--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a species of animal that evolved to…" description: "\"As a species of animal that evolved to make connections and work together, it feels strange to suppress our desire for contact. People enjoy touching e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/rutger-bregman-2463_desire_as-a-species-of-animal-that-evolved-to-m_2122652.jpg" --- # As a species of animal that evolved to make connections… ![“As a species of animal that evolved to make connections and work together, it feels strange to suppress our desire for contact. People enjoy touching each other, and find joy in seeing each other in person - but now we have to keep our physical distance.” quote by Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/rutger-bregman-2463_desire_as-a-species-of-animal-that-evolved-to-m_2122652.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/rutger-bregman-2463_desire_as-a-species-of-animal-that-evolved-to-m_2122652.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d5/rutger-bregman-2463_desire_as-a-species-of-animal-that-evolved-to-m_2122652.jpg) > “As a species of animal that evolved to make connections and work together, it feels strange to suppress our desire for contact. People enjoy touching each other, and find joy in seeing each other in person - but now we have to keep our physical distance.” [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans are wired for connection, making physical distancing psychologically challenging and socially costly. **In simple terms:** People need contact; distancing feels unnatural. Key Takeaway Find safe ways to maintain social bonds. Themes social connection human nature psychology pandemic well‑being Mood empathetic hopeful Type sociological motivational When to use this quote - remote work - virtual gatherings - community support Key Concepts attachment theory social resilience Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster connection while apart? - What rituals sustain relationships remotely? A Different Perspective Isolation can damage mental health. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Connections Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/connections-work-4337255/) [Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) [Enjoy Touching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy-touching-4337254/) [Joy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/joy/) [Make Connections](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-connections-355814/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/) [Strange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strange/) [Suppress Desire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/suppress-desire-1863371/) [Together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/together/) [Touching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/touching/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work together](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-together/) ## Related quotes > [It is much easier to suppress a first desire than to satisfy those that follow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/it-is-much-easier-to-suppress-a-first-desire-than-to-satisfy-those/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Pride is as loud a beggar as want, and a great deal more saucy. When you have bought one fine thing, you must buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/pride-is-as-loud-a-beggar-as-want-and-a-great-deal-more-saucy-when/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Tis easier to suppress the first desire than to satisfy all that follow it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/tis-easier-to-suppress-the-first-desire-than-to-satisfy-all-that/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Every time I go to the grocery store, I suppress my desire to trip kids running through the aisles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-time-i-go-to-the-grocery-store-i-suppress-my-desire-to-trip/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Be real. Make connections with people. Look them in the eye. Tell them how you feel. Don't be afraid to say what you mean.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/be-real-make-connections-with-people-look-them-in-the-eye-tell-them/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [On tour, it's necessary to meet people and make connections, but when I was a teenager, I found it difficult to approach people and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iga-swiatek/on-tour-it-s-necessary-to-meet-people-and-make-connections-but-when-i/) [Iga Swiatek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iga-swiatek/) > [“In our high-tech world today, there are unlimited ways with which you can search for people, places, and events to connect you with like-minded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/in-our-high-tech-world-today-there-are-unlimited-ways-with-which-you/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [We are living in a world where access trumps knowledge every time. Those who know how to search, find and make the connections will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-jennings/we-are-living-in-a-world-where-access-trumps-knowledge-every-time/) [Charles Jennings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-jennings/) > [Creativity is especially expressed in the ability to make connections, to make associations, to turn things around and express them in a new way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hansen/creativity-is-especially-expressed-in-the-ability-to-make-connections/) [Tim Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hansen/) > [I think we're put out into the world to forge relationships with people. Those can be as small as buying coffee from someone or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurel-nakadate/i-think-we-re-put-out-into-the-world-to-forge-relationships-with/) [Laurel Nakadate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurel-nakadate/) > [To create is to relate. We trust in the artist in everybody to make his own connections, his own juxtapositions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corita-kent/to-create-is-to-relate-we-trust-in-the-artist-in-everybody-to-make/) [Corita Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corita-kent/) > [The most important thing is to recognize how important it is to market yourself and make connections.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-hargrave/the-most-important-thing-is-to-recognize-how-important-it-is-to/) [Sam Hargrave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-hargrave/) > [Make connections; let rip; and dance where you can.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/make-connections-let-rip-and-dance-where-you-can/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [There is something restless and curious about the Irish. Like everybody else, we want to make money and make our way in the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ardal-o-hanlon/there-is-something-restless-and-curious-about-the-irish-like/) [Ardal O'Hanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ardal-o-hanlon/) > [Like China, the Internet is a huge new market. It's up to you to figure out what to do with it. Use it as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-chase/like-china-the-internet-is-a-huge-new-market-it-s-up-to-you-to-figure/) [Larry Chase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-chase/) ## More by Rutger Bregman > [“If all the developed countries would let in just 3% more immigrants, the world’s poor would have $305 billion more to spend, say scientists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/if-all-the-developed-countries-would-let-in-just-3-more-immigrants/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“When Lehman Brothers collapsed on September 15, 2008, and inaugurated the biggest crisis since the 1930s, there were no real alternatives to hand. