Part 2, Chapter 2 (p. 170)
“
But, granting the numbers, the family group was just what it might have been at any time in almost any society—father, mother, and children, tightly grouped to form the basic social unit, so basic in fact that it might be considered biological rather than social. After all, he thought, the family was the toughest of all human institutions. It had preceded civilization, and so it naturally survived afterward.
— George R. Stewart
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "But, granting the numbers, the family group was just what it might have been at any time in almost any society—father, mother, and children, tightly grouped to form the basic social unit, so basic in fact that it might be considered biological rather than social. After all, he thought, the family was the toughest of all human institutions. It had preceded civilization, and so it naturally survived afterward." in the context of "Part 2, Chapter 2 (p. 170)" to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "George R. Stewart" (Quotes, Earth Abides (1949): All quotes are from the trade paperback reprint published by Del Rey in 2006, , 6th printing
All formatting as in the book )
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 19, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
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About George R. Stewart
George R. Stewart (May 31, 1895 – August 22, 1980) was an American historian, toponymist, novelist, and a professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley.
About George R. Stewart
George R. Stewart (May 31, 1895 – August 22, 1980) was an American historian, toponymist, novelist, and a professor of English at the University of California, Berkeley.
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