Portrait of Jane Goodall

Jane Goodall

Primatology, chimpanzee research

Contemporary influential 153 sayings

Sayings by Jane Goodall

The greatest gift we can give our children is a healthy planet.

2019 — Speech
Nature & World Unverifiable

I believe that every day is an opportunity to make a positive difference.

2021 — Interview
Inspirational Unverifiable

I think the best evenings are when we have messages from the animal world.

2017 — Interview with The Telegraph
Nature & World Unverifiable

Someday we shall look back on this dark era of agriculture and shake our heads. How could we have ever believed that it was a good idea to grow our food with poisons?

2005 — Essay in 'Harvest for Hope'
Inspirational Unverifiable

You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

2003 — Speech at a sustainability conference
Wisdom Unverifiable

Chimpanzees, more than any other living creature, have helped us to understand that there is no sharp line dividing humans from the rest of the animal kingdom.

1999 — Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey
General Confirmed

What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.

Unknown, widely cited — Speech, often repeated
General Unverifiable

I think the most important thing is to realize that we are part of the animal kingdom, and we're not above it.

2010 — Interview with National Geographic
General Unverifiable

We have so much to learn from the animals, if we would only listen.

1986 — The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior
General Unverifiable

Only if we understand, will we care. Only if we care, will we help. Only if we help, shall all be saved.

Unknown, widely cited — Speech, often repeated
General Unverifiable

We cannot live in a world where we're constantly taking, taking, taking, and not giving anything back.

2015 — Interview with The Guardian
General Unverifiable

I don't understand why we have to be so destructive. Why can't we learn to live in harmony with nature?

2010 — Interview with Smithsonian Magazine
General Unverifiable

We are a part of the natural world, and when we destroy it, we destroy ourselves.

Unknown, widely cited — Speech, often repeated
War & Violence Unverifiable

The more we learn about the natural world, the more we realize how interconnected everything is.

1999 — Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey
General Unverifiable

I've always felt that the human brain is the greatest weapon we have, and also the greatest tool.

2015 — Interview with The Guardian
War & Violence Unverifiable

We have to find a way to live in harmony with nature, or we will destroy ourselves.

Unknown, widely cited — Speech, often repeated
War & Violence Unverifiable

I believe that we can change the world, one individual at a time.

Unknown, widely cited — Speech, often repeated
General Unverifiable

We need to teach our children to respect nature, and to understand that we are all connected.

2010 — Interview with Smithsonian Magazine
General Unverifiable

Every creature has a role to play in the ecosystem, and we need to respect that.

1999 — Reason for Hope: A Spiritual Journey
General Unverifiable

We are at a crossroads, and we have to choose between a path of destruction and a path of hope.

Unknown, widely cited — Speech, often repeated
General Unverifiable
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