# Quote — William H. McNeill, Plagues and Peoples

> Ever since language allowed human cultural evolution to impinge upon age-old processes of biological evolution, humankind has been in a position to upset older balances of nature in quite the same fashion as disease upsets the natural balance within a host's body. Time and again, a temporary approach to stabilization of new relationships occurred as natural limits to the ravages of humankind upon other life forms manifested themselves. Yet, sooner or later, and always within a span of time that remained miniscule in comparison with the standards of biological evolution, humanity discovered new techniques allowing fresh exploitation of hitherto inaccessible forms of life.

- Author: [William H. McNeill](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-h-mcneill.md)
- Book: [Plagues and Peoples](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-h-mcneill/plagues-and-peoples.md)
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/William_H._McNeill#Plagues_and_Peoples_(1976)) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-h-mcneill/plagues-and-peoples/ever-since-language

## More from this book

> The principle obstacle to human dominion over the rain forests is still the rich variety of parasites lying in wait for intruders.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-h-mcneill/plagues-and-peoples/the-principle-obstacle.md)

> When variations could be so extravagantly successful, displacement of one humanoid population by another even more effective group of hunters must have occurred frequently. Survival was more likely for the more formidable in battle as well as for the more efficient in the hunt.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-h-mcneill/plagues-and-peoples/when-variations-could.md)

> Decisive breakthroughs in military medical administration came just after the turn of the twentieth century. Until then, in even the best-managed armies, disease was always a far more lethal factor than enemy action, even during active campaigns.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/william-h-mcneill/plagues-and-peoples/decisive-breakthroughs-in-military.md)