--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Virtually every advancement made by our…" description: "\"Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, maveri..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tom-robbins-169_advancement_virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our_54001.jpg" --- # Virtually every advancement made by our species since… ![“Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks who more often than not were ignored, mocked, or viciously persecuted by society and its institutions.” quote by Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tom-robbins-169_advancement_virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our_54001.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tom-robbins-169_advancement_virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our_54001.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tom-robbins-169_advancement_virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our_54001.jpg) > “Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks who more often than not were ignored, mocked, or viciously persecuted by society and its institutions.” [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Progress often stems from solitary innovators whose ideas challenge prevailing norms, despite societal resistance. **In simple terms:** Innovation arises from maverick individuals. Key Takeaway Great advances need bold, isolated thinkers. Themes Innovation Individualism Resistance Societal Change Creativity Mood Defiant Inspirational Rebellious Type Observation Historical claim Motivational When to use this quote - Scientific research - Artistic creation - Entrepreneurial ventures - Social reform movements Key Concepts Maverick mindset Historical breakthroughs Social ostracism Practical Applications - Encouraging independent thought in education - Funding disruptive startups Questions to Reflect On - What mechanisms can protect mavericks from persecution? - How can societies balance conformity with fostering innovation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Advancement](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement/) [Advancement Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement-species-756128/) [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Civilization Peeked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization-peeked-756129/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Has beens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/has-beens/) [Ignored](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ignored/) [Individual](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individual/) [Individuals Mavericks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/individuals-mavericks-756130/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Lone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lone/) [Lone Individuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lone-individuals-756127/) [Made](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/made/) [Maverick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maverick/) [Nests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nests/) [Persecuted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persecuted/) [Species](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species/) [Species Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/species-civilization-756131/) [Stones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stones/) ## Related quotes > [“Is that enough info for you?" His old lady? I thought that was just talk you saw in the movies. Maverick brings his lips…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justine-elvira/is-that-enough-info-for-you-his-old-lady-i-thought-that-was-just-talk/) [Justine Elvira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justine-elvira/) > [I don't think the whole of Iraq would be under al-Sadr, but I think he would be the predominant force on the Shia side.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-cockburn/i-don-t-think-the-whole-of-iraq-would-be-under-al-sadr-but-i-think-he/) [Patrick Cockburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-cockburn/) > [“Micah knew the power of a look. When two people touched from across a distance, that touch could be frightening, wary, or a stroke…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lora-leigh/micah-knew-the-power-of-a-look-when-two-people-touched-from-across-a/) [Lora Leigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lora-leigh/) > [I've got a feeling that with the best coppers - and in fact the best people in any field of work - what sets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-stott/i-ve-got-a-feeling-that-with-the-best-coppers-and-in-fact-the-best/) [Ken Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-stott/) > [I was a maverick. I went to five different colleges looking for I don't know quite what.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-west/i-was-a-maverick-i-went-to-five-different-colleges-looking-for-i-don/) [Adam West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-west/) > [I write movies about mavericks, about people who break rules, and I don't like movies about people who are pulverised for being mavericks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quentin-tarantino/i-write-movies-about-mavericks-about-people-who-break-rules-and-i-don/) [Quentin Tarantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quentin-tarantino/) > [If there is one maverick molecule in all the universe, then God is not sovereign. And if God is not sovereign, He is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/if-there-is-one-maverick-molecule-in-all-the-universe-then-god-is-not/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [“I personally believe mavericks are people who write their own rulebook. They are the ones who act first and talk later. They are fiercely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ziad-k-abdelnour/i-personally-believe-mavericks-are-people-who-write-their-own/) [Ziad K. Abdelnour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ziad-k-abdelnour/) > [I replaced Jim Garner in 'Maverick.' I replaced George Sanders in 'The Saint.' I've replaced everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-moore/i-replaced-jim-garner-in-maverick-i-replaced-george-sanders-in-the/) [Roger Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-moore/) > [“Maverick opens it. “Merry Christmas!” he exclaims. Except it’s October, it’s Thanksgiving, and now Mav just looks like a big dork.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karina-halle/maverick-opens-it-merry-christmas-he-exclaims-except-it-s-october-it/) [Karina Halle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karina-halle/) > [If you're calling yourself a maverick and you're not Dirk Nowitzki, then you are probably not one. In fact, this rule applies to anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/if-you-re-calling-yourself-a-maverick-and-you-re-not-dirk-nowitzki/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [Yes, there are directors I admire, the mavericks. Altman. There are many good directors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-rydell/yes-there-are-directors-i-admire-the-mavericks-altman-there-are-many/) [Mark Rydell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-rydell/) > [Do not cringe and make yourself small if you are called the black sheep, the maverick, the lone wolf. Those with slow seeing say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/do-not-cringe-and-make-yourself-small-if-you-are-called-the-black/) [Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/) > [It is impossible to be a maverick or a true original if you're too well behaved and don't want to break the rules. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/it-is-impossible-to-be-a-maverick-or-a-true-original-if-you-re-too/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [“In our national parlance, what's usually meant by the word "maverick" is someone who skirts the edge of sanity--or is so insane as to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-paterniti/in-our-national-parlance-what-s-usually-meant-by-the-word-maverick-is/) [Michael Paterniti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-paterniti/) ## More by Tom Robbins > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The party in Alobar’s head, which agitation and anxiety were throwing, now was crashed by a notion: existence can be rearranged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-party-in-alobar-s-head-which-agitation-and-anxiety-were-throwing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The world is a wonderfully weird place, consensual reality is significantly flawed, no institution can be trusted, certainty is a mirage, security a delusion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-world-is-a-wonderfully-weird-place-consensual-reality-is/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Anyone who maintains absolute standards of good and evil is dangerous. As dangerous as a maniac with a loaded revolver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/anyone-who-maintains-absolute-standards-of-good-and-evil-is-dangerous/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“I believe in everything; nothing is sacred. I believe in nothing; everything is sacred. Ha Ha Ho Ho Hee Hee.