--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Humans have lived for much, much longer…" description: "\"Humans have lived for much, much longer than the approximately 10,000 years of settled agricultural civilization.\" — Howard Rheingold" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/howard-rheingold-2794_civilization_humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-t_1480853.png" --- # Humans have lived for much, much longer than the… ![“Humans have lived for much, much longer than the approximately 10,000 years of settled agricultural civilization.” quote by Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/howard-rheingold-2794_civilization_humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-t_1480853.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/howard-rheingold-2794_civilization_humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-t_1480853.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/howard-rheingold-2794_civilization_humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-t_1480853.png) > “Humans have lived for much, much longer than the approximately 10,000 years of settled agricultural civilization.” [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human history far predates agriculture, reminding us that our modern timeline is a brief chapter in a long story. **In simple terms:** Humans existed long before farming. Key Takeaway Remember our deep roots. Themes history perspective humanity Mood reflective humble Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - public speaking - writing - cultural analysis Key Concepts anthropology civilization timeline Questions to Reflect On - How does this perspective change your view of modern challenges? - What lessons can we learn from pre‑agricultural societies? A Different Perspective May overlook the impact of recent technological change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [000 Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/000-years/) [Agricultural Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agricultural-civilization-5396655/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Humans Lived](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans-lived-436340/) [Lived Longer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lived-longer-987344/) [Settled Agricultural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/settled-agricultural-5396656/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [“from its beginning, Egypt was a densely settled agricultural community. Its soil was rich, and because farming necessarily ceased during the months of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-f-cantor/from-its-beginning-egypt-was-a-densely-settled-agricultural-community/) [Norman F. Cantor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-f-cantor/) > [ “One way of emphasizing the singularity of the recent past is \[..\] to observe that the total number of humans ever to have lived… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-way-of-emphasizing-the-singularity-of-the-recent-past-is-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ninety-nine percent of the time humans have lived on this planet we've lived in tribes, groups of 12 to 36 people. Only during times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-mead/ninety-nine-percent-of-the-time-humans-have-lived-on-this-planet-we/) [Margaret Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-mead/) > [Humans lived for several million years as fully wild beings: only in the last 10, 000 did we invent agriculture; only in the last…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-barnes/humans-lived-for-several-million-years-as-fully-wild-beings-only-in/) [Simon Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-barnes/) > [“Humans! They lived in a world where the grass continued to be green and the sun rose every day and flowers regularly turned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/humans-they-lived-in-a-world-where-the-grass-continued-to-be-green/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [I literally have never lived anywhere longer than two years in my life. I never just stuck anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/javale-mcgee/i-literally-have-never-lived-anywhere-longer-than-two-years-in-my/) [JaVale McGee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/javale-mcgee/) > [I wish my father had lived longer. He died when I was 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-bremner/i-wish-my-father-had-lived-longer-he-died-when-i-was-18/) [Rory Bremner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-bremner/) > [Someone who lives meaningfully for 30 years has lived a much longer Life than one who drifted through Life for 60 years.-RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rvm/someone-who-lives-meaningfully-for-30-years-has-lived-a-much-longer/) [RVM](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rvm/) > [Our physical health is dependent upon energy. We have a short lifespan compared with past Yuga's. We are made up of energy lines. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/our-physical-health-is-dependent-upon-energy-we-have-a-short-lifespan-2/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“For life is experience, and longevity is, in the end, measured by memory, and those with a thousand tales to tell have indeed lived…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-a-salvatore/for-life-is-experience-and-longevity-is-in-the-end-measured-by-memory/) [R.A. Salvatore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-a-salvatore/) > [“Older people are wise not only because they have lived longer. They're wise because they have lost more.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mari-ruti/older-people-are-wise-not-only-because-they-have-lived-longer-they-re/) [Mari Ruti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mari-ruti/) > [There was no time when I lived anywhere longer than two years. I was always a social outcast. Maybe I didn't care what people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haley-bennett/there-was-no-time-when-i-lived-anywhere-longer-than-two-years-i-was/) [Haley Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haley-bennett/) > [The longer I lived, the longer it would be until I saw him alive again, until I could taste his new lips and run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsie-shakespeare/the-longer-i-lived-the-longer-it-would-be-until-i-saw-him-alive-again/) [Chelsie Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsie-shakespeare/) > [99.99 percent of all species that have ever lived are no longer with us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/99-99-percent-of-all-species-that-have-ever-lived-are-no-longer-with/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [Those that have lived longer than us always have something to teach us, that we can take with us for the rest of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-cash/those-that-have-lived-longer-than-us-always-have-something-to-teach/) [Johnny Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-cash/) ## More by Howard Rheingold > [Attention is a limited resource, so pay attention to where you pay attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-a-limited-resource-so-pay-attention-to-where-you-pay/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [What person doesn't search online about their disease after they are diagnosed?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/what-person-doesn-t-search-online-about-their-disease-after-they-are/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [You can't pick up the telephone and say, 'Connect me with someone else who has a kid with leukemia.