“I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom plague them both.”

—  Yann Martel, book Life of Pi

Source: Life of Pi

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "I know zoos are no longer in people's good graces. Religion faces the same problem. Certain illusions about freedom pla…" by Yann Martel?
Yann Martel photo
Yann Martel108
Canadian author best known for the book Life of Pi 1963

Related quotes

Cormac McCarthy photo

“The freedom of birds is an insult to me. I'd have them all in zoos.”

Cormac McCarthy book Blood Meridian

The judge.
Blood Meridian (1985)

Miloš Forman photo

“And you will be surprised how many people prefer to live in the zoo; they are not ready to pay for the freedom; they think that freedom should be, you know, for free, even for granted, which never is, never is.”

Miloš Forman (1932–2018) czech-American director, screenwriter, and professor

GWU interview (1997)
Context: You know, you have to really decide where you want to live: if you want to live in the jungle or in the zoo. Because if you want the beauty, if you want freedom, the jungle is... that's your world. But you're in danger there, you have to live with snakes, sharks, tigers, skunks, you know, mosquitoes, leeches. You want to be safe, you have to live in the zoo. You are protected. You know, if you are a lamb, the tiger will not attack you. You know, you'll get a little bit something to eat every day; that's fine. You have to work hard, but you live behind the bars, and what's wonderful — you live there behind the bars and you dream about the beauty of the jungle. Now what happened was that the bars opened, and everybody runs after the dream. And suddenly, well, yeah, it's beautiful — yes, I am free to go wherever I want, do whatever I want, but where do I want to go? Oh, my God, and here is a tiger and here's a snake. Oh, oh, and people have a tendency to, you know, back. And you will be surprised how many people prefer to live in the zoo; they are not ready to pay for the freedom; they think that freedom should be, you know, for free, even for granted, which never is, never is.

Terry Pratchett photo

“Good and bad is tricky," she said. "I ain't too certain about where people stand. P'raps what matters is which way you face.”

Terry Pratchett book Witches Abroad

Source: Witches Abroad

Chris Rock photo

“See… Relationships are hard, man. For order, for any relationship to work, both people have to be on the same page, both people have to have the same focus, and we all know what that page is. We all know what that focus is. In order for the relationship to work both people have to have the same focus, and what's that focus? That focus is all about HER! It's all about her!”

Chris Rock (1965) American comedian, actor, screenwriter, television producer, film producer, and director

Never Scared (HBO, 2004)

Emil M. Cioran photo

“For you who no longer possess it, freedom is everything, for us who do, it is merely an illusion.”

Emil M. Cioran book History and Utopia

History and Utopia (1960)

“Here's your first problem," he said, pointing at a sentence. "'Religion is the opium of the people.' Well, I don't know about people, but I think you'll find that the opium of pirates is actual opium.”

Gideon Defoe (1975) British writer

Source: The Pirates! In an Adventure with Communists

Thom Yorke photo

“(about people's image of him) "I think that has a lot to do with the expression that's on my face. People are born with certain faces, like my father was born with a face that people want to hit.”

Thom Yorke (1968) English musician, philanthropist and singer-songwriter

laughs
http://www.followmearound.com/presscuttings.php?year=1995&cutting=19 source

Mark Manson photo

“Self-control is an illusion. It’s an illusion that occurs when both brains are aligned and pursuing the same course of action.”

Mark Manson book Everything Is Fucked

Oscar Wilde photo

“To make a good salad is to be a brilliant diplomatist – the problem is so entirely the same in both cases. To know exactly how much oil one must put with one's vinegar.”

Oscar Wilde Vera; or, The Nihilists

Vera; or, The Nihilists (1880)

“I have zero problem with Catholics wanting to come to the US, but that I have great concerns about Muslims, as a good % of them do want to kill me, or force their religion and moral code on me.”

Robert A. Hall (1946) American politician

I'm Tired (February 19, 2009)

Related topics