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More and more of us live segmented, compartmentalized lives. This isn't natural. For millions of years, our forebears knew everyone around them and everyone knew them.
Helen Fisher
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote suggests that modern life has become overly fragmented, which goes against our natural inclination for community and connection.

In this quote, Helen Fisher reflects on the disconnection caused by modern, segmented living. She contrasts this with the communal existence of our ancestors, who thrived in close-knit groups where relationships were deep and reciprocal. Fisher implies that this shift from unity to isolation is not healthy, urging us to recognize the importance of fostering connections with those around us, akin to the social structures that sustained humanity for millennia.

Themes

ConnectionCommunityRelationshipsIsolationSegmentationNaturalLife

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about mental health, one might use this quote to highlight the importance of social connections.

More from Helen Fisher

[Women] tend to collect more pieces of data when they think, put them into more complex patterns, see more options and outcomes. They tend to be contextual, holistic thinkers.
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People live for love. They kill for love. They die for love. They have songs, poems, novels, sculptures, paintings, myths, legends. It's one of the most powerful brain systems on Earth for both great joy and great sorrow.
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Your sweetheart calls you by another's name. His eyes linger too long on your best friend. He talks with excitement about a girl at work. And the fire catches. Jealousy - that sickening combination of possessiveness, suspicion, rage, and humiliation - can overtake your mind and threaten your very core as you contemplate your rival.
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Any kind of novelty or excitement drives up dopamine in the brain, and dopamine is associated with romantic love.
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Most of us make up our minds in the first three minutes of meeting someone whether there's a potential for a relationship.
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People have often asked me whether what I know about love has spoiled it for me. And I just simply say, 'Hardly.' You can know every single ingredient in a piece of chocolate cake, and then when you sit down and eat that cake, you can still feel that joy.
Helen FisherRead

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