Compound Lifts or Isolation Exercises: What Movements Builds Muscle?

A person performing compound lifts, including a barbell squat, in a gym setting.

If the gym is a country then compound movements are its king! They rule the country. They demand respect! If training is like a jungle then compound movements are the Mufasa (or Simba)! If compound movements are Simba then Isolation movements are like Pumba or Timon! They support compound movements but are in no way superior than Simba! Not making any sense, am I? Let me start over: