“For thousands of years the answer to this question [humanity’s goals and purpose] remained unchanged. The same three problems preoccupied the people of twentieth-century China, of medieval India and of ancient Egypt. Famine, plague and war were always at the top of the list.”

This quote captures the persistent challenges faced by humanity throughout its history. It highlights the universality of certain struggles, suggesting a shared human experience that transcends time and geography. The simplicity of the sentence structure underscores the unchanging nature of these challenges, while the broad historical sweep emphasizes the longevity and significance of these issues in human history.

“In the early twenty-first century, the average human is far more likely to die from bingeing at McDonald’s than from drought, Ebola or an al-Qaeda attack.”

This quote contrasts contemporary challenges with traditional ones, illustrating a significant shift in the nature of human struggles. The specific reference to McDonald’s symbolizes the modern lifestyle and its associated health risks. This statement employs stark, impactful language to juxtapose the past and present, succinctly capturing the essence of humanity’s evolving problems. It implies a transition from external threats to self-inflicted ones, reflecting on the changes in human societies and priorities.

“Struggling against old age and death will merely carry on the time-honoured fight against famine and disease, and manifest the supreme value of contemporary culture: the worth of human life.”

This quote reflects a shift in humanity’s existential struggles from basic survival (famine and disease) to the more abstract concept of defying age and death. It suggests a societal evolution where the intrinsic value of human life is paramount, reflecting a deep-rooted cultural and moral belief in the sanctity of life. The choice of words emphasizes a continuity of human effort, linking past battles with present and future endeavors, thereby framing the pursuit of longevity and health as a natural extension of earlier survival struggles.