Elephants have a unique sense of magic about them. The juxtaposition of their raw majesty and subtle grace is engrossing. Unlike any other wild animal, their clear emotional intelligence and social bonding draw us in, evoking a deep connection.
You can feel their inspiration far and wide, and it’s therefore not surprising that elephants are referenced throughout the literary culture.
Because we love “ellies” so much, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite elephant quotes for you!
- “Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant – the only harmless great thing.” – John Donne.
- “We admire elephants in part because they demonstrate what we consider the finest human traits: empathy, self-awareness, and social intelligence. But the way we treat them puts on display the very worst of human behaviour.” – Graydon Carter.
- “When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it’s best to let him run.” – Abraham Lincoln.
- “God is really only another artist. He invented the giraffe, the elephant and the cat. He has no real style, He just goes on trying other things.” – Pablo Picasso.
- “Th’ unwieldy elephant, to make them mirth, us’d all his might, and wreathed His lithe proboscis.” – John Milton.
- “Our elders say that an elephant does not find its own trunk heavy.” – Zakes Mda.
- “There is no creature among all the Beasts of the world which hath so great and ample demonstration of the power and wisdom of Almighty God as the Elephant.” – Edward Topsell.
- “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” – Desmond Tutu.
- “Elephants love reunions. They recognize one another after years and years of separation and greet each other with wild, boisterous joy. There’s bellowing and trumpeting, ear flapping and rubbing. Trunks entwine.” – Jennifer Richard Jacobson.
- “I have a memory like an elephant. I remember every elephant I’ve ever met.” – Herb Caen.
- “Elephants don’t know anything about the world of ants; the peaks of mountains are oblivious of what is happening on the plains!” – Mehmet Murat Ildan.
- “Elephants, it turns out, are surprisingly stealthy. As the sunlight fades, other species declare their presence. Throngs of zebras and wildebeests thunder by in the distance, trailing dust clouds. Cape buffalo snort and raise their horns and position themselves in front of their young. Giraffes stare over treetops, their huge brown eyes blinking, then lope away in seeming slow motion. But no elephants.” – Thomas French.
- “An elephant always puts his foot into the hole which another elephant’s foot has made so that a frequented track is nothing but a series of pits filled with mud and water.” – Isabella Bird.
- “We must have bearers, and outriders, and perhaps an elephant — they are so imposing, nothing says ‘Get out of the way’ quite like an elephant in the front.” – Neil Gaiman.
- When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers – Kikuyu Proverb.
- “They say that somewhere in Africa the elephants have a secret grave where they go to lie down, unburden their wrinkled grey bodies, and soar away, light spirits at the end.” – Robert McCammon.
- “They say an elephant never forgets. What they don’t tell you is, you never forget an elephant.” – Bill Murray.
- “Love will draw an elephant through a key-hole.” – Samuel Richardson.
- “The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?” – David Attenborough.
Which of these elephant quotes resonates with you? We hope it recalled some special elephant sighting memories or inspired your future travels.
Are you ready to enjoy an elephant sighting of your own? Contact our Travel Experts for an obligation-free quote, and they’ll give you their expert advice based on your individual needs and wants.
Who knows, maybe it will inspire you to write a few elephant quotes of your own!
Read more about elephants in the blogs below:
Have you ever heard this saying: “May your day be as happy as elephants at the water’s edge.” It was on a UNICEF card I had many years ago, and have never seen it anywhere since. It said it was an Indian or Asian saying, but I can’t remember. I reference it often.
Hello Stephanie,
Thank you very much for sharing the saying you have come across. It paints such a vivid picture of joy because, as you can imagine, as Safari specialists, we have indeed seen more than our share of elephants playing near a waterhole or two.
Thank you for sharing. We appreciate your input.
Best regards
Unathi
They say an elephant never forgets. What they don’t tell you is, you never forget an elephant.
Hello Dave,
Thank you for this one. We love it!
Reagrds
Unathi