--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Our genus, Homo, arose two and a half…" description: "\"“Our genus, Homo, arose two and a half million years ago, and for more than ninety-nine percent of human existence, we all lived like Onwas, in small b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/michael-finkel-7714_human-existence_our-genus-homo-arose-two-and-a-half-mill_1520401.jpg" --- # Our genus, Homo, arose two and a half million years ago… ![“Our genus, Homo, arose two and a half million years ago, and for more than ninety-nine percent of human existence, we all lived like Onwas, in small bands of nomadic hunter-gatherers. Though the groups may have been tight-knit and communal, nearly everyone, anthropologists conjecture, spent…” quote by Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/michael-finkel-7714_human-existence_our-genus-homo-arose-two-and-a-half-mill_1520401.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/michael-finkel-7714_human-existence_our-genus-homo-arose-two-and-a-half-mill_1520401.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a99/michael-finkel-7714_human-existence_our-genus-homo-arose-two-and-a-half-mill_1520401.jpg) > ““Our genus, Homo, arose two and a half million years ago, and for more than ninety-nine percent of human existence, we all lived like Onwas, in small bands of nomadic hunter-gatherers. Though the groups may have been tight-knit and communal, nearly everyone, anthropologists conjecture, spent significant parts of their lives surrounded by quiet, either alone or with a few others, foraging for edible plants and stalking prey in the wild. This is who we truly are.”” [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human beings are fundamentally social, nomadic foragers, shaped by millennia of small‑group living, which explains our innate need for connection and simple, nature‑based rhythms. **In simple terms:** We are wired for community and simple living. Key Takeaway Cultivate close, low‑tech relationships. Themes anthropology human nature community Mood contemplative nostalgic Type analytical inspirational When to use this quote - team building - mindfulness retreats - urban gardening Key Concepts evolutionary psychology social bonding Questions to Reflect On - How can you reconnect with your ancestral habits? - What simple practices foster community today? A Different Perspective Modern life can suppress these instincts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Human existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-existence/) [Hunter gatherers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hunter-gatherers/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [“That was Genus Homo, species Whowantstofuckus, subspecies Headup Hisassia. Let us move on to the cages with the interesting animals. Jacob to Ben describing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/z-a-maxfield/that-was-genus-homo-species-whowantstofuckus-subspecies-headup/) [Z.A. Maxfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/z-a-maxfield/) > [“Presumably, everyone reading this book is a Homo sapiens – the species sapiens (wise) of the genus Homo (man).”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/presumably-everyone-reading-this-book-is-a-homo-sapiens-the-species/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [The female of genus homo is economically dependent on the male. He is her food supply.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-perkins-gilman/the-female-of-genus-homo-is-economically-dependent-on-the-male-he-is/) [Charlotte Perkins Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-perkins-gilman/) > [We are placed in the genus of Homo, which is Latin for man - Homo sapiens: supposedly wise men. I sometimes think - wonder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-johanson/we-are-placed-in-the-genus-of-homo-which-is-latin-for-man-homo/) [Donald Johanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-johanson/) > [“That?" I glanced back to the door where JT had disappeared. "That was Genus Homo, species Whowantstofuckus , subspecies Closeted Headup Hisassia . Let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/z-a-maxfield/that-i-glanced-back-to-the-door-where-jt-had-disappeared-that-was/) [Z.A. Maxfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/z-a-maxfield/) > [Only recently have we come up with the technology to turn lazing around into a way of life. We've taken our sinewy, durable, hunter-gatherer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcdougall/only-recently-have-we-come-up-with-the-technology-to-turn-lazing/) [Christopher McDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcdougall/) > [“Earlier than about 10,000 years ago, all human populations were hunter gatherers. Soon, probably none will be. Those not extinct will be 'civilised' —…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/earlier-than-about-10-000-years-ago-all-human-populations-were-hunter/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [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/) > [Twelve thousand years ago, everybody on earth was a hunter-gatherer; now almost all of us are farmers or else are fed by farmers. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/twelve-thousand-years-ago-everybody-on-earth-was-a-hunter-gatherer/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) > [We spent an enormous amount of time as hominids and as primates living as hunter-gatherers. That is the natural way for us to live,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-wells/we-spent-an-enormous-amount-of-time-as-hominids-and-as-primates/) [Spencer Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-wells/) > [“The disorders that psychology associates with the dissonance between what parents say to children and what children know to be reality - from deep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-brody/the-disorders-that-psychology-associates-with-the-dissonance-between/) Hugh Brody > [People have been looking for love potions since hunter-gatherer societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/people-have-been-looking-for-love-potions-since-hunter-gatherer/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [“The change from the categories of hunter-gatherers to pastoralism to agriculture involved using a decreasing area of land, but an increasingly more intensive use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romila-thapar/the-change-from-the-categories-of-hunter-gatherers-to-pastoralism-to/) [Romila Thapar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romila-thapar/) > [“In the past few years, genetics have confirmed that the hunter-gatherers were not overwhelmed by the new wave of sedentary farmers, and that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markham-shaw-pyle/in-the-past-few-years-genetics-have-confirmed-that-the-hunter/) [Markham Shaw Pyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/markham-shaw-pyle/) > [“Society itself was a lonelier place. As a species, we had always been close to nature; from our days as hunter-gatherers to our millennia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-grimm/society-itself-was-a-lonelier-place-as-a-species-we-had-always-been/) David Grimm ## More by Michael Finkel > [I never do formal interviews. I don't use a tape recorder. I take notes but occasionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/i-never-do-formal-interviews-i-don-t-use-a-tape-recorder-i-take-notes/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [“He has seen the bottomless nonsense of our world and has decided, like most of us, to simply try to tolerate it. He appears…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/he-has-seen-the-bottomless-nonsense-of-our-world-and-has-decided-like/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [America