--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's been a long time since humans were…" description: "\"“It's been a long time since humans were prey animals. A hundred thousand years or so. But buried deep in our genes the memory remains: the awareness o..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/rick-yancey-831_animals_it-s-been-a-long-time-since-humans-were_2399372.jpg" --- # It's been a long time since humans were prey animals. A… ![“It's been a long time since humans were prey animals. A hundred thousand years or so. But buried deep in our genes the memory remains: the awareness of the gazelle, the instinct of the antelope. The wind whispers through the grass. A shadow flits between the trees. And up speaks the little voice…” quote by Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/rick-yancey-831_animals_it-s-been-a-long-time-since-humans-were_2399372.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/rick-yancey-831_animals_it-s-been-a-long-time-since-humans-were_2399372.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e89/rick-yancey-831_animals_it-s-been-a-long-time-since-humans-were_2399372.jpg) > ““It's been a long time since humans were prey animals. A hundred thousand years or so. But buried deep in our genes the memory remains: the awareness of the gazelle, the instinct of the antelope. The wind whispers through the grass. A shadow flits between the trees. And up speaks the little voice that goes. Shhhh, it's close now. Close.”” [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Human evolution retains primal instincts of predator and prey, making us sensitive to subtle cues of danger and proximity. **In simple terms:** Our ancient instincts still guide us. Key Takeaway Trust intuition but verify with reason. Themes evolution instinct survival Mood suspenseful poetic Type fiction philosophical When to use this quote - wilderness exploration - risk assessment - self‑defense training Key Concepts predator‑prey dynamics genetic memory environmental awareness Questions to Reflect On - When should you rely on gut feeling? - How do you differentiate fear from intuition? A Different Perspective Instincts can mislead in modern contexts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) [Antelope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antelope/) [Awareness Gazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/awareness-gazelle-6003547/) [Gazelle Instinct](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gazelle-instinct-6003546/) [Instinct Antelope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/instinct-antelope-6003548/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Memory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/memory/) [Philosophical](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophical/) [Poetic-fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetic-fiction/) [Prey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prey/) [Thousand years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thousand-years/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“If you were called to gallop like the horse, never end up hopping like the frog. Rise up for greatness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/if-you-were-called-to-gallop-like-the-horse-never-end-up-hopping-like/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“A hunter who is going to shoot an antelope does not waste his bullets on the dog.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/a-hunter-who-is-going-to-shoot-an-antelope-does-not-waste-his-bullets/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [“By the fifth night his perseverance was rewarded with a smile from Amy after Swift Antelope escorted her home from their daily walk. With…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/by-the-fifth-night-his-perseverance-was-rewarded-with-a-smile-from/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [“We should get back,” she said softly. “It’ll be getting dark soon. And I’m tired.” Brimming with the energy of youth, Swift Antelope and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/we-should-get-back-she-said-softly-it-ll-be-getting-dark-soon-and-i-m-2/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [“We know that there are many animals on this continent not found in the Old World. These must have been carried from here to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-g-ingersoll/we-know-that-there-are-many-animals-on-this-continent-not-found-in/) [Robert G. Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-g-ingersoll/) > [“We should get back,” she said softly. “It’ll be getting dark soon. And I’m tired.” Brimming with the energy of youth, Swift Antelope and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/we-should-get-back-she-said-softly-it-ll-be-getting-dark-soon-and-i-m/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [I'll eat anything. I ate antelope once in Swaziland. I didn't know what it was until I'd started chewing it. Everything tastes like chicken…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-hoult/i-ll-eat-anything-i-ate-antelope-once-in-swaziland-i-didn-t-know-what/) [Nicholas Hoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-hoult/) > [“Matheus wondered if the antelope ever volunteered to be eaten by the lion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-fecteau/matheus-wondered-if-the-antelope-ever-volunteered-to-be-eaten-by-the/) [Amy Fecteau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-fecteau/) > [“Hunter disappeared once, returning a few minutes later with a bouquet of wild flowers. When Swift Antelope and Amy weren’t watching, he dragged her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/hunter-disappeared-once-returning-a-few-minutes-later-with-a-bouquet/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [The preponderance of South Africa is a different breed of man. I mean that with no disrespect. I say that with great respect. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nugent/the-preponderance-of-south-africa-is-a-different-breed-of-man-i-mean/) [Ted Nugent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nugent/) > [“Swift Antelope, I don’t think she even likes you.” “Your yellow-hair doesn’t like you too well, either.” He had a point.