--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When our earliest human ancestors left…" description: "\"“When our earliest human ancestors left the trees and moved to the open grasslands of the savanna, they adopted an upright stance. Possessing already t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/robert-greene-498_evolution_when-our-earliest-human-ancestors-left-t_1283279.png" --- # When our earliest human ancestors left the trees and moved… ![“When our earliest human ancestors left the trees and moved to the open grasslands of the savanna, they adopted an upright stance. Possessing already this powerful visual system, they could see far into the distance (giraffes and elephants might stand taller, but their eyes are on the sides, giving…” quote by Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/robert-greene-498_evolution_when-our-earliest-human-ancestors-left-t_1283279.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/robert-greene-498_evolution_when-our-earliest-human-ancestors-left-t_1283279.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e0e/robert-greene-498_evolution_when-our-earliest-human-ancestors-left-t_1283279.png) > ““When our earliest human ancestors left the trees and moved to the open grasslands of the savanna, they adopted an upright stance. Possessing already this powerful visual system, they could see far into the distance (giraffes and elephants might stand taller, but their eyes are on the sides, giving them instead panoramic vision). This allowed them to spot dangerous predators far away on the horizon and detect their movements even in twilight. Given a few seconds or minutes, they could plot a safe retreat. At the same time, if they focused on what was nearest at hand, they could identify all kinds of important details in their environment—footprints and signs of passing predators, or the colors and shapes of rocks that they could pick up and perhaps use as tools.”” [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early humans used upright posture and keen vision to detect distant threats and nearby details, balancing broad awareness with focused observation. **In simple terms:** Upright stance gave them both distant and close sight. Key Takeaway Balance broad vigilance with detailed attention. Themes survival perception adaptation focus awareness Mood alert thoughtful Type observational practical When to use this quote - Hiking safety - urban security - wildlife observation - team monitoring - personal planning Key Concepts Evolutionary biology visual cognition risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance big-picture scanning with detail work? - What tools help you maintain both perspectives? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on distant threats can cause anxiety, neglecting immediate tasks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dangerous Predators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dangerous-predators-4154133/) [Distance Giraffes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distance-giraffes-4154132/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Human Ancestors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-ancestors-801021/) [Panoramic Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/panoramic-vision-4154134/) [Passing Predators](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passing-predators-4154131/) [Stand tall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stand-tall/) [Survival](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/survival/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/) ## Related quotes > [“It is hard for us to imagine now, but our earliest human ancestors who ventured out onto the grasslands of East Africa some six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/it-is-hard-for-us-to-imagine-now-but-our-earliest-human-ancestors-who/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [It is now generally accepted that the roots of our ethics lie in patterns of behavior that evolved among our pre-human ancestors, the social…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/it-is-now-generally-accepted-that-the-roots-of-our-ethics-lie-in/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [You are human, whether your ancestors come from Europe, Asia, Africa, or wherever, shamanism once existed there. 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Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Music may be the activity that prepared our pre-human ancestors for speech communication and for the very cognitive, representational flexibility necessary to become humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/music-may-be-the-activity-that-prepared-our-pre-human-ancestors-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Lucy brought with her an image of our human ancestors that you don't get when you find a jaw or an arm bone or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-johanson/lucy-brought-with-her-an-image-of-our-human-ancestors-that-you-don-t/) [Donald Johanson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-johanson/) > [Actually, scientists don't know exactly how lice jumped from gorillas to our human ancestors. They speculate that we may have eaten them or perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziya-tong/actually-scientists-don-t-know-exactly-how-lice-jumped-from-gorillas/) [Ziya Tong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziya-tong/) > [“When you face your deepest fears, when you are ready,” she’d said. “Don’t turn away. Stand tall, endure, face them. If you get through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nnedi-okorafor/when-you-face-your-deepest-fears-when-you-are-ready-she-d-said-don-t/) [Nnedi Okorafor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nnedi-okorafor/) > [I love you,no matter what happens and no matter how many times I change my mind,i will always love you and I will keep…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-williams-jordans/i-love-you-no-matter-what-happens-and-no-matter-how-many-times-i/) [Chris Williams Jordans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-williams-jordans/) > [“One Child: I hope it will be said we taught them to stand tall & proud, even in the face of history & the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/one-child-i-hope-it-will-be-said-we-taught-them-to-stand-tall-proud/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [“I want to celebrate my homecoming, not my funeral. I still have so much I want to say and do. Life is too short…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-knight/i-want-to-celebrate-my-homecoming-not-my-funeral-i-still-have-so-much/) [Michelle Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-knight/) > [“Doing the right thing causes us to stand taller, dance more often, and step into life with more confidence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patsy-clairmont/doing-the-right-thing-causes-us-to-stand-taller-dance-more-often-and/) [Patsy Clairmont](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patsy-clairmont/) ## More by Robert Greene > [The whole concept of stage fright is fascinating. Actors get stage fright, but they wouldn't be on the stage in the first place if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-whole-concept-of-stage-fright-is-fascinating-actors-get-stage/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I'm afraid I'm just too intense to have soft ideas, you know, about what to read when you're trying to pass the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-m-afraid-i-m-just-too-intense-to-have-soft-ideas-you-know-about/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [You are facing death and danger and competition, but at any moment, you can decide to have a fearless mindset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/you-are-facing-death-and-danger-and-competition-but-at-any-moment-you/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Let me spell it out: with the psychotic boss, nothing you do is ever quite right. 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It is in their interest that you do not become self-reliant, and so they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/remember-your-bosses-prefer-to-keep-you-in-dependent-positions-it-is/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [I want to be able to write, that's my first love and I don't want to deviate from it even though I probably could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/i-want-to-be-able-to-write-that-s-my-first-love-and-i-don-t-want-to/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [It's sometimes hard to talk about politics and art. Obviously, I have my core beliefs, but I think art is best when it's troublesome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/it-s-sometimes-hard-to-talk-about-politics-and-art-obviously-i-have/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [If you change and adapt your persona, you are seen as inauthentic; if you stay the angry young man, you fade from attention or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/if-you-change-and-adapt-your-persona-you-are-seen-as-inauthentic-if/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [Your energy, your spirit are important considerations. 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I have much more control, and if what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/what-i-like-about-the-internet-what-i-see-there-is-that-its-much-more/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“It is hard for us to imagine now, but our earliest human ancestors who ventured out onto the grasslands of East Africa some six…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/it-is-hard-for-us-to-imagine-now-but-our-earliest-human-ancestors-who/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) > [“Let us call this quality the Original Mind. This mind looked at the world more directly—not through words and received ideas. It was flexible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/let-us-call-this-quality-the-original-mind-this-mind-looked-at-the/) [Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) [Explore all 511 Robert Greene quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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. 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This allowed them to spot dangerous predators far away on the horizon and detect their movements even in twilight. Given a few seconds or minutes, they could plot a safe retreat. 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