might be the land of second chances, but it ain't the land of third chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/america-might-be-the-land-of-second-chances-but-it-ain-t-the-land-of/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [“the true solitary does not seek himself, but loses himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/the-true-solitary-does-not-seek-himself-but-loses-himself/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [“The American essayist William Deresiewicz wrote that “no real excellence, personal or social, artistic, philosophical, scientific, or moral, can arise without solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/the-american-essayist-william-deresiewicz-wrote-that-no-real/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [“If you like solitude, you're never alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/if-you-like-solitude-you-re-never-alone/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [“The first great literary work about solitude, the Tao Te Ching, was written in ancient China, likely in the sixth century B.C., by a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/the-first-great-literary-work-about-solitude-the-tao-te-ching-was/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [There have always been hermits: people who want to get away from other humans. Literally, some of the first extant books and poems found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/there-have-always-been-hermits-people-who-want-to-get-away-from-other/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [“The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William Shirer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/the-rise-and-fall-of-the-third-reich-by-william-shirer/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [I think many people have this sense that something about modern society - the screens, the noise, the traffic, the constant busyness - has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/i-think-many-people-have-this-sense-that-something-about-modern/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [I'd lied many times: to bolster my credentials, to elicit sympathy, to make myself appear less ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/i-d-lied-many-times-to-bolster-my-credentials-to-elicit-sympathy-to/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [“He never bothered listening to sports; the bored him, every one of them.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/he-never-bothered-listening-to-sports-the-bored-him-every-one-of-them/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [Extraordinary things happen in solitude.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/extraordinary-things-happen-in-solitude/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [“Japanese researchers at Chiba University found that a daily fifteen-minute walk in the woods caused significant decreases in cortisol, along with a modest drop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/japanese-researchers-at-chiba-university-found-that-a-daily-fifteen-2/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) > [My fight-or-flight mechanism... had served me well in Gaza, in Afghanistan, and all the places I'd been.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-finkel/my-fight-or-flight-mechanism-had-served-me-well-in-gaza-in/) [Michael Finkel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) [Explore all 87 Michael Finkel quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-finkel/) ## More Evolution quotes > [I rap when I'm rich. I rap when I'm broke. I rap when I'm bullshit in the street. I rap about only having one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/killer-mike/i-rap-when-i-m-rich-i-rap-when-i-m-broke-i-rap-when-i-m-bullshit-in/) [Killer Mike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/killer-mike/) > [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“A question for Christians who accept evolution: When did we gain a "soul"? Did Homo habilis have a soul? Homo ergaster? Did God only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-g-mcafee/a-question-for-christians-who-accept-evolution-when-did-we-gain-a/) [David G. McAfee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-g-mcafee/) > [If the polymer chain assumes a helicoidal conformation in the crystalline state, and if it does not contain asymmetric carbon atoms, it can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giulio-natta/if-the-polymer-chain-assumes-a-helicoidal-conformation-in-the/) Giulio Natta > [“Genetics is a science full of gods, Mr. Sanchez.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valeria-luiselli/genetics-is-a-science-full-of-gods-mr-sanchez/) [Valeria Luiselli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valeria-luiselli/) > [We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the scientific perspective, and we've retained a lot of our beast nature. We've done all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago-from-the-scientific/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [The fact -- not theory -- that evolution has occurred and the Darwinian theory as to how it occurred have become so confused in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-gaylord-simpson/the-fact-not-theory-that-evolution-has-occurred-and-the-darwinian/) [George Gaylord Simpson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-gaylord-simpson/) > [Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this \[step by step, from humans to apes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-huxley/perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us-with-so-extraordinary-a/) [Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-huxley/) > [Evolution happens in jumps, very rapidly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/evolution-happens-in-jumps-very-rapidly/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [The true nature of soul is right knowledge, right faith and right conduct. The soul, so long as it is subject to transmigration, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/virchand-gandhi/the-true-nature-of-soul-is-right-knowledge-right-faith-and-right/) [Virchand Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/virchand-gandhi/) > [“Toshiaki learned that all living organisms were governed by their DNA. He was impressed by perfection of this system.Why did existence have the ability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideaki-sena/toshiaki-learned-that-all-living-organisms-were-governed-by-their-dna/) Hideaki Sena > [The shelves of many evangelicals are full of books that point out the flaws in evolution, discuss it only as a theory, and almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/the-shelves-of-many-evangelicals-are-full-of-books-that-point-out-the/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [I'm all about evolution. I'm the first person to judge myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-weeknd/i-m-all-about-evolution-i-m-the-first-person-to-judge-myself/) [The Weeknd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-weeknd/) > [The next evolution of content marketing is not more content; it's better distribution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-penn/the-next-evolution-of-content-marketing-is-not-more-content-it-s/) [Chris Penn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-penn/) [Browse all 6,185 Evolution quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Our genus, Homo, arose two and a half million years ago, and for more than ninety-nine percent of human existence, we all lived like Onwas, in small bands of nomadic hunter-gatherers. 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