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/swift-antelope-i-don-t-think-she-even-likes-you-your-yellow-hair/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [“Vata ...Its force is kinetic. It is the sense of touch... Its vehicle is Anahata, the black antelope who dies for sound. Its location…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-tiwari/vata-its-force-is-kinetic-it-is-the-sense-of-touch-its-vehicle-is/) [Maya Tiwari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-tiwari/) > [Never lose sight of an antelope for a dashing squirrel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plo-lumumba/never-lose-sight-of-an-antelope-for-a-dashing-squirrel/) [PLO Lumumba](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plo-lumumba/) > [“So, we will camp here? Has anyone scouted the area? You’re sure it’s safe?” “Swift Antelope and Red Buffalo checked for trackers last night…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-anderson/so-we-will-camp-here-has-anyone-scouted-the-area-you-re-sure-it-s/) [Catherine Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-anderson/) > [I assure you, Constable Morgan, I am quite sane, as I understand the word, perhaps the sanest person in this room, for I suffer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-assure-you-constable-morgan-i-am-quite-sane-as-i-understand-the/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) ## More by Rick Yancey > [“Don't you get it yet? 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It was inevitable I'd try my hand at it at some point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-ve-loved-sci-fi-and-speculative-fiction-since-i-was-a-kid-it-was/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“I can’t leave him. I made a promise.” I start to explain it, but I don’t even know how to begin. How do I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-can-t-leave-him-i-made-a-promise-i-start-to-explain-it-but-i-don-t/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“That's my big problem. That's it! Before the Arrival,guys like Evan Walker never looked twice at me, much less shot wild game for me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/that-s-my-big-problem-that-s-it-before-the-arrival-guys-like-evan/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [I'm one, too," he said. "What?" He spit a wad of blood and mucus into the dirt. "A virgin." What a shock. "What makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-m-one-too-he-said-what-he-spit-a-wad-of-blood-and-mucus-into-the/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [Good God, man, what is that smell?" He eyed with disgust the doctor's filthy cloak. "Life," answered the doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/good-god-man-what-is-that-smell-he-eyed-with-disgust-the-doctor-s/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“He drops into the room, landing on the balls of his feet like a cat. I'm in his arms in the time it takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/he-drops-into-the-room-landing-on-the-balls-of-his-feet-like-a-cat-i/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“All things do happen for a reason... . Is this not the foundation of our faith? You are here-all of us-because we are but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/all-things-do-happen-for-a-reason-is-this-not-the-foundation-of-our/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [“Her raised his face to the weeping sky, closed his dark eyes, and sighed deeply, a smile playing on his sensuous lips. "The bloody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/her-raised-his-face-to-the-weeping-sky-closed-his-dark-eyes-and/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [To hold on, you have to find something you’re willing to die for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/to-hold-on-you-have-to-find-something-you-re-willing-to-die-for/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [I brought Sammy inside and put him to bed. Said his prayer with him. “‘Now I lay me down to sleep…’” To me, just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/i-brought-sammy-inside-and-put-him-to-bed-said-his-prayer-with-him/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) > [A moment comes in war when the last line must be crossed. The line that separates what you hold dear from what total war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-yancey/a-moment-comes-in-war-when-the-last-line-must-be-crossed-the-line/) [Rick Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) [Explore all 342 Rick Yancey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-yancey/) ## More Animals quotes > [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/) [Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/) > [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/) [Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/) > [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It’s a small thing to help one animal, but to that one animal it’s a big thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-baur/it-s-a-small-thing-to-help-one-animal-but-to-that-one-animal-it-s-a/) [Gene Baur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-baur/) > [We animals are the most complicated things in the known universe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/we-animals-are-the-most-complicated-things-in-the-known-universe/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) > [“All these creatures spend their time explaining, realizing happily that they agree with each other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/all-these-creatures-spend-their-time-explaining-realizing-happily/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [We're not very dangerous animals; we don't have a horn like a rhino or quills like a porcupine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-fisher/we-re-not-very-dangerous-animals-we-don-t-have-a-horn-like-a-rhino-or/) [Helen Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-fisher/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [“Plenty of animals had pets, but few were more devoted than the mouse, who owned a baby corn snake—“A rescue snake, she’d be quick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-sedaris/plenty-of-animals-had-pets-but-few-were-more-devoted-than-the-mouse/) [David Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-sedaris/) > [No creature can attain a higher grade of nature without ceasing to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ananda-coomaraswamy/no-creature-can-attain-a-higher-grade-of-nature-without-ceasing-to/) [Ananda Coomaraswamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ananda-coomaraswamy/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) [Browse all 6,813 Animals quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animals/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It's been a long time since humans were prey animals. A hundred thousand years or so. But buried deep in our genes the memory remains: the awareness of the gazelle, the instinct of the antelope. The wind whispers through the grass. A shadow flits between the trees. And up speaks the little voice that goes. Shhhh, it's close now. 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