--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Imagine thousands and thousands of years…" description: "\"Imagine thousands and thousands of years ago, when the human race was born in Africa, if we'd not allowed them to get out of Africa then we wouldn't ex..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/manu-chao-26036_allowed_imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years_2142709.jpg" --- # Imagine thousands and thousands of years ago, when the… ![“Imagine thousands and thousands of years ago, when the human race was born in Africa, if we'd not allowed them to get out of Africa then we wouldn't exist.” quote by Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/manu-chao-26036_allowed_imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years_2142709.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/manu-chao-26036_allowed_imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years_2142709.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/manu-chao-26036_allowed_imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years_2142709.jpg) > “Imagine thousands and thousands of years ago, when the human race was born in Africa, if we'd not allowed them to get out of Africa then we wouldn't exist.” [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human migration out of Africa was essential for our existence; restricting it would erase us. **In simple terms:** Leaving Africa enabled humanity. Key Takeaway Value freedom of movement. Themes history anthropology human rights Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical historical When to use this quote - education - policy debates - travel planning Key Concepts migration cultural exchange evolution Questions to Reflect On - What would a world without migration look like? - How does migration shape identity? A Different Perspective Restricting movement can harm cultural growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) [Africa Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa-allowed-4467923/) [Africa Wouldn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa-wouldn-4467922/) [Allowed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/allowed/) [Born](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/born/) [Exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exist/) [Human](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human/) [Human race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-race/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Thousands Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousands-years/) [Years ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years-ago/) ## Related quotes > [In a way, going to Africa allowed me to see possibilities that sometimes seem impossible in certain conditions. It also allowed me to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-adjaye/in-a-way-going-to-africa-allowed-me-to-see-possibilities-that/) [David Adjaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-adjaye/) > [Ancient Egyptian culture was so enduring. It went on for thousands of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gates/ancient-egyptian-culture-was-so-enduring-it-went-on-for-thousands-of/) [Josh Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gates/) > [Nobody knows through how many thousands of years fighting men have made a place for themselves while the weak and peaceable have gone to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elihu-root/nobody-knows-through-how-many-thousands-of-years-fighting-men-have/) [Elihu Root](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elihu-root/) > [Migration isn't a one-directional process; it's a colossal process that has been happening in all directions for thousands of years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohsin-hamid/migration-isn-t-a-one-directional-process-it-s-a-colossal-process/) [Mohsin Hamid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohsin-hamid/) > [Let's not forget that for thousands of years the institution of marriage has been between a man and a woman. Until quite recently, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/let-s-not-forget-that-for-thousands-of-years-the-institution-of/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [“Thousands of years ago, after the big Titan—God war, the gods had sliced him to bits with his own scythe and scattered his remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/thousands-of-years-ago-after-the-big-titan-god-war-the-gods-had/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“I don’t see why it’s taken thousands of years to sort out.” “That’s because the people trying to sort it out were men,” said…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/i-don-t-see-why-it-s-taken-thousands-of-years-to-sort-out-that-s/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Start to use the Law of Attraction as it was originally intended all of those thousands of years ago today by just using simple,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-richards/start-to-use-the-law-of-attraction-as-it-was-originally-intended-all/) [Stephen Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-richards/) > [ \[Arab peoples\] are stuck back thousands of years and they think they're going to get out with a TV set. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-s-burroughs/arab-peoples-are-stuck-back-thousands-of-years-and-they-think-they-re/) [William S. Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-s-burroughs/) > [For thousands of years, humans have used the art of storytelling to motivate and persuade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-soltis-anderson/for-thousands-of-years-humans-have-used-the-art-of-storytelling-to/) [Kristen Soltis Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-soltis-anderson/) > [Our heritage as actors goes back thousands of years, and we have to feel as comfortable in the clothes, and the language of Sophocles…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-adler/our-heritage-as-actors-goes-back-thousands-of-years-and-we-have-to/) [Stella Adler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stella-adler/) > [You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have had a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/you-might-think-that-after-thousands-of-years-of-coming-up-too-soon/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [Beliefs and values that have held sway for thousands of years will be questioned as never before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-p-christ/beliefs-and-values-that-have-held-sway-for-thousands-of-years-will-be/) [Carol P. Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-p-christ/) > [Yoga has been done for thousands of years and if people keep doing it, it must mean it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hector-bellerin/yoga-has-been-done-for-thousands-of-years-and-if-people-keep-doing-it/) [Hector Bellerin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hector-bellerin/) > [“Crucial decisions are made, today as thousands of years ago, in terms of the intuitive guesses and preferences of a few men in positions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-lewis/crucial-decisions-are-made-today-as-thousands-of-years-ago-in-terms/) [Michael Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-lewis/) ## More by Manu Chao > [I love going to sleep in one city and waking in another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/i-love-going-to-sleep-in-one-city-and-waking-in-another/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [I was raised in France, and the American culture was present everywhere. On TV, on the radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/i-was-raised-in-france-and-the-american-culture-was-present/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [I learnt in South America and in Africa that people who have really big problems in the ghetto always keep a sense of humour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/i-learnt-in-south-america-and-in-africa-that-people-who-have-really/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [I can spend hours and hours and days and days in the studio changing the music, because I love that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/i-can-spend-hours-and-hours-and-days-and-days-in-the-studio-changing/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [The capitalist system is out of control. Everybody should be their own leader. In our own lives and families and neighbourhoods, we can find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/the-capitalist-system-is-out-of-control-everybody-should-be-their-own/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [A CD is only a snapshot of the songs at a given