---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: culture that obliges people to realise…"
description: "\"“culture that obliges people to realise some possibilities while forbidding others. Biology enables women to have children – some cultures oblige women..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/yuval-noah-harari-100_biology_culture-that-obliges-people-to-realise-s_2526322.jpg"
---

#  culture that obliges people to realise some possibilities…

![“culture that obliges people to realise some possibilities while forbidding others. Biology enables women to have children – some cultures oblige women to realise this possibility. Biology enables men to enjoy sex with one another – some cultures forbid them to realise this possibility. Culture…” quote by Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/yuval-noah-harari-100_biology_culture-that-obliges-people-to-realise-s_2526322.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/yuval-noah-harari-100_biology_culture-that-obliges-people-to-realise-s_2526322.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/16b/yuval-noah-harari-100_biology_culture-that-obliges-people-to-realise-s_2526322.jpg)

> ““culture that obliges people to realise some possibilities while forbidding others. Biology enables women to have children – some cultures oblige women to realise this possibility. Biology enables men to enjoy sex with one another – some cultures forbid them to realise this possibility. Culture tends to argue that it forbids only that which is unnatural. But from a biological perspective, nothing is unnatural. Whatever is possible is by definition also natural. A truly unnatural behaviour, one that goes against the laws of nature, simply cannot exist, so it would need no prohibition. No culture has ever bothered to forbid men to photosynthesise, women to run faster than the speed of light, or negatively charged electrons to be attracted to each other.””

[Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Culture shapes which natural possibilities are socially permitted, but biology defines what is possible; nothing is truly unnatural.

**In simple terms:** Culture limits natural possibilities; biology defines what is possible.

Key Takeaway

Recognize that cultural rules are arbitrary limits.

Themes

culture biology naturalism social norms ethics

Mood

thoughtful critical inquisitive

Type

analytical philosophical

When to use this quote

- policy making
- education reform
- personal identity
- public debate

Key Concepts

biological determinism social constructionism normative ethics

Questions to Reflect On

- How do cultural norms influence personal freedoms?
- What natural possibilities are currently restricted by culture?

A Different Perspective

Cultural change is slow and may face resistance.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/biology/) [Cultures Forbid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cultures-forbid-1301526/) [Forbidding Biology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbidding-biology-1301524/) [Forbids Unnatural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/forbids-unnatural-1301525/) [Sex Cultures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sex-cultures-1301528/) [Speed of light](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speed-of-light/) [Unnatural Biological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unnatural-biological-1301527/)

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