---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Are you an evolutionist? I’m an…"
description: "\"“Are you an evolutionist? I’m an absurdist, ma’am. But let’s suppose evolution is true; what about the monkeys today? Why can’t we see them evolving? A..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/harrison-wheeler-241595_absurd_are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist_1493506.jpg"
---

#  Are you an evolutionist? I’m an absurdist, ma’am. But…

![“Are you an evolutionist? I’m an absurdist, ma’am. But let’s suppose evolution is true; what about the monkeys today? Why can’t we see them evolving? Are they still evolving?” quote by Harrison Wheeler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/harrison-wheeler-241595_absurd_are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist_1493506.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/harrison-wheeler-241595_absurd_are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist_1493506.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/harrison-wheeler-241595_absurd_are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist_1493506.jpg)

> ““Are you an evolutionist? I’m an absurdist, ma’am. But let’s suppose evolution is true; what about the monkeys today? Why can’t we see them evolving? Are they still evolving?””

Harrison Wheeler

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Evolutionary change is continuous; lack of visible change in primates does not mean evolution stops.

**In simple terms:** Evolution is ongoing, even if unseen.

Key Takeaway

Accept gradual change over time.

Themes

evolution science humor philosophy

Mood

curious playful

Type

humorous philosophical

When to use this quote

- education
- debates
- media literacy

Key Concepts

biology philosophy critical thinking

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence shows ongoing evolution in humans?
- How can we reconcile scientific facts with humor?

A Different Perspective

Humor may oversimplify complex science.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Absurd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Humour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humour/) [Jester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jester/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Monkey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monkey/)

## Related quotes

> [There is no law of progress. Our future is in our own hands, to make or to mar. It will be an uphill fight…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-ralph-inge/there-is-no-law-of-progress-our-future-is-in-our-own-hands-to-make-or/)

[William Ralph Inge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-ralph-inge/)

> [Maybe scientists are fundamentalist when it comes to defining in some abstract way what is meant by 'truth'. But so is everybody else. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/maybe-scientists-are-fundamentalist-when-it-comes-to-defining-in-some/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [No science is ever frightening to Christians. Religious people don't need the science to come out any particular way on IQ or AIDS or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/no-science-is-ever-frightening-to-christians-religious-people-don-t/)

[Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/)

> [If evolution is true, you could not know that it’s true because your brain is nothing but chemicals. Think about that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-hovind/if-evolution-is-true-you-could-not-know-that-it-s-true-because-your/)

[Kent Hovind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-hovind/)

> [I see love as an evolution of true friendship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-see-love-as-an-evolution-of-true-friendship/)

[Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/)

> [Darwin's Theory of Earth's Evolution is not true since Human Race is all over universe and every matured earth gives birth to nascent earth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwani-kumar-ojha/darwin-s-theory-of-earth-s-evolution-is-not-true-since-human-race-is/)

[Ashwani Kumar Ojha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwani-kumar-ojha/)

> [Although God believers don't need evolution to be false, atheists need evolution to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/although-god-believers-don-t-need-evolution-to-be-false-atheists-need/)

[Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/)

> [Even if evolution were true, it wouldn't disprove God. God has performed more spectacular feats than evolution. It's not even a daunting challenge to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-coulter/even-if-evolution-were-true-it-wouldn-t-disprove-god-god-has/)

[Ann Coulter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-coulter/)

> [Dilbert: Evolution must be true because it is a logical conclusion of the scientific method. Dogbert: But science is based on the irrational belief…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/dilbert-evolution-must-be-true-because-it-is-a-logical-conclusion-of/)

[Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/)

> [Deep down, all of us are probably aware that some kind of mystical evolution is our true task. Yet we suppress the notion with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/deep-down-all-of-us-are-probably-aware-that-some-kind-of-mystical/)

[Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/)

> [Evolution is true, it happens, it is the way the world is, and we too are one of its products. This does not mean…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-conway-morris/evolution-is-true-it-happens-it-is-the-way-the-world-is-and-we-too/)

[Simon Conway Morris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-conway-morris/)

> [Evolution was all over my chldhood, walks abroad with an evolutionist and the world was full of evolution, biological and botanical evolution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/evolution-was-all-over-my-chldhood-walks-abroad-with-an-evolutionist/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Christians—who have no patience with Darwinistic materialism—often sound as progressive as the most ardent evolutionist. They look for “new” theologies, “new” ways of worship,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-edward-veith/christians-who-have-no-patience-with-darwinistic-materialism-often/)

Gene Edward Veith

> [Evolution throws a wonderful light on all the struggles, eccentricities, tortuous developments of the human conscience in the past. It is the only theory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-mccabe/evolution-throws-a-wonderful-light-on-all-the-struggles/)

[Joseph McCabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-mccabe/)

