"Observe, too, says Philo, the curious artifices of nature, in order to embitter the life of every living being. The stronger prey upon the weaker, and keep them in perpetual terror and anxiety. The weaker too, in their turn, often prey upon the stronger, and vex and molest them without relaxation. Consider that innumerable race of insects, which either are bred on the body of each animal, or flying about infix their stings in him. These insects have others still less than themselves, which torment them. And thus on each hand, before and behind, above and below, every animal is surrounded with enemies, which incessantly seek his misery and destruction."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
David Hume in: Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion (1779)
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Predation
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
Predation
92 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by Predation →
Related Quotes
"When predators are capable of regulating prey populations, then they may indirectly influence both the composition an…"
"Predation is probably as old as (cellular) life itself, and it is likely to have existed in many different forms and …"
"Each predator directly exerts a negative effect upon its prey, but predators may also provide indirect benefits to th…"
"Predation, in animal behaviour, [is] the pursuit, capture, and killing of animals for food. Predatory animals may be …"
"The senses of predators are adapted in a variety of ways to facilitate hunting behaviour. Visual acuity is great in r…"
"Many insect-eating bats hunt by echolocation, emitting a pulsed, high-frequency sound—in the manner of a ship's sonar…"
"A flock of white pelicans will cooperate to form a semicircle and, with much flapping of wings, drive fish into shall…"
""Natural? Why would I give a damn about what's natural? Nature is a butcher! Nature is a goddamned butcher!" [...] Th…"
"Although predation has likely played a central role in the evolution of primate socioecology, we currently lack a tho…"
"Firefly females of the genus Photuris, long known to be carnivorous, attract and devour males of the genus Photinus b…"