Apes Quote by Orson Scott Card
““Civilization is only a pretense; in the crisis, we become mere apes again, forgetting the rational biped of our pretensions and becoming instead the hairy primate at the mouth of the cave, screeching at the enemy, wishing it would go away, fingering the heavy stone that we’ll use the moment it comes close enough.””
About This Quote
In crises, civilization's veneer collapses, revealing primal instincts and fear-driven aggression rather than rational thought.
In simple terms: Crisis strips away civilized behavior.
Key Takeaway
Human nature reverts under pressure.
Themes
Human nature
Civilization
Crisis
Primal instincts
Fear
Mood
Anxious
Reflective
Type
Philosophical
Cautionary
When to use this quote
- War
- Natural disaster
- Pandemic
- Economic collapse
Key Concepts
Rationality
Aggression
Survival
Practical Applications
- Psychological analysis
- Crisis management
Questions to Reflect On
- How does crisis reveal hidden aspects of humanity?
- What mechanisms can preserve rationality under stress?
![“Perhaps no order of mammals presents us with so extraordinary a series of gradations as this [step by step, from humans to apes to monkeys to lemurs] - leading us insensibly from the crown and summit of the animal creation down to creatures, from which there is but a step, as it seems, to the…” quote by Thomas Huxley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/f0b/thomas-huxley-1183_animal_perhaps-no-order-of-mammals-presents-us_3051.jpg)
