Atoms Quote by Mary Roberts Rinehart
“I suppose there is something in all of us that harks back to the soil. When you come to think of it, what are picnics but outcroppings of instinct? No one really enjoys them or expects to enjoy them, but with the first warm days some prehistoric instinct takes us out into the woods, to fry potatoes over a strangling wood fire or spend the next week getting grass stains out of our clothes. It must be instinct; every atom of intelligence warns us to stay at home near the refrigerator.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Nature of Instinct, 1925
She muses that picnics tap into ancient survival instincts, contrasting natural cravings with modern comforts.
In simple terms: Picnics awaken primal urges despite modern life.
Key Takeaway
Embrace simple outdoor activities.
Themes
nature
instinct
comfort
modernity
Mood
nostalgic
thoughtful
Type
observational
philosophical
When to use this quote
- family outings
- camping trips
- urban picnics
Key Concepts
anthropology
psychology
cultural tradition
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you balance comfort with natural urges?
- What simple activities reconnect you to instinct?
A Different Perspective
Modern conveniences can suppress innate desires.
![“[On fishing:] Greatest rest in the world for the brain.” quote by Mary Roberts Rinehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/606/mary-roberts-rinehart-4636_brain_on-fishing-greatest-rest-in-the-world-fo_330375.jpg)
![“[Decoding the human genome sequence] is the most significant undertaking that we have mounted so far in an organized way in all of science. I believe that reading our blueprints, cataloguing our own instruction book, will be judged by history as more significant than even splitting the atom or…” quote by Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/5c6/francis-collins-5281_atoms_decoding-the-human-genome-sequence-is-th_15604.jpg)
