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It's always been a great survival value for people to believe they belong to a superior tribe. That's just in human relationships.
E. O. Wilson
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Believing in belonging to a superior group is a key survival trait for humans, influencing social dynamics.

E. O. Wilson suggests that the belief in belonging to a superior tribe or group has been crucial for human survival and social interaction. This notion reflects our innate desire to connect with others and find identity within a community, as well as the psychological benefits that arise from associating with a perceived superior collective.

Themes

BelongingTribeRelationshipsSurvivalIdentity

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about teamwork and camaraderie, this quote can emphasize the importance of group identity.

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Consider the nematode roundworm, the most abundant of all animals. Four out of five animals on Earth are nematode worms β€” if all solid materials except nematode worms were to be eliminated, you could still see the ghostly outline of most of it in nematode worms.
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The worst thing that will probably happen-in fact is already well underway-is not energy depletion, economic collapse, conventional war, or the expansion of totalitarian governments. As terrible as these catastrophes would be for us, they can be repaired in a few generations. The one process now going on that will take millions of years to correct is loss of genetic and species diversity by the destruction of natural habitats. This is the folly our descendants are least likely to forgive us.
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Humanity today is like a waking dreamer, caught between the fantasies of sleep and the chaos of the real world. The mind seeks but cannot find the precise place and hour. We have created a Star Wars civilization, with Stone Age emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technology. We thrash about. We are terribly confused by the mere fact of our existence, and a danger to ourselves and to the rest of life.
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Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal.
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An Armageddon is approaching at the beginning of the third millennium. But it is not the cosmic war and fiery collapse of mankind foretold in sacred scripture. It is the wreckage of the planet by an exuberantly plentiful and ingenious humanity.
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