Best Jane Goodall quotes | The Environment Show

“My mission is to create a world where we can live in harmony with nature. And can I do that alone? No. So there is a whole army of youth that can do it. So I suppose my mission is to reach as many of those young people as I can through my own efforts.”

“So this is my effort to bring back the hope that we must have if we are to change direction. I think to be fully human, we need to have meaning in our lives, and that’s what I am trying to help these young people to find.”

“To me, cruelty is the worst of human sins. Once we accept that a living creature has feelings and suffers pain, then by knowingly and deliberately inflicting suffering on that creature, we are guilty, whether it be human or animal.”

“The more we learn of the true nature of non-human animals, especially those with complex brains and corresponding complex social behavior, the more ethical concerns are raised regarding their use in the service of man — whether this be in entertainment, as “pets,” for food, in research laboratories, or any of the other uses to which we subject them.”

“Here we are, arguably the most intelligent being that’s ever walked planet Earth, with this extraordinary brain, yet we’re destroying the only home we have.” 

“To reconnect with nature is key if we want to save the planet.” 

“It is the undeniable qualities of human love and compassion and self-sacrifice that give me hope for the future. We are, indeed, often cruel and evil. Nobody can deny this. We gang up on one another, we torture each other with words as well as deeds, we fight, we kill, but we are also capable of the most noble, generous, and heroic behaviour.”

“I think empathy is really important, and I think only when our clever brain and our human heart work together in harmony can we achieve our full potential.”

“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.” 

“Whatever we believe about how we got to be the extraordinary creatures we are today is far less important than bringing our intellect to bear on how do we get together now around the world and get out of the mess that we’ve made. That’s the key thing now. Never mind how we got to be who we are.” 

“Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.”

“Lasting change is a series of compromises. And compromise is alright, as long your values don’t change.”

“It’s knowing what can be done that gives people the courage to fight.”

“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.”

“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”

“We could change the world tomorrow if all the millions of people around the world acted the way they believe.”

“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.”

“Anyone who tries to improve the lives of animals invariably comes in for criticism from those who believe such efforts are misplaced in a world of suffering humanity.”

“I do have reasons for hope: our clever brains, the resilience of nature, the indomitable human spirit, and above all, the commitment of young people when they’re empowered to take action.”