In Case You Missed It…
This is the latest in my quotes collection series. Check out the full collection here.
The legendary primatologist Jane Goodall died today at the age of 91. Goodall transformed our understanding of chimpanzees, blurred the boundaries we once imagined between humans and other animals, and devoted the latter decades of her life to fighting for the planet. Here are 12 of her best, most inspiring quotes. RIP Jane.
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.”
“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.”
“Farm animals are far more aware and intelligent than we ever imagined and, despite having been bred as domestic slaves, they are individual beings in their own right. As such, they deserve our respect. And our help. Who will plead for them if we are silent?”
“Chimpanzees, more than any other living creature, have helped us to understand that there is no sharp line between humans and the rest of the animal kingdom.”
“Chimps can do all sorts of things we thought that only we could do - like tool-making and abstraction and generalisation.”
“In what terms should we think of these beings, nonhuman yet possessing so very many human-like characteristics? How should we treat them? Surely we should treat them with the same consideration and kindness as we show to other humans; and as we recognize human rights, so too should we recognize the rights of the great apes.”
“Surely we do not want to live in a world without the great apes, our closest living relatives in the animal kingdom? A world where we can no longer marvel at the magnificent flight of bald eagles or hear the howl of wolves under the moon? A world not enhanced by the sight of a grizzly bear and her cubs hunting for berries in the wilderness? What would our grandchildren think if these magical images were only to be found in books?”
“Here we are, the most clever species ever to have lived. So how is it we can destroy the only planet we have?”
“Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference. Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us.”
“Hope is contagious. Your actions will inspire others.”
“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
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Coming Soon to The Nature-Nurture-Nietzsche Newsletter…
Beyond g: The Genetics of Specific Cognitive Abilities
12 Things Everyone Should Know About the Dark Triad (check out the rest of the “12 Things Everyone Should Know” series here)
Some big news about my upcoming book, A Billion Years of Sex Differences…
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Thanks Steve for this tribute to a legendary scientist and conservationist.