If there hadn't been women we'd still be squatting in a cave eating raw meat, because we made civilization in order to impress our girlfriends.

In this quote, Orson Welles, an influential American filmmaker, actor, and writer, humorously asserts that women have been a driving force behind the development of civilization. He suggests that if it weren't for the desire to impress women, humanity might still be living in primitive conditions, symbolized by squatting in a cave and eating raw meat. Welles is making a lighthearted comment about how social advancement and the creation of complex societies were motivated by the pursuit of romantic or social approval, particularly from women.

Welles' statement plays on the idea of competition and status as central motivations for human progress. Men, according to this view, might have been inspired to invent tools, build structures, and establish civilizations primarily as a way to attract or impress women. The underlying humor is that, in Welles' perspective, the pursuit of relationships and romance might have been a more significant driving force than survival instincts or basic necessity.

The quote also reflects Welles' belief in the role of romantic relationships in shaping societal norms and actions. It suggests that the desire for affection or admiration may have pushed humanity to achieve remarkable feats, from the creation of art to the advancement of technology and architecture. In Welles' view, the search for love and validation is as much a catalyst for progress as the desire to secure basic needs like food and shelter.

Ultimately, this quote is a humorous commentary on the interplay between gender, romance, and the development of human civilization. By exaggerating the role that romantic pursuit plays in shaping society, Welles uses irony and humor to suggest that much of human progress, while often attributed to practical reasons, may have been driven by more personal and emotional desires.