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/you-can-t-pick-up-the-telephone-and-say-connect-me-with-someone-else/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [We like technology because we don't have to talk to anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/we-like-technology-because-we-don-t-have-to-talk-to-anybody/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Attention is the fundamental instrument we use for learning, thinking, communicating, deciding, yet neither parents nor schools spend any time helping young people learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/attention-is-the-fundamental-instrument-we-use-for-learning-thinking/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [One thing we didn't know in 1996 is that it's very, very difficult, if not impossible, to sustain a culture with online advertising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/one-thing-we-didn-t-know-in-1996-is-that-it-s-very-very-difficult-if/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Any virtual community that works, works because people put in some time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/any-virtual-community-that-works-works-because-people-put-in-some-time/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [There actually are buildings that existed in cyberspace before they built it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/there-actually-are-buildings-that-existed-in-cyberspace-before-they/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [The world is restructuring, and all of the enemies that used to exist are kind of gone, so now they are looking out for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/the-world-is-restructuring-and-all-of-the-enemies-that-used-to-exist/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Kerouac was this kid who exemplified something happening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/kerouac-was-this-kid-who-exemplified-something-happening/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Of course, with agriculture came the first big civilizations, the first cities built of mud and brick, the first empires. And it was the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/of-course-with-agriculture-came-the-first-big-civilizations-the-first/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [Its not a global village, but we're in a highly interconnected globe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/its-not-a-global-village-but-we-re-in-a-highly-interconnected-globe/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [People's behavior will change with technology. I know very few young people who can't type out a text message on their phone with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/people-s-behavior-will-change-with-technology-i-know-very-few-young/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [I'm somebody who seems to stumble into things 10 or 20 years before the rest of the world does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/i-m-somebody-who-seems-to-stumble-into-things-10-or-20-years-before/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) > [There are always a few people who are hyper-normal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/there-are-always-a-few-people-who-are-hyper-normal/) [Howard Rheingold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) [Explore all 150 Howard Rheingold quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/) ## More Civilization quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Sentiment is the mightiest force in civilization; not sentimentality, but sentiment. Women will bring this into politics. Home, sweet home, is as powerful on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-ellen-foster/sentiment-is-the-mightiest-force-in-civilization-not-sentimentality/) [Judith Ellen Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-ellen-foster/) > [Violence is not necessary to destroy a civilization. Each civilization dies from indifference toward the unique values which created it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicolas-gomez-davila/violence-is-not-necessary-to-destroy-a-civilization-each-civilization/) [Nicolas Gomez Davila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicolas-gomez-davila/) > [“The voice in the head that never stops speaking becomes a civilization that is obsessed with form and therefore knows nothing of the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eckhart-tolle/the-voice-in-the-head-that-never-stops-speaking-becomes-a/) [Eckhart Tolle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eckhart-tolle/) > [We released 400,000 classified documents, the most extraordinary history of a war to ever have been released in our civilization. Those documents cover 109,000…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-assange/we-released-400-000-classified-documents-the-most-extraordinary/) [Julian Assange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-assange/) > [Wine is one of the most civilized things in the world and one of the most natural things of the world that has been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/wine-is-one-of-the-most-civilized-things-in-the-world-and-one-of-the/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [Whenever we touch nature we get clean. People who have got dirty through too much civilization take a walk in the woods, or a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/whenever-we-touch-nature-we-get-clean-people-who-have-got-dirty/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [The invention of gunpowder and the constant improvement of firearms are enough in themselves to show that the advance of civilization has done nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-von-clausewitz/the-invention-of-gunpowder-and-the-constant-improvement-of-firearms/) [Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-von-clausewitz/) > [Another success is the post-office, with its educating energy augmented by cheapness and guarded by a certain religious sentimentin mankind; so that the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/another-success-is-the-post-office-with-its-educating-energy/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [“The mission is, not to replace old world mindlessness with new world mindlessness, but to put an end to all forms of brainless authoritarianism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-mission-is-not-to-replace-old-world-mindlessness-with-new-world/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [Our civilization, bequeathed to us by fierce adventurers, eaters of meat and hunters, is so full of hurry and combat, so busy about many…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/our-civilization-bequeathed-to-us-by-fierce-adventurers-eaters-of/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [Coal lay in ledges under the ground since the Flood, until a laborer with pick and windlass brings it to the surface. We may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/coal-lay-in-ledges-under-the-ground-since-the-flood-until-a-laborer/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [Once we allow ourselves to be disobedient to the test of an accountant's profit, we have begun to change our civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-maynard-keynes/once-we-allow-ourselves-to-be-disobedient-to-the-test-of-an/) [John Maynard Keynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-maynard-keynes/) > [Our laws and our institutions must necessarily be based upon and embody the teachings of the Redeemer of mankind. It is impossible that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-josiah-brewer/our-laws-and-our-institutions-must-necessarily-be-based-upon-and/) [David Josiah Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-josiah-brewer/) [Browse all 4,084 Civilization quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Humans have lived for much, much longer than the approximately 10,000 years of settled agricultural civilization.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Howard Rheingold" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-than-the-approximately-10-000/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Civilization" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-than-the-approximately-10-000/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/howard-rheingold-2794_civilization_humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-t_1480853.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/howard-rheingold-2794_civilization_humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-t_1480853.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/44e/howard-rheingold-2794_civilization_humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-t_1480853.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Humans have lived for much, much longer than the approximately 10,000 years of settled agricultural…” — Howard Rheingold", "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": "Howard Rheingold", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-rheingold/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Humans have lived for much, much...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-than-the-approximately-10-000/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-rheingold/humans-have-lived-for-much-much-longer-than-the-approximately-10-000/#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 } } ] } ```