Theme-park approach to nature. We judge plants and animals by whether they're entertaining to us. We gravitate toward animals and plants that are big, dramatic, beautiful and at eye-level. Gary Larson More Quotes by Gary Larson More Quotes From Gary Larson I never liked my own species. Gary Larson species my-own humanity I actually find a lot of parallels in jazz and cartooning. Gary Larson parallels jazz Thunderstick?... You actually said, 'Thunderstick?'... That, my friend is a Winchester 30.06. Gary Larson my-friends said Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber and fuel. This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth. Gary Larson ecosystems loss water I never liked my own species. On why so many of his comics are about animals, in an interview. Gary Larson species interviews animal The great thing about this jungle of ours is that anyone of you could grow up to be Lord of the apes. Gary Larson apes growing-up stupidity Perspective was always important. There are some cartoonists who can stand at the foot of a building looking straight up and they'll capture it perfectly. And then there are those of us who do the same drawing and it's the goofiest-looking thing in the world. But after a while I guess you just learn what you're capable of and what you can and can't do. Gary Larson perspective important world Man Swims in Shark Infested Waters, Forgets He's Shark Food. Gary Larson sharks water men I don't know where my ideas come from. I will admit, however, that one key ingredient is caffeine. I get a couple cups of coffee into me and weird things just start to happen. Gary Larson coffee couple keys I get a couple cups of coffee into me and weird things just start to happen. Gary Larson cups coffee couple What is that mountain goat doing way up here in the clouds? Gary Larson mountain clouds funny Wait a minute! This is grass! We've been eating grass! Gary Larson eating waiting grass I thought some of my earlier cartoons were not exactly great shakes at the time I drew them. Now I see a certain innocence in them. The humor has a kind of purity to it, I guess. And it works better on some level for me now. Gary Larson innocence cartoon kind I don't read cartoons because I think for the most part the comics don't have an interest for me. There's just nothing there these days that makes me want to go seek them out. I'm not trying to say my work wouldn't have sparked that same reaction from somebody else. There's just nothing there for me personally. Gary Larson cartoon trying thinking It would be hard to get worse. I had only one direction to go. Gary Larson Usually when I sat down to draw a cartoon, it would be more of a reflection of things in my past. Or it could be something I had experienced that morning, or that week, or something I might know that's part of my background. Gary Larson reflection morning past I think it's vital to be honest with yourself. You do have to satisfy yourself first. If you're drawing something, you have to ask yourself if it's something you genuinely think is funny. Or is it starting to fall into just a category, just kind of a shtick thing? I think it's important for all cartoonists to be honest with themselves about their own sense of humor and what they're doing. Gary Larson important fall thinking On Career Day in high school, you don't walk around looking for the cartoon guy. Gary Larson guy careers school Cartooning was a good fit for me. And yet now, years later, I almost never think about it. Gary Larson fit years thinking I think I'm maintaining the quality, but internally I'm paying for it. Gary Larson maintaining quality thinking
