That sounds like something a Trumper would say to justify the crass and uncivilized behavior of Trump, Miller, etc.
It's something that someone who studies politics and the history of humanity would say.
Political scientist James C. Scott explains in "Against the Grain" that early civilization wasn't an upgrade. It forced humans to settle down. This led to heavier taxes, malnutrition, and crowds that spread deadly diseases.
Some think of early civilization like a big zoo. The "zookeepers" (ancient rulers) kept people in one place to easily collect their "food" (grain taxes/tributes).
Some think it was a trap in that farmers worked harder than hunter-gatherers. They ate a boring diet. They were also shorter and sicker.
Civilization increased sickness and disease as thousands of people and animals crowded together created perfect conditions for plagues.
Foraging and mobile tribes had healthier, freer lives. They often fought hard to stay away from the government's control.
As anthropologist Claude Lvi-Strauss noted, many tools of early civilization were used to control people rather than help them.
Some historians, like Yuval Noah Harari, argue that the "Agricultural Revolution" was history's biggest mistake.
That's not to say there were not benefits.
But no worries. We got this! Because now we have no choice. There is no going back.
Truth,
"There is nothing we can do" is every bit as absolute and unrealistic as claiming Iran could never rebuild anything.
Never say never.