Meaning: The quote by Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian adventurer and ethnographer, is a thought-provoking reflection on the concept of chance and the vastness of time. Heyerdahl was best known for his adventurous expeditions, including the famous Kon-Tiki expedition, in which he sailed a raft across the Pacific Ocean to demonstrate the possibility of ancient transoceanic contact between early civilizations.

In the quote, Heyerdahl invites us to contemplate the immense age of the world, suggesting that when considering a timeline of over 100 million years, the fact that we are alive today is purely a result of chance. This sentiment touches on the profound idea that the circumstances of our existence are the product of countless random events and occurrences over the course of millions of years.

The concept of deep time, or the vast expanse of geologic time, is a fundamental principle in fields such as geology, paleontology, and evolutionary biology. The Earth is estimated to be around 4.5 billion years old, and life is believed to have emerged around 3.5 billion years ago. These incomprehensibly long time scales challenge our human perception and understanding of time, making it difficult to truly grasp the immense duration of the planet's history.

From a geological perspective, the processes that have shaped the Earth over millions of years – from the movement of tectonic plates to the rise and fall of continents, and the evolution of life forms – have occurred through a combination of natural laws and chance events. The quote by Heyerdahl encapsulates the idea that within this vast expanse of time, the existence of any individual or species is the result of a series of unpredictable events and conditions.

In the context of human history, the quote prompts contemplation of the sheer improbability of our own existence. Throughout the course of human evolution, our ancestors faced numerous challenges and hardships, and their survival was often determined by chance events such as natural disasters, climate changes, and encounters with other species. The evolutionary biologist Stephen Jay Gould popularized the concept of "replaying life's tape," suggesting that if we were to rewind the tape of life and let it play out again, the outcome would be entirely different due to the role of contingency and chance in shaping evolutionary history.

Heyerdahl's quote also raises philosophical questions about the nature of existence and the role of chance in shaping our lives. It invites us to ponder the countless variables and circumstances that had to align for each of us to be here today. From the meeting of our parents, to the specific conditions of our upbringing, and the chance encounters and decisions that have shaped our lives, the quote prompts us to consider the role of randomness in the fabric of our existence.

In conclusion, Thor Heyerdahl's quote serves as a poignant reminder of the vastness of time and the role of chance in shaping the course of life on Earth. It encourages us to contemplate the improbable nature of our existence and the countless random events that have led us to this point in history. Whether viewed through the lens of deep time, evolutionary history, or personal experience, the quote provokes reflection on the interplay of chance and destiny in the tapestry of life.