--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father used to say that, through…" description: "\"My father used to say that, through culture, humans effectively domesticated themselves.\" — Richard Leakey" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/richard-leakey-14374_culture_my-father-used-to-say-that-through-cultu_2773391.png" --- # My father used to say that, through culture, humans… ![“My father used to say that, through culture, humans effectively domesticated themselves.” quote by Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/richard-leakey-14374_culture_my-father-used-to-say-that-through-cultu_2773391.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/richard-leakey-14374_culture_my-father-used-to-say-that-through-cultu_2773391.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/richard-leakey-14374_culture_my-father-used-to-say-that-through-cultu_2773391.png) > “My father used to say that, through culture, humans effectively domesticated themselves.” [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Culture shapes human behavior so profoundly that it can be seen as a form of self‑domestication, guiding norms, values, and habits. **In simple terms:** Culture tames humans like domestication. Key Takeaway Understand how cultural forces shape our actions. Themes anthropology culture human behavior social evolution Mood contemplative inquisitive Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - education - policy design - community building - personal growth Key Concepts social conditioning norms cultural transmission identity formation Questions to Reflect On - In what ways does culture constrain you? - Can we consciously reshape cultural norms? A Different Perspective Cultural influence can limit individual autonomy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Culture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) ## Related quotes > [You have to be strong enough to say if the culture doesn't work, don't buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/you-have-to-be-strong-enough-to-say-if-the-culture-doesn-t-work-don-t/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Dying is one thing to be sad over. Living unhappily is something else.' ‘For one thing, the culture we have does not make people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/dying-is-one-thing-to-be-sad-over-living-unhappily-is-something-else/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [We should wake up and tell ourselves: You're not a xenophobe, you're not a racist, you're not a crazy guy if you say, 'My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/we-should-wake-up-and-tell-ourselves-you-re-not-a-xenophobe-you-re/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [“The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/the-culture-we-have-does-not-make-people-feel-good-about-themselves-2/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“We no longer say, ‘It’s in their blood.’ We say, ‘It’s in their culture.’ Thus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/we-no-longer-say-it-s-in-their-blood-we-say-it-s-in-their-culture-thus/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [We're right to say that a culture that can't tolerate free speech is... there are a wide range of positive human experiences that are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/we-re-right-to-say-that-a-culture-that-can-t-tolerate-free-speech-is/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We're teaching the wrong things. And you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/well-for-one-thing-the-culture-we-have-does-not-make-people-feel-good-2/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Well, for one thing, the culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. We’re teaching the wrong things. And you have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/well-for-one-thing-the-culture-we-have-does-not-make-people-feel-good/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [The culture we have does not make people feel good about themselves. And you have to be strong enough to say if the culture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morrie-schwartz/the-culture-we-have-does-not-make-people-feel-good-about-themselves/) [Morrie Schwartz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morrie-schwartz/) > [As my father always used to tell me, 'You see, son, there's always someone in the world worse off than you.' And I always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-bryson/as-my-father-always-used-to-tell-me-you-see-son-there-s-always/) [Bill Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-bryson/) > [My father used to call me 'bird bones' and, well, the name fits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/my-father-used-to-call-me-bird-bones-and-well-the-name-fits/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [My father used to say, 'Well, Ann, maybe the best thing you'll ever do, you haven't even thought of yet.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-curry/my-father-used-to-say-well-ann-maybe-the-best-thing-you-ll-ever-do/) [Ann Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-curry/) > [“My father used to say that someone who used foul language was someone who needed to study vocabulary because there were more civilized ways…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debbie-macomber/my-father-used-to-say-that-someone-who-used-foul-language-was-someone/) [Debbie Macomber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debbie-macomber/) > [My father used to say, 'What the hell are you listening to? Put that bloody rubbish off.' And it was The Beatles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/my-father-used-to-say-what-the-hell-are-you-listening-to-put-that/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) > [“My father used to say, “a day spent breathing is a good day”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-e-feist/my-father-used-to-say-a-day-spent-breathing-is-a-good-day/) [Raymond E. Feist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-e-feist/) ## More by Richard Leakey > [I would hazard a guess that we have found fossilized human remains of at least a thousand different specimens in South and East Africa,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/i-would-hazard-a-guess-that-we-have-found-fossilized-human-remains-of/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [It has taken biologists some 230 years to identify and describe three quarters of a million insects; if there are indeed at least thirty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/it-has-taken-biologists-some-230-years-to-identify-and-describe-three/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [Sadly, I am not able to take part in the fieldwork myself so much anymore, as both of my legs were amputated following an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/sadly-i-am-not-able-to-take-part-in-the-fieldwork-myself-so-much/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [Elephants can live to an age of up to 70 or 80 years and they have a good memory. It could be they come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/elephants-can-live-to-an-age-of-up-to-70-or-80-years-and-they-have-a/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [Along the borders to Ethiopia and Somalia, anarchy reigns, the police and military have retreated quite some distance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/along-the-borders-to-ethiopia-and-somalia-anarchy-reigns-the-police/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [To me it's a question of being able to look backward and give the present a root... To give meaning to where we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/to-me-it-s-a-question-of-being-able-to-look-backward-and-give-the/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [I, too, am convinced that our ancestors came from Africa.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/i-too-am-convinced-that-our-ancestors-came-from-africa/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [I have been raised to believe in freedom of thought and speech. If a minority wishes to accept that position it's their right. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/i-have-been-raised-to-believe-in-freedom-of-thought-and-speech-if-a/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [One should not forget that there are very few surviving items from this period, often just single, small bones, a tooth, a sliver of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/one-should-not-forget-that-there-are-very-few-surviving-items-from/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [For fossils to thrive, certain favorable circumstances are required. First of all, of course, remnants of life have to be there. These then need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/for-fossils-to-thrive-certain-favorable-circumstances-are-required/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [The language of art is powerful to those who understand it, and puzzling to those who do not. What we do know is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/the-language-of-art-is-powerful-to-those-who-understand-it-and/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [We are bipedal apes, and it should not be surprising to see that fact reflected in the way our ancestors lived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/we-are-bipedal-apes-and-it-should-not-be-surprising-to-see-that-fact/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [The land is not in the least bit fertile and yet the cattle herds grow larger and larger. A cow represents capital investment here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/the-land-is-not-in-the-least-bit-fertile-and-yet-the-cattle-herds/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [The world's five thousand extant languages are products of our shared ability, but the five thousand cultures they create are separate from each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/the-world-s-five-thousand-extant-languages-are-products-of-our-shared/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) > [We hope to find more pieces of the puzzle which will shed light on the connection between this upright, walking ape, our early ancestor,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/we-hope-to-find-more-pieces-of-the-puzzle-which-will-shed-light-on/) [Richard Leakey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) [Explore all 47 Richard Leakey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/) ## More Culture quotes > [What sets worlds in motion is the interplay of differences, their attractions and repulsions. Life is plurality, death is uniformity. By suppressing differences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/octavio-paz/what-sets-worlds-in-motion-is-the-interplay-of-differences-their/) [Octavio Paz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/octavio-paz/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [A lot of indigenous cultures are deeply involved in working with ancestor spirits, elemental spirits, and demons. Many of these cultures feel that, if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-pinchbeck/a-lot-of-indigenous-cultures-are-deeply-involved-in-working-with/) [Daniel Pinchbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-pinchbeck/) > [In the hearing world, I'm constantly having to lip-read and trying to understand what's going on. Sign language is so beautiful. It gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-ayling-ellis/in-the-hearing-world-i-m-constantly-having-to-lip-read-and-trying-to/) [Rose Ayling-Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-ayling-ellis/) > [I was born and raised in Orlando, where the economy and culture has been powerfully shaped by tourism, and so I've long been interested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-van-den-berg/i-was-born-and-raised-in-orlando-where-the-economy-and-culture-has/) [Laura van den Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-van-den-berg/) > [Our times demand the declaration of the world's resources as the common heritage of all people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacque-fresco/our-times-demand-the-declaration-of-the-world-s-resources-as-the/) [Jacque Fresco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacque-fresco/) > [The U.S.-Mexican border es un herida abierta where the Third World grates against the first and bleeds. And before a scab forms it hemorrhages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-e-anzald-a/the-u-s-mexican-border-es-un-herida-abierta-where-the-third-world/) [Gloria E. Anzaldúa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-e-anzald-a/) > [What it comes down to for me is this: Will the technologies of communication in our culture, serve to enlighten us and help us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-waters/what-it-comes-down-to-for-me-is-this-will-the-technologies-of/) [Roger Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-waters/) > [I think it's useful to experience other types of dance and other cultures, and the life of a classical dancer these days is certainly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bull/i-think-it-s-useful-to-experience-other-types-of-dance-and-other/) [Deborah Bull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bull/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [It is not my intention to explain Turkey, its culture and its problems. My literature has a universal concern: I want to bring people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/it-is-not-my-intention-to-explain-turkey-its-culture-and-its-problems/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I don't think the distinction between high and low culture exists anymore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeremy-scott/i-don-t-think-the-distinction-between-high-and-low-culture-exists/) [Jeremy Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeremy-scott/) > [You get below the Mason-Dixon line and you have some of the best music, culture, the two races, the literature, and it's so rich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-duvall/you-get-below-the-mason-dixon-line-and-you-have-some-of-the-best/) [Robert Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-duvall/) > [It is proposed that a form of free dialogue may well be one of the most effective ways of investigating the crisis which faces…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bohm/it-is-proposed-that-a-form-of-free-dialogue-may-well-be-one-of-the/) [David Bohm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bohm/) > [“Being grounded in your lifelong culture and your personal perspective, you are comfortable with the way you see things and may believe it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/being-grounded-in-your-lifelong-culture-and-your-personal-perspective/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) [Browse all 15,940 Culture quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/culture/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father used to say that, through culture, humans effectively domesticated themselves.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Leakey" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/my-father-used-to-say-that-through-culture-humans-effectively/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Culture" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/my-father-used-to-say-that-through-culture-humans-effectively/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/richard-leakey-14374_culture_my-father-used-to-say-that-through-cultu_2773391.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/richard-leakey-14374_culture_my-father-used-to-say-that-through-cultu_2773391.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7ef/richard-leakey-14374_culture_my-father-used-to-say-that-through-cultu_2773391.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My father used to say that, through culture, humans effectively domesticated themselves.” — Richard Leakey", "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": "Richard Leakey", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-leakey/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My father used to say that,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/my-father-used-to-say-that-through-culture-humans-effectively/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-leakey/my-father-used-to-say-that-through-culture-humans-effectively/#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 } } ] } ```