--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Primates are super smart and organized…" description: "\"Primates are super smart and organized just enough to devote their free time to being miserable to each other and stressing each other out.\" — Robert S..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/robert-sapolsky-5012_enough_primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-j_1940935.jpg" --- # Primates are super smart and organized just enough to… ![“Primates are super smart and organized just enough to devote their free time to being miserable to each other and stressing each other out.” quote by Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/robert-sapolsky-5012_enough_primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-j_1940935.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/robert-sapolsky-5012_enough_primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-j_1940935.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/robert-sapolsky-5012_enough_primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-j_1940935.jpg) > “Primates are super smart and organized just enough to devote their free time to being miserable to each other and stressing each other out.” [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Primates are intelligent yet create misery and stress for each other. **In simple terms:** Smart beings cause each other's suffering. Key Takeaway Recognize and reduce social stress. Themes social behavior stress intelligence Mood cynical reflective Type observational critical When to use this quote - workplace - family - online communities - friendships Key Concepts evolutionary biology psychology Questions to Reflect On - What drives us to create conflict? - How can we channel intelligence toward harmony? A Different Perspective Humans can also foster cooperation beyond conflict. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Free](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free/) [Free time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/free-time/) [Miserable Stressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miserable-stressing-3092514/) [Primates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primates/) [Primates Super](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/primates-super-3092513/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Stressing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stressing/) [Super smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/super-smart/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Primates are really well designed to see who is not keeping up their end of the deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/primates-are-really-well-designed-to-see-who-is-not-keeping-up-their/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Primates are hardwired for us/them dichotomies. Our brains detect them in less than 100 milliseconds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/primates-are-hardwired-for-us-them-dichotomies-our-brains-detect-them/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [I've dated girls that aren't, this is gonna sound so horrible, that aren't super smart, but they still are super confident, and that's more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parker-young/i-ve-dated-girls-that-aren-t-this-is-gonna-sound-so-horrible-that/) [Parker Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parker-young/) > [tend to be better at describing feelings and ideas, and worse at painting a picture of any physical thing. I have terrible spatial reasoning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-gondelman/tend-to-be-better-at-describing-feelings-and-ideas-and-worse-at/) [Josh Gondelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-gondelman/) > [Bezos is super smart; don't get me wrong. He just makes ordinary control freaks look like stoned hippies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-yegge/bezos-is-super-smart-don-t-get-me-wrong-he-just-makes-ordinary/) [Steve Yegge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-yegge/) > [“You see, in American pop culture, beautiful dark women are invisible. (The other group just as invisible is Asian men. But at least they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/you-see-in-american-pop-culture-beautiful-dark-women-are-invisible/) [Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chimamanda-ngozi-adichie/) > [I think about Aaron Rodgers, he's like Chris Evans before he got the HGH injection in Captain America. But before he was super smart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bennet/i-think-about-aaron-rodgers-he-s-like-chris-evans-before-he-got-the/) [Michael Bennet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bennet/) > [There were authors I read as an adult who completely inspired me. But when I was a teenager, I got to hang out with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-hornby/there-were-authors-i-read-as-an-adult-who-completely-inspired-me-but/) [Nick Hornby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-hornby/) > [Mr. Speaker, a new report says only 7% of scientists believe in God. That is right. And the reason they gave was that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-traficant/mr-speaker-a-new-report-says-only-7-of-scientists-believe-in-god-that/) [James Traficant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-traficant/) > [As I have often said, I would rather be lucky than smart! But it is even better to be lucky and super smart!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-pena/as-i-have-often-said-i-would-rather-be-lucky-than-smart-but-it-is/) [Dan Pena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-pena/) > [I feel like now I have an amazing wife, a super smart child and the opportunity to create in two major fields. Before I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-feel-like-now-i-have-an-amazing-wife-a-super-smart-child-and-the/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [The internet is super smart. If you do something that is cool, that's actually worth people's time, then they'll adopt it. If you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabe-newell/the-internet-is-super-smart-if-you-do-something-that-is-cool-that-s/) [Gabe Newell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabe-newell/) > [I'm very into Louise Brooks, a 1930s icon. I also love Dona Drake. She's a beauty icon and also super smart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-russell/i-m-very-into-louise-brooks-a-1930s-icon-i-also-love-dona-drake-she-s/) [Taylor Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-russell/) > [No, I'm not super-smart and tech-savvy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/letitia-wright/no-i-m-not-super-smart-and-tech-savvy/) [Letitia Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/letitia-wright/) > [I would do anything to be super smart and be able to understand everything going on in every one of my classes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-would-do-anything-to-be-super-smart-and-be-able-to-understand/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Robert Sapolsky > [I was not especially a writer back in college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/i-was-not-especially-a-writer-back-in-college/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [You don't want to end up telling somebody who's homeless or a refugee that stress is all perceptual, because it sure isn't in those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/you-don-t-want-to-end-up-telling-somebody-who-s-homeless-or-a-refugee/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [I think the relationship between social-dominance orientation in people and the extent to which they're made uncomfortable by ambiguity and novelty is really important.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/i-think-the-relationship-between-social-dominance-orientation-in/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Depression is like the worst disease you can get. It's devastating.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/depression-is-like-the-worst-disease-you-can-get-it-s-devastating/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Juvenile justice is probably the area that's most ripe for reform, in the nice liberal sense of the word, simply because there's no getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/juvenile-justice-is-probably-the-area-that-s-most-ripe-for-reform-in/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [When it comes to how neuroscience could help the wider public, the worst thing is when we make advances in, say, mindfulness, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/when-it-comes-to-how-neuroscience-could-help-the-wider-public-the/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [To do good science, you've got to work really, really hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/to-do-good-science-you-ve-got-to-work-really-really-hard/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Literal cleanliness and orderliness can release us from abstract cognitive and affective distress - just consider how, during moments where life seems to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/literal-cleanliness-and-orderliness-can-release-us-from-abstract/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [“Words unconsciously shift thoughts and feelings. One person's 'terrorist' is another's 'freedom fighter'; politicians jockey to commandeer 'family values,' and somehow you can't favor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/words-unconsciously-shift-thoughts-and-feelings-one-person-s/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [I think you get to a time in life where by definition stuff's turning to quicksand and wherever you can get some solid footing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/i-think-you-get-to-a-time-in-life-where-by-definition-stuff-s-turning/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Being president does seem a lot more stressful than being vice president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/being-president-does-seem-a-lot-more-stressful-than-being-vice/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [If a male primate is mean to a female primate, her whole family will come after him. We don't have that sort of accountability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/if-a-male-primate-is-mean-to-a-female-primate-her-whole-family-will/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [When humans invented material inequality, they came up with a way of subjugating the low-ranking like nothing ever seen before in the primate world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/when-humans-invented-material-inequality-they-came-up-with-a-way-of/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [Authoritarians have always been here. But the features of a given moment make that way of thinking more or less appealing. Germany in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/authoritarians-have-always-been-here-but-the-features-of-a-given/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) > [The key thing about us is that we all belong to multiple tribes. Even if we are predisposed into dividing the world into 'us'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/the-key-thing-about-us-is-that-we-all-belong-to-multiple-tribes-even/) [Robert Sapolsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) [Explore all 104 Robert Sapolsky quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/) ## More Animal 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/) > [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/) [Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/) > [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/) [Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/) > [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/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/) [Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/) > [“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/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/) [Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/) > [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/) > [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/) [Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/) [Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Primates are super smart and organized just enough to devote their free time to being miserable to each other and stressing each other out.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Robert Sapolsky" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-just-enough-to-devote-their/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Animal" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-just-enough-to-devote-their/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/robert-sapolsky-5012_enough_primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-j_1940935.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/robert-sapolsky-5012_enough_primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-j_1940935.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e4/robert-sapolsky-5012_enough_primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-j_1940935.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Primates are super smart and organized just enough to devote their free time to being miserable to each…” — Robert Sapolsky", "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": "Robert Sapolsky", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-sapolsky/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Primates are super smart and organized...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-just-enough-to-devote-their/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-sapolsky/primates-are-super-smart-and-organized-just-enough-to-devote-their/#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 } } ] } ```