Watching fish swim around in their natural habitat can be a wondrous and peaceful experience. From the tinniest 1-inch, Paedocypris progenetica, to the largest whale shark, over 30ft long, each of these creatures possesses awe-inspiring attributes. Our selection of fish quotes talks about such unique attributes, including camouflage, electroreception, and communication abilities that make them truly fascinating.
Unfortunately, humans mostly think fish only serve a purpose when dead on a plate.
In reality, fishes are vital in ways we don’t fully understand yet. To start, they play an important role in eco-diversity. From freshwater or seawater, fishes serve as a food source and also provide nutrients needed by bottom-level species that support the ecosystem.
These creatures, however, are in grave danger of extinction in light of climate change, overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution. Global warming is causing an increase in water temperature, which results in less oxygen for fish. Environmentalists all over the world insist that the current fishing system is unsustainable. There is also the issue of water pollution, tons of non-biodegradable waste is being dumped into water bodies daily all over the world.
In this article, we look at several quotes to remind us that we all have a role to play in protecting fish from the consequences of human activity.
Related: You might also like our article on the world’s ugliest animals (which we love), 15 cute axolotl facts, and we cover the different types of sharks and jellyfish species for more life below the ocean.
84 Fish Quotes
Born in Spain, Moses Ben Maimon, called Maimonides was a famous Jewish Torah scholar. He was a respected philosopher and also a prominent astronomer and physician. He published several books amongst which is the revered “Minseh Torah”.
The humble fish is the instrument of analogy in this timeless quote by Maimonides. For ages, many have used this fish quote to stress the importance of learning and teaching self-reliance. It encourages those who are dependent to seek knowledge that would enable them to become independent and also advises those who are experts in any particular field not to selfishly hoard knowledge.
Romanian sculptor, painter and photographer, Constantin Brancusi is one of the most influential sculptors of the 20th century. Many know Brancusi as the patriarch of modern sculpture. He died in 1957 leaving behind unique sculptures like the infinity pillar, the kiss and many others.
We often believe artists to be closer to nature, as they connect more to the aesthetic and metaphysical than most people. In Brancisu’s quote, he tries to capture the artistic beauty, form and grace of fish in the ocean.
Sylvia Earle is an American marine biologist, explorer, author and lecturer who has made a name for herself as the first female Chief Scientist of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration. She has been a National Geographic explorer-in-residence since 1998.
If anyone can tell us just how fantastic life under the ocean is, it would be Earle. This fish quote inspires us to see the fishes as more than just food; they’re a wonder of nature. With their colourful variationsand unique traits, they make our water bodies even more precious.
An American businessman, billionaire and philanthropist, David Murdock is the Chairman and CEO of Dole Food Company. In his advocacy for healthy living, he established the Dole Nutrition Institute to promote the benefits of a plant-based diet to promote good health. Working with UCLA, he oversaw the writing of the Encyclopedia of Foods, A Guide to Healthy Nutrition.
Everyone would love to live a long and healthy life. And decades worth of research on nutrition teaches us that our diet plays a huge role in the quality of life lived. This quote serves to reiterate the fact that a fish diet offers numerous health benefits.
Paul Watson is a Canadian-American marine wildlife conservation and environmental activist. He founded the Sea Shepherd Society, an organization that seeks to protect marine wildlife, in 1977. He has employed radical protest strategies in the past and won many awards to his credit.
This quote opens our eyes to see that a large body of water with no aquatic life is dead. It’s the fish in the rivers, lakes, ponds and oceans that make them what they are.
Scottish writer and award-winning poet, John Burnside (amazon), is one of the three authors who have won both the T. S. Eliot Prize and the Forward Poetry Prize for the same book. He has authored fourteen collections of poetry and eleven works of fiction.
John Burnside’s quote adjures us to be more cautious, more humane in our interactions with other living things in the environment. This is a call for humans to adopt a more sustainable lifestyle in production, consumption and waste management.
Jay Inslee is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the governor of Washington D.C. since 2013. Before becoming governor, he was a member of the Washington House of Representatives from 1989 to 1993. As a governor, he promotes climate change awareness, education and drug policy reform.
The quote above reminds us that rules don’t work unless people do. It is the duty of every agency set up to protect marine wildlife to make sure that they Enforce rules by actually giving sanctions and punishment to offenders.
Loretta Napoleoni is an Italian journalist, economist and political analyst. She is the bestselling author of “Terror Incorporated” (amazon). She belongs to the scientific committee of the “Fundación Ideas para el Progreso”, which many believe to be the think tank of Spain’s Socialist Party.
This fish quote exposes the real price of being ignorant of how the fish we eat is sourced. We will be guilty of hypocrisy to advocate online for sustainable fishing and have no idea if fishers caught the fish in our plate through illegal or cruel means.
Kevin Bacon is a famous American actor and musician. Some of his earliest movies include Footloose and Apollo 13 (both on amazon). He was awarded a star on the much-coveted Hollywood Walk of Fame. He and his brother form a band and have released over 50 albums.
What goes around does indeed come back around. The above fish quote reminds us that our mistreatment of fishes and their habitats has a way of getting back to us in terrible ways.
Famous American swimmer, multiple gold medalist and three-time Olympian with a world record in the men’s 4*100 meter medley relay, Aaron Peirsol was an outstanding sportsman before retiring in 2011.
At the current rate of ocean pollution, we could eventually wake up one morning to hear that all the fish are gone. And all that’s left in the ocean is plastic and chemical waste. This particular quote reminds us of all the precious things that we stand to lose if we do not take timely action. It entreats us to discontinue our careless attitude towards the fate of the fish before it’s too late.
Tommy Douglas was a Canadian Baptist minister who became a social politician. Many know Douglas for his efforts in establishing policies that favoured the common people. He instituted free healthcare, two weeks paid vacation for workers, minimum wage amongst others, first in his home state and later in the federal government. He was voted greatest Canadian of all times in 2004 on a televised contest.
Humans must take care of the planet, not exploit it to the point of destruction. Nature is for man’s enjoyment and if he wishes to continue enjoying then he must realize that his role is to be the protector of the environment.
Conclusion
These fish quotes inspire us to see fish as more than just food. They present the beauty and importance of fish and encourage each person to play their role in protecting them. Above their relevance to biodiversity and humans, fishes are alive, just as we are, and deserve to live a good life.
