wine in my glass, are photographically distinct. At the end of it I sat, tempering nuts with a cigarette, regretting Ogilvy's rashness, and denouncing the shortsighted timidity of the Martians.So some respectable dodo in the Mauritius might have lorded it in his nest, and discussed the arrival of that shipful of pitiless sailors in want of animal food. "We will peck them to death tomorrow, my dear.”
“We will peck them to death to-morrow, my dear.”
“We must remember what ruthless and utter destruction our own species has wrought, not only upon animals, such as vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its own inferior races. The Tasmanians . . . were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in the space if fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?”
“But there are times when the little cloud spreads, until it obscures the sky. And those times I look around at my fellow men and I am reminded of some likeness of the beast-people, and I feel as though the animal is surging up in them. And I know they are neither wholly animal nor holy man, but an unstable combination of both.”
“For that moment I touched an emotion beyond the common range of men, yet one the poor brutes we dominate know only too well. I felt as a rabbit might feel returning to his burrow, and suddenly confronted by the work of a dozen busy navvies digging the foundations of a house. I felt the first inkling of a thing that presently grew quite clear in my mind, that oppressed me for many days, a sense of dethronement, a persuasion that I was no longer master, but an animal among animals; under the Martian heel.”
“That is the germ of my great discovery. But you are wrong to say that we cannot move about in Time. For instance, if I am recalling an incident very vividly I go back to the instant of its occurrence: I become absent-minded, as you say. I jump back for a moment. Of course we have no means of staying back for any length of Time, any more than a savage or an animal has of staying six feet above the ground. But a civilized man is better off than the savage in this respect. He can go up against gravitation in a balloon, and why should he not hope that ultimately he may be able to stop or accelerate his drift along the Time-Dimension, or even turn about and travel the other way?”