> [Agnosticism is the natural attitude of the evolutionist. How can a brute mind comprehend spiritual things?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-jennings-bryan/agnosticism-is-the-natural-attitude-of-the-evolutionist-how-can-a/)

[William Jennings Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-jennings-bryan/)

## More Absurd quotes

> [“It seem absurd to me that they don't know, haven't felt any change or tremor, even as my life has been completely turned upside…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/it-seem-absurd-to-me-that-they-don-t-know-haven-t-felt-any-change-or/)

[Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/)

> [When a person’s tongue is extensively wrong, it is absurd, no less than unscriptural, to say that their heart is right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-a-person-s-tongue-is-extensively-wrong-it-is-absurd-no-less-than/)

[J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/)

> [Every sensible man, every honorable man, must hold the Christian sect in horror." "Christianity is the most ridiculous, the most absurd and bloody religion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/every-sensible-man-every-honorable-man-must-hold-the-christian-sect/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [It is human nature to think wisely and to act in an absurd fashion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anatole-france/it-is-human-nature-to-think-wisely-and-to-act-in-an-absurd-fashion/)

[Anatole France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anatole-france/)

> [It is a dangerous and fateful presumption, besides the absurd temerity that it implies, to disdain what we do not comprehend. For after you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-a-dangerous-and-fateful-presumption-besides-the-absurd-temerity/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I thought to myself: if it’s true that every person has a star in the sky, mine must be distant, dim, and absurd. Perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadegh-hedayat/i-thought-to-myself-if-it-s-true-that-every-person-has-a-star-in-the/)

[Sadegh Hedayat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadegh-hedayat/)

> [If, indeed, a firearm were more dangerous to its possessors than to potential aggressors, would it not make sense for the government to arm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mamet/if-indeed-a-firearm-were-more-dangerous-to-its-possessors-than-to/)

[David Mamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mamet/)

> [“You were torturing a cat," she says. "With a freaking prod." "A prod I built myself in metal shop," he says. "But of course…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/you-were-torturing-a-cat-she-says-with-a-freaking-prod-a-prod-i-built/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [I have never heard enough classical music to be able to enjoy it; &amp; the simple truth is, I detest it. Not mildly, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-have-never-heard-enough-classical-music-to-be-able-to-enjoy-it-the/)

[Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/)

> [To deprecate human reason by saying that none of us is or can be omniscient is absurd, for it takes an impossible standard as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-rothbard/to-deprecate-human-reason-by-saying-that-none-of-us-is-or-can-be/)

[Murray Rothbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-rothbard/)

> [“Rachel got up and did this happy little shuffle, like she was some cheerful farmer chick who'd just stepped outside to find the hick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/rachel-got-up-and-did-this-happy-little-shuffle-like-she-was-some/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [The absurd duty, too often inculcated, of obeying a parent only on account of his being a parent, shackles the mind, and prepares it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-wollstonecraft/the-absurd-duty-too-often-inculcated-of-obeying-a-parent-only-on/)

[Mary Wollstonecraft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-wollstonecraft/)

> [The workman of today works every day in his life at the same tasks, and this fate is no less absurd. But it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-camus/the-workman-of-today-works-every-day-in-his-life-at-the-same-tasks/)

[Albert Camus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-camus/)

> [I was once part of a Christmas cabaret. I sang 'I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.' I tap-danced. I had a ten-gallon hat. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-dinklage/i-was-once-part-of-a-christmas-cabaret-i-sang-i-saw-mommy-kissing/)

[Peter Dinklage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-dinklage/)

> [Solitude produces originality, bold and astonishing beauty, poetry. But solitude also produces perverseness, the disproportianate, the absurd and the forbidden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-mann/solitude-produces-originality-bold-and-astonishing-beauty-poetry-but/)

[Thomas Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-mann/)

[Browse all 1,644 Absurd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/absurd/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Are you an evolutionist? I’m an absurdist, ma’am. But let’s suppose evolution is true; what about the monkeys today? Why can’t we see them evolving? Are they still evolving?”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Harrison Wheeler"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-wheeler/are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist-ma-am-but-let-s-suppose/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Absurd"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-wheeler/are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist-ma-am-but-let-s-suppose/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/harrison-wheeler-241595_absurd_are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist_1493506.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/harrison-wheeler-241595_absurd_are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist_1493506.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4ec/harrison-wheeler-241595_absurd_are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist_1493506.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Are you an evolutionist? I’m an absurdist, ma’am. But let’s suppose evolution is true; what about the…” — Harrison Wheeler",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Harrison Wheeler",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-wheeler/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Are you an evolutionist? I’m an...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-wheeler/are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist-ma-am-but-let-s-suppose/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-wheeler/are-you-an-evolutionist-i-m-an-absurdist-ma-am-but-let-s-suppose/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
