Appendix:Gestures/see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

Translingual

see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

Production

The three wise monkeys are often depicted in art and sculpture doing these gestures:

• One monkey covers its own eyes, one hand over each eye.
• One monkey covers its own ears, one hand over each ear.
• One monkey covers its own mouth with both hands.

Interjection

[see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil]

1. Indicates willingness to be in good mind, speech and action, and not dwell on evil thoughts.
2. Indicates a conniving attitude; indicates willingness to turn a blind eye towards evil.
   • 1968, Planet of the Apes (1968 film)

     [In an ape society where humans are mute and are treated as animals, a man (George Taylor) is being judged in a tribunal, concerning whether he is a sentient being comparable to the apes themselves. There are 3 ape judges who are biased against him. When Zira attempts to defend the human, against Dr. Zaius as the prosecutor, the first judge covers his eyes, the second judge covers his ears and the third judge covers his mouth.]

     Zira: As an animal psychologist, I have found no physiological defect to explain why humans are mute.

     Dr. Zaius: Objection!

     Judge #2: Sustained!

     Zira: Their speech organs are adequate. The flaw lies not in anatomy, but in the brain.

     Dr. Zaius: Objection!

     Judge #2: Sustained!

See also

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• Appendix:Gestures/see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil, do no evil