David Attenborough stands as an iconic figure in the field of natural history and wildlife documentary filmmaking. With a career spanning over seven decades, Attenborough has not only enlightened global audiences about the wonders of the natural world but has also served as a fervent advocate for environmental conservation and biodiversity. Through his distinctive narration, unparalleled storytelling, and groundbreaking cinematography, Attenborough has captivated generations, forging an enduring legacy as a guardian of Earth’s diverse ecosystems.
Here is a collection of some of the best quotes by David Attenborough that still inspires and amaze people. These quotes reflect Attenborough’s deep understanding of the natural world and his commitment to preserving it for future generations.
“The whole of life is coming to terms with yourself and the natural world. Why are you here? How do you fit in? What’s it all about?”
“It seems to me that the natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”
“It is that range of biodiversity that we must care for—the whole thing—rather than just one or two stars.”
“I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.”
“It’s extraordinary how self-obsessed human beings are.”
“An understanding of the natural world and what’s in it is a source of not only a great curiosity but great fulfillment.”
“It’s a moral question about whether we have the right to exterminate species.”
“We can now destroy or we can cherish. The choice is ours.”
“The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?”
“We’re replacing the wild with the tame. Half of the fertile land on earth is now farmland. 70% of the mass of birds on this planet are domestic birds. The vast majority, chickens. We account for over one-third of the weight of mammals on earth. A further 60% are the animals we raise to eat. The rest, from mice to whales, make up just 4%.”
“I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.”
“The natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest source of visual beauty, the greatest source of intellectual interest. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.”
“Today we’re living in an era in which the biggest threat to human well-being, to other species and to the Earth as we know it might well be ourselves. The issue of population size is always controversial because it touches on the most personal decisions we make, but we ignore it at our peril.”
“No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one will care about what they have never experienced.”
“This is now our planet, run by humankind for humankind. There is little left for the rest of the living world.”
“There are some four million different kinds of animals and plants in the world. Four million different solutions to the problems of staying alive.”
“Real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics.”
“It is surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.”
‘I’m sure things are going to get worse before they get better. But I believe they can get better.”
“The future of life on Earth depends on our ability to take action.”
“There is more meaning and mutual understanding in exchanging a glance with a gorilla than with any other animal I know.”
“It is that range of biodiversity that we must care for—the whole thing—rather than just one or two stars.”
“You can wreck one rainforest then move, drain one area of resources and move onto another, but climate change is global.”
“Many individuals are doing what they can. But real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics.”
“The natural world is the greatest source of excitement; the greatest visual beauty; the greatest source of intellectual interest.”
“Our imprint is now truly global. Our impact is now truly profound. Our blind assault on the planet has finally come to alter the very fundamentals of the living world.”
“It’s surely our responsibility to do everything within our power to create a planet that provides a home not just for us, but for all life on Earth.”
“The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It provides our food, water and air. It is the most precious thing we have and we need to defend it.”
“Real success can only come if there is a change in our societies and in our economics and in our politics.”
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