The quote reflects a profound disillusionment with human society, illustrating a cycle of repeated mistakes. Despite the passage of time and experiences, humanity often prioritizes immediate benefits at the cost of future consequences. This short-sightedness leads to devastating outcomes, represented metaphorically by corpses and rubble, symbolizing destruction and loss.

Margaret Atwood's "Oryx and Crake" delves into these themes, questioning whether society can ever truly learn from its errors. The author suggests a bleak outlook on humanity's ability to adopt wisdom from past failures, indicating a persistent tendency towards folly and recklessness that jeopardizes its long-term survival.