Check out these best Jane Goodall quotes that capture her passion for wildlife, her groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzees, and her inspiring messages about nature, compassion, and hope.
Jane Goodall is a world-renowned primatologist and environmentalist who has become a global symbol of wildlife conservation and humanitarianism.
Famous for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees, Goodall has spent over six decades advocating for animals, the environment, and a more sustainable future.
Born on April 3, 1934, in London, England, Jane was fascinated by animals from an early age. Inspired by books like Tarzan and The Jungle Book, she dreamed of exploring the wild and studying animals in their natural habitats.
That dream came true in 1960, when she began her research in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania.
Without formal scientific training, Jane made revolutionary discoveries, proving that chimpanzees use tools, express emotions, form strong family bonds, and live in social structures remarkably similar to our own.
Her findings challenged long-standing scientific beliefs and forever changed how we understand primates and animal intelligence.
Driven by a mission to protect both animals and their habitats, Jane later founded the Jane Goodall Institute in 1977.
This global nonprofit organization works to protect wildlife, support conservation efforts, and empower communities through education and sustainable development.
Through her tireless efforts, she has inspired millions of people worldwide to respect the natural environment, protect animals, and believe that every individual can make a difference in the world.
Here are some of the most famous Jane Goodall quotes that remind us to take action and make our planet a better place.
Top 10 Jane Goodall Quotes To Inspire You
- “The greatest danger to our future is apathy.” — Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall Quotes - “It’s up to us to save the world for tomorrow: it’s up to you and me.” — Jane Goodall
Famous Quotes From Jane Goodall - “The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.” — Jane Goodall
Inspiring Jane Goodall Quote - “Cumulatively small decisions, choices, actions, make a very big difference.” — Jane Goodall
Quotes By Jane Goodall - “Be assured that our individual actions, collectively, make a huge difference.” — Jane Goodall
Best Jane Goodall Quotes - “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.” — Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall Sayings - “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” — Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall Quotations - “Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.” — Jane Goodall
- “Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.” — Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall Famous Quotes - “Only when our clever brain and our human heart work together in harmony can we achieve our true potential.” — Jane Goodall
Best Jane Goodall Quotes On Life, Hope, And Change
- “Children can change the world.” — Jane Goodall
- “It’s not a pretty picture, but there are reasons for hope.” — Jane Goodall
- “There is a powerful force unleashed when young people resolve to make a change.” — Jane Goodall
- “Lasting change is a series of compromises. And compromise is all right, as long your values don’t change.” — Jane Goodall
- “We could change the world tomorrow if all the millions of people around the world acted the way they believe.” — Jane Goodall
- “It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.” Jane Goodall.” — Jane Goodall
- “Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.” — Jane Goodall
- “Young people, when informed and empowered, when they realize that what they do truly makes a difference, can indeed change the world.” — Jane Goodall
- “Every stage of my life set the scene for the next, and at each point all I had to do was say “yes” and not think too much about the consequences.” — Jane Goodall
- “Your life matters. You can’t live through a day without making an impact on the world. And what’s most important is to think about the impact of your actions on the world around you.” — Jane Goodall
- “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, especially each other.” — Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall Quotes On Animals And Humanity
- “Having respect for animals makes us better humans…” — Jane Goodall
- “If we kill off the wild, then we are killing a part of our souls.” — Jane Goodall
- “I don’t care two hoots about civilization. I want to wander in the wild.” — Jane Goodall
- “What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.” — Jane Goodall
- “Let us develop respect for all living things. Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.” — Jane Goodall
- “I had a wonderful teacher about animal behavior – my dog Rusty. He taught me that animals have personalities, minds, and feelings.” — Jane Goodall
- “One individual cannot possible make a difference, alone. It is individual efforts, collectively, that makes a noticeable difference – all the difference in the world!” — Jane Goodall
- “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.” — Jane Goodall
- “Above all we must realize that each of us makes a difference with our life. Each of us impacts the world around us every single day. We have a choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place – or not to bother.” — Jane Goodall
- “My mother always taught us that if people don’t agree with you, the important thing is to listen to them. But if you’ve listened to them carefully and you still think that you’re right, then you must have the courage of your convictions.” — Jane Goodall
- “Just remember – if you are really and truly determined to work with animals, somehow, either now or later, you will find a way to do it. But you have to want it desperately, work hard, take advantage of an opportunity – and never give up.” — Jane Goodall
- “We are beginning to learn that each animal has a life and a place and a role in this world. If we place compassion and care in the middle of all our dealings with the animal world and honor and respect their lives, our attitudes will change.” — Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall Quotes On Nature And The Environment
- “My mission is to create a world where we can live in harmony with nature.” — Jane Goodall
- “To me, trees are living beings and they have their own sort of personalities.” — Jane Goodall
- “The forest is for me a temple, a cathedral of tree canopies and dancing light.” — Jane Goodall
- “Chimps taught us we’re not separated from the animal kingdom, we’re a part of it.” — Jane Goodall
- “Science demands objective factual evidence – proof; spiritual experience is subjective and leads to faith.” — Jane Goodall
- “Here we are, the most clever species ever to have lived. So how is it we can destroy the only planet we have?” — Jane Goodall
- “It would be absolutely useless for any of us to work to save wildlife without working to educate the next generation of conservationists.” — Jane Goodall
- “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?” — Jane Goodall
- “If only we can overcome cruelty, to human and animal, with love and compassion we shall stand at the threshold of a new era in human moral and spiritual evolution – and realize, at last, our most unique quality: humanity.” — Jane Goodall
- “The hardest part of returning to a truly healthy environment may be changing the current totally unsustainable heavy-meat-eating culture of increasing numbers of people around the world. But we must try. We must make a start, one by one.” — Jane Goodall
More Jane Goodall Quotes And Sayings
- “As thy days, so shall thy strength be.” — Jane Goodall
- “Hope does not deny the evil, but is a response to it.” — Jane Goodall
- “My hope for the future is that we learn wisdom again.” — Jane Goodall
- “I believe the only hope for mankind lies in the hands of our young people.” — Jane Goodall
- “The only possible way to get somebody to change is to reach into their hearts.” — Jane Goodall
- “I like some animals more than some people, some people more than some animals.” — Jane Goodall
- “I think the most important thing is to keep active and to hope that your mind stays active.” — Jane Goodall
- “I have found that to love and be loved is the most empowering and exhilarating of all human emotions.” — Jane Goodall
- “Words can be said in bitterness and anger, and often there seems to be an element of truth in the nastiness. And words don’t go away, they just echo around.” — Jane Goodall
- “If we allow the destruction of the environment, we can see the terrorists have utterly won, and are destroying the future of our children and grandchildren. We must not let that happen.” — Jane Goodall
Conclusion
What are your favorite Jane Goodall quotes and sayings listed above? If there is a quote that we’ve missed then let us know in the comments section below.
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