--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The fact that we don't have that biologic…" description: "\"The fact that we don't have that biologic pressure to have highly polyphasic sleep, I think, probably tells us something in terms of, truly, whether it..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/matthew-walker-9547_i-think_the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologi_1911345.jpg" --- # The fact that we don't have that biologic pressure to have… ![“The fact that we don't have that biologic pressure to have highly polyphasic sleep, I think, probably tells us something in terms of, truly, whether it's useful or not.” quote by Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/matthew-walker-9547_i-think_the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologi_1911345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/matthew-walker-9547_i-think_the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologi_1911345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/matthew-walker-9547_i-think_the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologi_1911345.jpg) > “The fact that we don't have that biologic pressure to have highly polyphasic sleep, I think, probably tells us something in terms of, truly, whether it's useful or not.” [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker notes humans lack a strong biological drive for polyphasic sleep, questioning its usefulness. **In simple terms:** People aren’t biologically driven to sleep in many short bouts. Key Takeaway Question polyphasic sleep benefits. Themes sleep biology productivity health Mood inquisitive analytical Type educational health‑focused When to use this quote - work schedules - study habits - night shifts Key Concepts polyphasic sleep circadian rhythms sleep research Questions to Reflect On - Is polyphasic sleep right for you? - What are the trade‑offs of fragmented sleep? A Different Perspective Scientific evidence on polyphasic sleep is limited. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Biologic Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biologic-pressure-2880745/) [Highly Polyphasic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highly-polyphasic-2880744/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Polyphasic Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/polyphasic-sleep-2880743/) [Pressure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pressure/) [Probably Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/probably-tells-2880746/) [Sleep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep/) [Sleep Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sleep-think-725526/) [Something](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/something/) [Us](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/us/) ## Related quotes > [I've never understood people that sleep around. I think there's something very lacking in your life when you do, not to be judgmental.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gemma-arterton/i-ve-never-understood-people-that-sleep-around-i-think-there-s/) [Gemma Arterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gemma-arterton/) > [“at the end of every day, before you go to sleep, to think through the events of the day. If any events or moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/at-the-end-of-every-day-before-you-go-to-sleep-to-think-through-the/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [I work, and then whenever I have any other time, I'm with my daughter, and then I go to sleep. I think you basically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-fey/i-work-and-then-whenever-i-have-any-other-time-i-m-with-my-daughter/) [Tina Fey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-fey/) > [Neville recommends at the end of every day, before you go to sleep, to think through the events of the day. If any events…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-byrne/neville-recommends-at-the-end-of-every-day-before-you-go-to-sleep-to/) [Rhonda Byrne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-byrne/) > [There is no sleep, not what you think it is, and no hand outs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-porter/there-is-no-sleep-not-what-you-think-it-is-and-no-hand-outs/) [Travis Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-porter/) > [I gueess it's just a reaction. when I think of you, I cant sleep, its going on to the second night; no sleep. and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patience/i-gueess-it-s-just-a-reaction-when-i-think-of-you-i-cant-sleep-its/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patience/) > [If you ever go home with somebody and they don't have books in their house, don't sleep with them. I think that's very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-waters/if-you-ever-go-home-with-somebody-and-they-don-t-have-books-in-their/) [John Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-waters/) > [I love sleep. I need sleep. We all do, of course. There are those people that don't need sleep. I think they're called 'successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-love-sleep-i-need-sleep-we-all-do-of-course-there-are-those-people/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [You've only got to begin to do anything to find out how few honest, honourable people there are. Sometimes, when I can't sleep, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-chekhov/you-ve-only-got-to-begin-to-do-anything-to-find-out-how-few-honest/) [Anton Chekhov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-chekhov/) > [“I am lying in the same bed where my mother died so long ago; on the same mattress, beneath the same black wool coverlet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-rulfo/i-am-lying-in-the-same-bed-where-my-mother-died-so-long-ago-on-the/) [Juan Rulfo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-rulfo/) > [“Sometimes I wish I never had to sleep. Sometimes I think that if I stay very, very still, if I never move at all,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tahereh-mafi/sometimes-i-wish-i-never-had-to-sleep-sometimes-i-think-that-if-i/) [Tahereh Mafi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tahereh-mafi/) > [“Guys may be flirting all day. But before they go to sleep, they always think about the girl they truly care about...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yoana-dianika/guys-may-be-flirting-all-day-but-before-they-go-to-sleep-they-always/) [Yoana Dianika](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yoana-dianika/) > [“You're all I think about, dream about. I get high and low and it's all about you now, it's not even about me anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-evans/you-re-all-i-think-about-dream-about-i-get-high-and-low-and-it-s-all/) [Katy Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-evans/) > [“What do you think about when you can't sleep? Sometimes I think about the ocean. I can see it lapping on the shore, waves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-r-hubbard/what-do-you-think-about-when-you-can-t-sleep-sometimes-i-think-about/) [Jennifer R. Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-r-hubbard/) > [When I wake up, I think about you.. When I sleep, I think about you.. These two thoughts have became a regular habit of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jude/when-i-wake-up-i-think-about-you-when-i-sleep-i-think-about-you-these/) [Jude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jude/) ## More by Matthew Walker > [“Routinely sleeping less than six or seven hours a night demolishes your immune system, more than doubling your risk of cancer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/routinely-sleeping-less-than-six-or-seven-hours-a-night-demolishes/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [You're trying to sleep off a debt that you've lumbered your brain and body with during the week, and wouldn't it be lovely if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/you-re-trying-to-sleep-off-a-debt-that-you-ve-lumbered-your-brain-and/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [“The best bridge between despair and hope is a good night’s sleep.”VII”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/the-best-bridge-between-despair-and-hope-is-a-good-night-s-sleep-vii/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [I think we perhaps are, with sleep, where we were with smoking about 50 years ago, in that we had all of the science,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/i-think-we-perhaps-are-with-sleep-where-we-were-with-smoking-about-50/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [It's simply that older adults don't seem to be able to generate sleep efficiently, and that's why they're not getting it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/it-s-simply-that-older-adults-don-t-seem-to-be-able-to-generate-sleep/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [The time of night when you sleep makes a significant difference in terms of the structure and quality of your sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/the-time-of-night-when-you-sleep-makes-a-significant-difference-in/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [Do you tend to sleep in during the weekends? That usually signals that you're trying to sleep off a debt you've accumulated during the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/do-you-tend-to-sleep-in-during-the-weekends-that-usually-signals-that/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [No one wants to give up time with their family or entertainment, so they give up sleep instead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/no-one-wants-to-give-up-time-with-their-family-or-entertainment-so/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [If sleep does not provide a remarkable set of benefits, then it's the biggest mistake the evolutionary process has ever made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/if-sleep-does-not-provide-a-remarkable-set-of-benefits-then-it-s-the/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [Your subjective sense of how well you're doing under conditions of sleep deprivation is a miserable predictor of, objectively, how you actually are doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/your-subjective-sense-of-how-well-you-re-doing-under-conditions-of/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [If you were not to set an alarm clock, would you sleep past it? If the answer is yes, then there is clearly more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/if-you-were-not-to-set-an-alarm-clock-would-you-sleep-past-it-if-the/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [Friends say, 'Shall we go out to dinner at 8?' I say, 'I can't, I'm a 10 A.M.-till-6:30 P.M. kind of guy.' I keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/friends-say-shall-we-go-out-to-dinner-at-8-i-say-i-can-t-i-m-a-10-a-m/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [I give myself a non-negotiable eight-hour sleep opportunity every night.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/i-give-myself-a-non-negotiable-eight-hour-sleep-opportunity-every/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [We know that efficiency and effectiveness are increased when you're getting sufficient sleep, and it will take you longer to do the same thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/we-know-that-efficiency-and-effectiveness-are-increased-when-you-re/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) > [As you try to tweak your sleep one way or the other, you might be, you might be doing great - you might do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/as-you-try-to-tweak-your-sleep-one-way-or-the-other-you-might-be-you/) [Matthew Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) [Explore all 72 Matthew Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/) ## More I think quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I don't think there's a direct correlation between my sexuality and my skiing ability. But I think because I was so concerned about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gus-kenworthy/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-direct-correlation-between-my-sexuality-and/) [Gus Kenworthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gus-kenworthy/) > [I'm not here trying to convince anybody to vote for Donald Trump. I think every Christian needs to make up his own mind about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-jeffress/i-m-not-here-trying-to-convince-anybody-to-vote-for-donald-trump-i/) [Robert Jeffress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-jeffress/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I don't crave applause. I'm not one of those guys who comes alive on stage. I'm much more alive at home, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bowie/i-don-t-crave-applause-i-m-not-one-of-those-guys-who-comes-alive-on/) [David Bowie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bowie/) > [William Maxwell's my favorite North American writer, I think. And an Irish writer who used to write for 'The New Yorker' called Maeve Brennan,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-munro/william-maxwell-s-my-favorite-north-american-writer-i-think-and-an/) [Alice Munro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-munro/) > [I think a person has to just be herself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-nixon/i-think-a-person-has-to-just-be-herself/) [Pat Nixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-nixon/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I think taking a hookline of a hit song and making a new song is fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-kumar/i-think-taking-a-hookline-of-a-hit-song-and-making-a-new-song-is-fun/) [Tulsi Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-kumar/) > [I thought I fought a really good Orlando Salido. I never let him get into his fight. I knew what I needed to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/i-thought-i-fought-a-really-good-orlando-salido-i-never-let-him-get/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I think it's a wonderful thing, turning 50. I think everyone should do it at least once.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-thing-turning-50-i-think-everyone-should-do/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) [Browse all 29,267 I think quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The fact that we don't have that biologic pressure to have highly polyphasic sleep, I think, probably tells us something in terms of, truly, whether it's useful or not.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Walker" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologic-pressure-to-have-highly/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "I think" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologic-pressure-to-have-highly/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/matthew-walker-9547_i-think_the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologi_1911345.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/matthew-walker-9547_i-think_the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologi_1911345.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/aec/matthew-walker-9547_i-think_the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologi_1911345.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The fact that we don't have that biologic pressure to have highly polyphasic sleep, I think, probably tells…” — Matthew Walker", "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": "Matthew Walker", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-walker/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The fact that we don't have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologic-pressure-to-have-highly/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-walker/the-fact-that-we-don-t-have-that-biologic-pressure-to-have-highly/#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 } } ] } ```