--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In prehistoric times, Homo sapiens was…" description: "\"In prehistoric times, Homo sapiens was deeply endangered. Early humans were less fleet of foot, with fewer natural weapons and less well-honed senses t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/robert-winston-7323_beast_in-prehistoric-times-homo-sapiens-was-de_1984941.jpg" --- # In prehistoric times, Homo sapiens was deeply endangered… ![“In prehistoric times, Homo sapiens was deeply endangered. Early humans were less fleet of foot, with fewer natural weapons and less well-honed senses than all the predators that threatened them. Moreover, they were hampered in their movements by the need to protect their uniquely immature young…” quote by Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/robert-winston-7323_beast_in-prehistoric-times-homo-sapiens-was-de_1984941.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/robert-winston-7323_beast_in-prehistoric-times-homo-sapiens-was-de_1984941.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c17/robert-winston-7323_beast_in-prehistoric-times-homo-sapiens-was-de_1984941.jpg) > “In prehistoric times, Homo sapiens was deeply endangered. Early humans were less fleet of foot, with fewer natural weapons and less well-honed senses than all the predators that threatened them. Moreover, they were hampered in their movements by the need to protect their uniquely immature young - juicy meals for any hungry beast.” [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) ## 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 faced high mortality due to limited speed, weapons, and sensory acuity, plus the burden of protecting vulnerable offspring. **In simple terms:** Early humans were fragile and had to protect their young. Key Takeaway Recognize the importance of cooperation and protection. Themes survival vulnerability parental care Mood reflective serious Type historical educational When to use this quote - hunting - child-rearing - tribal defense - resource gathering Key Concepts evolutionary biology anthropology Questions to Reflect On - How would early humans have survived without cooperation? - What lessons can we draw for modern risk management? A Different Perspective Modern technology reduces many of these physical disadvantages. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Beast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/beast/) [Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early/) [Early Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early-humans-399483/) [Feet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feet/) [Fewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fewer/) [Homo sapiens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homo-sapiens/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Hungry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungry/) [Immature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/immature/) [Juicy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/juicy/) [Meals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/meals/) [Movement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/movement/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Predator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/predator/) [Prehistoric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prehistoric/) [Prehistoric times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prehistoric-times/) [Protect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/protect/) [Sapiens Deeply](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sapiens-deeply-3410374/) [Senses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/senses/) [Threatened](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/threatened/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Weapons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weapons/) [Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wells/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) ## Related quotes > [We live in this miraculous technological environment, and yet our human behaviour is still governed by basic impulses from prehistoric times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/genesis-p-orridge/we-live-in-this-miraculous-technological-environment-and-yet-our/) [Genesis P-Orridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/genesis-p-orridge/) > [I believe-and human psychologists, particularly psychoanalysts should test this-that present-day civilized man suffers from insufficient discharge of his aggressive drive. 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There are days when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-smith/studying-elephants-is-like-going-back-into-prehistoric-times-in-size/) [Roland Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-smith/) > [Most cats feel that bird-catching is their duty; the instinct goes back to prehistoric times. Amber keeps in practice by chasing moths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gladys-taber/most-cats-feel-that-bird-catching-is-their-duty-the-instinct-goes/) [Gladys Taber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gladys-taber/) > [“Everyone knew that at some point in history, early humans got access to a big supply of protein, which allowed their brains to expand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-mcdougall/everyone-knew-that-at-some-point-in-history-early-humans-got-access/) [Christopher McDougall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-mcdougall/) > [“Consider this!” Edmond declared. “It took early humans over a million years to progress from discovering fire to inventing the wheel. 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While reading a copy of the 'Guardian' carefully…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/women-of-child-bearing-age-steadily-run-out-of-eggs-by-the-continuous/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Of course it is a very simple matter to identify genes which might modify intelligence or memory and start thinking about whether you want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/of-course-it-is-a-very-simple-matter-to-identify-genes-which-might/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Following 25 children for the TV series 'Child of Our Time' has been extraordinary. The BBC's original plan was to commemorate the new millennium.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/following-25-children-for-the-tv-series-child-of-our-time-has-been/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [I don't believe in regretting - one should try to move on. My mum was good at that. She was deeply in love with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/i-don-t-believe-in-regretting-one-should-try-to-move-on-my-mum-was/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [I don't think you can impose limits on science because the very nature of homo sapiens is that he - she - is an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/i-don-t-think-you-can-impose-limits-on-science-because-the-very/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [When I look in the mirror, I am slightly reminded of self-portraits by Durer and by Rembrandt, because they both show a degree of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/when-i-look-in-the-mirror-i-am-slightly-reminded-of-self-portraits-by/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Surgeons always underestimate the pain and disability involved in what they do to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/surgeons-always-underestimate-the-pain-and-disability-involved-in/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Carbon dioxide is unusual because it doesn't go through the usual three phases of matter, from solid to liquid to gas, but it goes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/carbon-dioxide-is-unusual-because-it-doesn-t-go-through-the-usual/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [However you define God, and whether you believe in God or not, the world we live in has been shaped by the universal human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/however-you-define-god-and-whether-you-believe-in-god-or-not-the/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [I remember eating in school in the years after the Second World War. 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Of course I think it's very important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/i-m-a-traditional-jew-with-an-orthodox-background-and-it-informs-much/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) > [Robots may cut down on infection and mean a consultant can see more patients, but wouldn't you rather meet the doctor than a machine?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/robots-may-cut-down-on-infection-and-mean-a-consultant-can-see-more/) [Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) [Explore all 92 Robert Winston quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/) ## More Beast quotes > [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/) > [“Once upon a time, there was a naïve and innocent girl who thought she could tame the beast and live happily ever after. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nenia-campbell/once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-na-ve-and-innocent-girl-who-thought-she/) [Nenia Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nenia-campbell/) > [Is man no more than this? Consider him well. 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If he is eaten, he no longer functions as an instrument of labour, nor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-marx/as-a-beast-of-toil-an-ox-is-fixed-capital-if-he-is-eaten-he-no-longer/) [Karl Marx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-marx/) > [« He squeezed his hands into fists. I picked up a grapefruit-sized rock and handed it to him. It went flying. Home run, Beast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/he-squeezed-his-hands-into-fists-i-picked-up-a-grapefruit-sized-rock/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [Was man made stupid to see his own stupidity? Is God by definition indifferent, beyond us all? Is the eternal truth man's fighting soul…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-eberhart/was-man-made-stupid-to-see-his-own-stupidity-is-god-by-definition/) [Richard Eberhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-eberhart/) > [When a man is treated like a beast, he says, 'After all, I'm human.' 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