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/i-believe-in-everything-nothing-is-sacred-i-believe-in-nothing/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [A sense of humor...is superior to any religion so far devised.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/a-sense-of-humor-is-superior-to-any-religion-so-far-devised/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“Love is the ultimate outlaw. It just won't adhere to any rules. The most any of us can do is to sign on as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/love-is-the-ultimate-outlaw-it-just-won-t-adhere-to-any-rules-the-2/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“The glue that holds the natural world together appears to be a harmonious balance of opposites: day and night, light and dark, winter and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-glue-that-holds-the-natural-world-together-appears-to-be-a/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Zippers are primal and modern at the very same time. On the one hand, your zipper is primitive and reptilian, on the other, mechanical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/zippers-are-primal-and-modern-at-the-very-same-time-on-the-one-hand/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“religion is a paramount contributor to human misery. It is not merely the opium of the masses, it is the cyanide.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/religion-is-a-paramount-contributor-to-human-misery-it-is-not-merely/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [She continued weeping until the heat of her tear water, the sheer velocity of its flow, finally obscured the already vague circumstances of its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/she-continued-weeping-until-the-heat-of-her-tear-water-the-sheer/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [The bottom line is that (a) people are never perfect, but love can be, (b) that is the one and only way that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/the-bottom-line-is-that-a-people-are-never-perfect-but-love-can-be-b/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [When we accept small wonders, we qualify ourselves to imagine great wonders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/when-we-accept-small-wonders-we-qualify-ourselves-to-imagine-great/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [“How can men be such lummoxes, such wads of chewing gum on our ballet slippers and still feel so good?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/how-can-men-be-such-lummoxes-such-wads-of-chewing-gum-on-our-ballet/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) [Explore all 994 Tom Robbins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) ## More Advancement quotes > [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [They either attach themselves to God's will, which results in their continuous progress, improvement and advancement, or they oppose God's will, are justly subjected…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-palamas/they-either-attach-themselves-to-god-s-will-which-results-in-their/) [Gregory Palamas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-palamas/) > [I am far from any intention to limit curiosity, or confine the labours of learning to arts of immediate and necessary use. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/i-am-far-from-any-intention-to-limit-curiosity-or-confine-the-labours/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [We have won the time lottery of the last 4 billion years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-molyneux/we-have-won-the-time-lottery-of-the-last-4-billion-years/) [Stefan Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stefan-molyneux/) > [“Creativity is key to productivity and prosperity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/creativity-is-key-to-productivity-and-prosperity/) [Ifeanyi Enoch Onuoha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ifeanyi-enoch-onuoha/) > [No one can stop the advancement of a country wheretalent is recognized properly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/no-one-can-stop-the-advancement-of-a-country-wheretalent-is/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Each restorational advancement of the Army of the Lord has established denominational forts that are given responsibility to maintain the purity and power of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hamon/each-restorational-advancement-of-the-army-of-the-lord-has/) [Bill Hamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hamon/) > [Setting is preliminary to brighter rising; decay is a process of advancement; death is the condition of higher and more fruitful life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edwin-hubbel-chapin/setting-is-preliminary-to-brighter-rising-decay-is-a-process-of/) [Edwin Hubbel Chapin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edwin-hubbel-chapin/) > [Certainly, none of us enjoy going through struggles, but you have to understand that your struggle may be an opportunity for advancement and promotion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/certainly-none-of-us-enjoy-going-through-struggles-but-you-have-to/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [“Always work towards a dream or you'll always dream of working elsewhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/criss-jami/always-work-towards-a-dream-or-you-ll-always-dream-of-working/) [Criss Jami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/criss-jami/) > [Those who are successfully to lead their fellow-men, should have once possessed the nobler feelings. We have all known individuals whose magnanimity was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-helps/those-who-are-successfully-to-lead-their-fellow-men-should-have-once/) [Arthur Helps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-helps/) > [Genetic engineering is a result of science advancement, so I don't think that in itself is bad. If used wisely, genetics can be beneficial,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hideo-kojima/genetic-engineering-is-a-result-of-science-advancement-so-i-don-t/) [Hideo Kojima](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hideo-kojima/) > [ZIPPING THROUGH DIMENSIONS WITH INTENTIONS OF ADVANCEMENT](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeileon/zipping-through-dimensions-with-intentions-of-advancement/) [AEILEON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeileon/) > [Our civilization is experiencing unprecedented changes across many realms, largely due to the rapid advancement of information technology. The ability to code and understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/our-civilization-is-experiencing-unprecedented-changes-across-many/) [Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/) > [There is a material advancement; we desire it. There is, also, a moral grandeur; we hold fast to it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-a-material-advancement-we-desire-it-there-is-also-a-moral/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) [Browse all 423 Advancement quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/advancement/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has been initiated by lone individuals, mavericks who more often than not were ignored, mocked, or viciously persecuted by society and its institutions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Robbins" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Advancement" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tom-robbins-169_advancement_virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our_54001.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tom-robbins-169_advancement_virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our_54001.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6d6/tom-robbins-169_advancement_virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our_54001.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Virtually every advancement made by our species since civilization first peeked out of its nest of stone has…” — Tom Robbins", "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": "Tom Robbins", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Virtually every advancement made by our...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/virtually-every-advancement-made-by-our-species-since-civilization/#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 } } ] } ```