--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We became Homo sapiens not that long ago…" description: "\"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 these amazing t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/wangechi-mutu-11352_amazing_we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago_3011738.jpg" --- # We became Homo sapiens not that long ago, from the… ![“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 these amazing things in terms of our knowledge base and technology, and now we're flying around and using the Internet. But we're still very animalistic.” quote by Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/wangechi-mutu-11352_amazing_we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago_3011738.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/wangechi-mutu-11352_amazing_we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago_3011738.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/815/wangechi-mutu-11352_amazing_we-became-homo-sapiens-not-that-long-ago_3011738.jpg) > “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 these amazing things in terms of our knowledge base and technology, and now we're flying around and using the Internet. But we're still very animalistic.” [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Humans have advanced technologically but still act on primal instincts. **In simple terms:** We are modern yet still animalistic. Key Takeaway Recognize and balance our primal drives. Themes human nature technology instinct progress Mood reflective critical Type philosophical observational When to use this quote - workplace decision‑making - social media consumption - environmental policy - personal relationships Key Concepts evolutionary psychology cognitive dissonance Questions to Reflect On - How do you see your primal instincts influencing your tech use? - What strategies can temper animalistic behavior? A Different Perspective Modern tools can amplify our animalistic impulses. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amazing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing/) [Amazing things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amazing-things/) [Homo sapiens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/homo-sapiens/) [Knowledge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knowledge/) [Long ago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ago/) [Nature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature/) [Sapiens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sapiens/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related 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/) > [“Homo sapiens drove to extinction about half of the planet’s big beasts long before humans invented the wheel, writing or iron tools.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/homo-sapiens-drove-to-extinction-about-half-of-the-planet-s-big/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [That is the onslaught. It has been going on a long time, I argue, but in the 20th century humans have certainly perfected it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirkpatrick-sale/that-is-the-onslaught-it-has-been-going-on-a-long-time-i-argue-but-in/) [Kirkpatrick Sale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirkpatrick-sale/) > [When the first humans reached Australia about 45,000 years ago, they quickly drove to extinction 90% of its large animals. This was the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/when-the-first-humans-reached-australia-about-45-000-years-ago-they/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“To understand the rise of Christianity or the French Revolution, it is not enough to comprehend the interaction of genes, hormones and organisms. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/to-understand-the-rise-of-christianity-or-the-french-revolution-it-is/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [We are probably one of the last generations of Homo sapiens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/we-are-probably-one-of-the-last-generations-of-homo-sapiens/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“Seventy thousand years ago, Homo sapiens was still an insignificant animal minding its own business in a corner of Africa. In the following millennia…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/seventy-thousand-years-ago-homo-sapiens-was-still-an-insignificant/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [The origin of Homo sapiens, as a tiny twig on an improbable branch of a contingent limb on a fortunate tree, lies well below…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/the-origin-of-homo-sapiens-as-a-tiny-twig-on-an-improbable-branch-of/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [ Homo sapiens \[are\] a tiny twig on an improbable branch of a contingent limb on a fortunate tree. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-jay-gould/homo-sapiens-are-a-tiny-twig-on-an-improbable-branch-of-a-contingent/) [Stephen Jay Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-jay-gould/) > [“Humans nowadays completely dominate the planet not because the individual human is far smarter and more nimble-fingered than the individual chimp or wolf, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/humans-nowadays-completely-dominate-the-planet-not-because-the/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [“You do not even think of your own past as quite real; you dress it up, you gild it or blacken it, censor it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fowles/you-do-not-even-think-of-your-own-past-as-quite-real-you-dress-it-up/) [John Fowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fowles/) > [“The anthropologists got it wrong when they named our species Homo sapiens ('wise man'). In any case it's an arrogant and bigheaded thing to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-anthropologists-got-it-wrong-when-they-named-our-species-homo/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The extinction of Homo Sapiens would mean survival for millions, if not billions, of Earth-dwelling species. Phasing out the human race will solve every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ingrid-newkirk/the-extinction-of-homo-sapiens-would-mean-survival-for-millions-if/) [Ingrid Newkirk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ingrid-newkirk/) > [“Homo sapiens is only man, in the fullest sense of the word, when his grammar contains no question marks, only exclamation marks, commas, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yevgeny-zamyatin/homo-sapiens-is-only-man-in-the-fullest-sense-of-the-word-when-his/) [Yevgeny Zamyatin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yevgeny-zamyatin/) > [But the truth is that Homo sapiens is a sensual species. I think all species are, to one degree or another.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jock-sturges/but-the-truth-is-that-homo-sapiens-is-a-sensual-species-i-think-all/) [Jock Sturges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jock-sturges/) ## More by Wangechi Mutu > [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/) > [We have to redefine what we mean when we say, 'Who are your people?' 'Where are you from?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/we-have-to-redefine-what-we-mean-when-we-say-who-are-your-people/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I keep things moving along with a seriously loving, caring, and brilliant man, a fierce group of friends - and really strong coffee.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-keep-things-moving-along-with-a-seriously-loving-caring-and/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I've always been curious about the things that I'm afraid to look at, that make me embarrassed or bother me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-ve-always-been-curious-about-the-things-that-i-m-afraid-to-look-at/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I feel that art is beyond language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-feel-that-art-is-beyond-language/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [A lot of my work reflects the incredible influence that America has had on contemporary African culture. Some of it's insidious, some of it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/a-lot-of-my-work-reflects-the-incredible-influence-that-america-has/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I feel like I've spent a lot of time imagining home and thinking about a dream-like place, as opposed to a real place, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/i-feel-like-i-ve-spent-a-lot-of-time-imagining-home-and-thinking/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Football has that wonderful gift of being accessible. You don't need much gear, a coach, or a lifeguard. You just need your imagination, strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/football-has-that-wonderful-gift-of-being-accessible-you-don-t-need/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [Equal rights for women and queer folks!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/equal-rights-for-women-and-queer-folks/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [What is Africa, anyway? Even I don't know what Africa is, entirely. 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They eat because you grow the food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wangechi-mutu/always-acknowledge-your-position-in-the-food-chain-they-eat-because/) [Wangechi Mutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wangechi-mutu/) > [I have this amateur side attraction to, and interest in, the sciences and biology and physics and evolution. 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Since I got to watch from close quarters, it was amazing to see him run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harbhajan-singh/i-think-cricket-is-there-in-usain-bolt-s-blood-since-i-got-to-watch/) [Harbhajan Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harbhajan-singh/) > [Literally every person in my life is so amazing. I even don't understand how I am so blessed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/literally-every-person-in-my-life-is-so-amazing-i-even-don-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I got to travel a lot and meet amazing people. That was a lot of fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhavish-aggarwal/i-got-to-travel-a-lot-and-meet-amazing-people-that-was-a-lot-of-fun/) [Bhavish Aggarwal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhavish-aggarwal/) > [Under Thatcher, who ruled us with an iron rod, great art was made. Amazing designers and musicians. Acid house was born. 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