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/when-lehman-brothers-collapsed-on-september-15-2008-and-inaugurated/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [I think one of the most important facts of basic income would be that it's not only a redistribution of income, but also of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/i-think-one-of-the-most-important-facts-of-basic-income-would-be-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [The great thing about money is that people can use it to buy things they need instead of things self-appointed experts think they need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-great-thing-about-money-is-that-people-can-use-it-to-buy-things/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The idea that the GDP still serves as an accurate gauge of social welfare is one of the most widespread myths of our times.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-idea-that-the-gdp-still-serves-as-an-accurate-gauge-of-social/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Most of Mark Zuckerberg's income is just rent collected off the millions of picture and video posts that we give away daily for free.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/most-of-mark-zuckerberg-s-income-is-just-rent-collected-off-the/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“To calculate the GDP, numerous data points have to be linked together and hundreds of wholly subjective choices made regarding what to count and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/to-calculate-the-gdp-numerous-data-points-have-to-be-linked-together/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Countless studies have shown that people who work less are more satisfied with their lives.37 In a recent poll conducted among working women, German…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/countless-studies-have-shown-that-people-who-work-less-are-more/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Precisely when we should be shouldering the historic task of investing this rich, safe, and healthy existence with meaning, we’ve buried utopia instead. There’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/precisely-when-we-should-be-shouldering-the-historic-task-of/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Believing in the good of humanity is a revolutionary act - it means that we don't need all those managers and CEO's, kings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/believing-in-the-good-of-humanity-is-a-revolutionary-act-it-means/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [Poor people aren't making dumb decisions because they are dumb, but because they're living in a context in which anyone would make dumb decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/poor-people-aren-t-making-dumb-decisions-because-they-are-dumb-but/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“The bottom line is that wealth can be concentrated somewhere, but that doesn’t also mean that’s where it’s being created. This is just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/the-bottom-line-is-that-wealth-can-be-concentrated-somewhere-but-that/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Recently, the International Monetary Fund published a report which revealed that too much inequality even inhibits economic growth.22 Perhaps the most fascinating finding, however,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/recently-the-international-monetary-fund-published-a-report-which/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [“Not coincidentally, the countries with the shortest workweeks also have the largest number of volunteers and the most social capital.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/not-coincidentally-the-countries-with-the-shortest-workweeks-also/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) > [It matters so much that from a very early age we encounter different kinds of different people, because that's what real life should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rutger-bregman/it-matters-so-much-that-from-a-very-early-age-we-encounter-different/) [Rutger Bregman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) [Explore all 164 Rutger Bregman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rutger-bregman/) ## More Desire quotes > [I put myself in the student's place and remember the frustrations, doubts, determination, and desires I felt when I was going through the initial…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-martinez/i-put-myself-in-the-student-s-place-and-remember-the-frustrations/) [Ted Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-martinez/) > [Passion is what you need to be good, an unforgiving passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-easton/passion-is-what-you-need-to-be-good-an-unforgiving-passion/) [David Easton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-easton/) > [I want the municipality to be a helping hand to the man with a desire of sympathy, to help the fallen when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-burns/i-want-the-municipality-to-be-a-helping-hand-to-the-man-with-a-desire/) [John Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-burns/) > [Ye youths and virgins, when your generous blood Has drunk the warmth of fifteen summers, now The loves invite; now to new rapture wakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-armstrong/ye-youths-and-virgins-when-your-generous-blood-has-drunk-the-warmth/) [John Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-armstrong/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [“THE ESSENCE OF YOUR DESIRE IS A FEELING”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/the-essence-of-your-desire-is-a-feeling/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [On the brink of being satiated, desire still appears infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/on-the-brink-of-being-satiated-desire-still-appears-infinite/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [He caught her, she fell, he caught her in his arms, he held her tightly unconscious of what he was doing. He held her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/he-caught-her-she-fell-he-caught-her-in-his-arms-he-held-her-tightly/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [ Teaching might even be the greatest of the arts since the medium is the human mind and spirit. My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [“The deepest urge in human nature is the desire to be important.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/the-deepest-urge-in-human-nature-is-the-desire-to-be-important/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [In discovering books, you became free to explore the full range of human motives, desires, secrets, and lies. All my life, people have scolded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/in-discovering-books-you-became-free-to-explore-the-full-range-of/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [Now I am in the place I call this wide wide Heaven because it includes all my simplest desires but also the most humble…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-sebold/now-i-am-in-the-place-i-call-this-wide-wide-heaven-because-it/) [Alice Sebold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-sebold/) > [“from THE DEVIL YOU KNOW : She wanted him too. He could see it in the rapid rise of her breasts. He could smell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emery-lee/from-the-devil-you-know-she-wanted-him-too-he-could-see-it-in-the/) [Emery Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emery-lee/) [Browse all 15,155 Desire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As a species of animal that evolved to make connections and work together, it feels strange to suppress our desire for contact. 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