time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/a-cd-is-only-a-snapshot-of-the-songs-at-a-given-time/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [Every time I met any of my heroes I was disappointed - the exception was Joe Strummer, who was like an uncle to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/every-time-i-met-any-of-my-heroes-i-was-disappointed-the-exception/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [I was born in France, but I would have been happy to have been born in Senegal or in Romania or Japan. I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/i-was-born-in-france-but-i-would-have-been-happy-to-have-been-born-in/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [I'm not a real producer, so if someone asks me to produce, it's only because they like my sound. I'm not a professional, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/i-m-not-a-real-producer-so-if-someone-asks-me-to-produce-it-s-only/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [For me, the more I think about the problems of the world, I feel I have to be positive. I wouldn't like to fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/for-me-the-more-i-think-about-the-problems-of-the-world-i-feel-i-have/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [Success is something good, and something bad. I don't know if it's good to always go after success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/success-is-something-good-and-something-bad-i-don-t-know-if-it-s-good/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [Everyone always said you have to make it in the States. But I always thought the best way was to make it in South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/everyone-always-said-you-have-to-make-it-in-the-states-but-i-always/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [You never know what little idea or joke, what flame flickering really quickly, will become a song. That first idea, it can come any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/you-never-know-what-little-idea-or-joke-what-flame-flickering-really/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [I write new lyrics as I'm traveling and I like to record in the place where I had the original idea. Sometimes I rerecord…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/i-write-new-lyrics-as-i-m-traveling-and-i-like-to-record-in-the-place/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) > [I was in a bar in Rio and a cow walked in, I looked into its eyes, and I saw such tranquillidad, serenity. Then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/i-was-in-a-bar-in-rio-and-a-cow-walked-in-i-looked-into-its-eyes-and/) [Manu Chao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) [Explore all 22 Manu Chao quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/) ## More Africa quotes > [“We ought to know the history of our ancient ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-ought-to-know-the-history-of-our-ancient-ancestors/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Africa, being the major target of colonial plunder, therefore becomes a major source of conflict.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-horne/africa-being-the-major-target-of-colonial-plunder-therefore-becomes-a/) [Gerald Horne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-horne/) > [I'm in 'Madagascar 2.' I'm Testy the Lion. The franchise moves to Africa, and Bernie Mac is also in the film. I loved working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-lister-jr/i-m-in-madagascar-2-i-m-testy-the-lion-the-franchise-moves-to-africa/) [Tom Lister, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-lister-jr/) > [South Africa needs a second liberation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mugabe/south-africa-needs-a-second-liberation/) [Robert Mugabe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mugabe/) > [There's a place in Botswana where there are 100,000 elephants living in a single population. Think of the amount of space they need. Remember,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-bergin/there-s-a-place-in-botswana-where-there-are-100-000-elephants-living/) [Patrick Bergin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-bergin/) > [If you followed the media you'd think that everybody in Africa was starving to death, and that's not the case; so it's important to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/if-you-followed-the-media-you-d-think-that-everybody-in-africa-was/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [Africa for the Africans... at home and abroad!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-garvey/africa-for-the-africans-at-home-and-abroad/) [Marcus Garvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-garvey/) > [In Africa, animals and the natural landscape allow local communities to support themselves, as there is a constant source of money from tourism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lidington/in-africa-animals-and-the-natural-landscape-allow-local-communities/) [David Lidington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lidington/) > [My mom is from Ghana, and my dad is from Detroit, so I would go back and forth to Africa a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-richardson/my-mom-is-from-ghana-and-my-dad-is-from-detroit-so-i-would-go-back/) [Sam Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-richardson/) > [I've never been invited to do an exhibition or do a talk in England, except once, about 10 years ago. I've given talks all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-wildsmith/i-ve-never-been-invited-to-do-an-exhibition-or-do-a-talk-in-england/) [Brian Wildsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-wildsmith/) > [I represent my country, but I also represent the continent of Africa when I play in Europe. That's why it's important to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yaya-toure/i-represent-my-country-but-i-also-represent-the-continent-of-africa/) [Yaya Toure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yaya-toure/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [I was learning to track rhinoceroses in Africa and tracked right up on an animal that really I thought was going to kill me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-beck/i-was-learning-to-track-rhinoceroses-in-africa-and-tracked-right-up/) [Martha Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-beck/) > [I am interested in bringing Africa to the foot of the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reinhard-bonnke/i-am-interested-in-bringing-africa-to-the-foot-of-the-cross/) [Reinhard Bonnke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reinhard-bonnke/) > [My mother is a huge fan of my work. I told her about 'Coraline' long before the film was made, and she got the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-selick/my-mother-is-a-huge-fan-of-my-work-i-told-her-about-coraline-long/) [Henry Selick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-selick/) [Browse all 1,665 Africa quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/africa/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Imagine thousands and thousands of years ago, when the human race was born in Africa, if we'd not allowed them to get out of Africa then we wouldn't exist.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Manu Chao" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years-ago-when-the-human-race-was/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Africa" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years-ago-when-the-human-race-was/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/manu-chao-26036_allowed_imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years_2142709.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/manu-chao-26036_allowed_imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years_2142709.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f9c/manu-chao-26036_allowed_imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years_2142709.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Imagine thousands and thousands of years ago, when the human race was born in Africa, if we'd not allowed…” — Manu Chao", "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": "Manu Chao", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manu-chao/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Imagine thousands and thousands of years...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years-ago-when-the-human-race-was/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manu-chao/imagine-thousands-and-thousands-of-years-ago-when-the-human-race-was/#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 } } ] } ```