To think of ourselves as brothers to all that lives, and to act upon that principle, can be a tremendous power for good. The whole nature of man is awakened thereby to a higher perspective and a broader view. This helps to banish the great heresy of separateness, the greatest curse of any age. Every living thing is intelligent. This follows from the universality of the principle of Mind.
Animals are obviously intelligent, and even choose in their way.
The difference between animals and men in this regard lies in man's power to choose self-consciously. He is on a higher rung of the ladder of being. Yet Nature often shows more sense than man seems to. This is because there are universal Laws which prevail everywhere. Also, Nature includes man and living beings of greater Wisdom than mankind generally has yet attained.