When I think about the people who’ve shaped how I live, work and parent, one woman always rises to the top: Dr Jane Goodall.
Her presence in the world was extraordinary. And yet, she was so deeply human. Her words are calm but powerful. She didn’t just say what matters. She lived it. In every action, every conversation, she put compassion first — for people, animals, and the planet.
Jane was one of my personal heroes and I will miss her greatly. She has influenced how I raise my own children and how I support other families to raise theirs. Her words have shaped the values I want my family to live by: empathy, curiosity, respect for all living beings, and responsibility for our shared world.
Jane Goodall On Making a Difference
As parents, it’s easy to feel small in the face of climate change or injustice. But Jane reminds us we are never powerless.
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
— The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times (2021)
Every family choice matters — from what we eat, to how we travel, to the stories we tell our children about their place in the world.
“You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
We don’t have to be perfect. But we do need to be intentional. The way we live sends a message to our children about what we believe in.
“Every individual matters. Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference.”
— With Love: Ten Heartwarming Stories of Chimpanzees in the Wild (1994)
This one hits home for me. It reminds us that we can’t keep supporting industries and practices that deny this truth — like factory farming, cosmetic testing on animals, or treating leather as just a fashion item. These may be considered “normal”, but that doesn’t make them acceptable.
If we truly believe every living being matters, we need to reflect that in how we shop, eat, and live.
“We have the choice to use the gift of our life to make the world a better place—or not to bother.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
That’s what I want to teach my children: we always have a choice. Let’s not waste it.
Jane Goodall Quotes About Compassion and Responsibility
Jane has always refused to see animals as “less than”. She treats them as equals. That has shaped how I talk to my children about animals. Not as objects for our benefit, but as fellow earth-dwellers who deserve our care.
“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
If you’ve ever seen your child’s face light up when they stroke a dog or marvel at a bug, you know how natural empathy for animals is. Let’s nurture that. Let’s teach them that our responsibility doesn’t stop with humans.
“Let us develop respect for all living things. Let us try to replace violence and intolerance with understanding and compassion. And love.”
— Jane Goodall: 40 Years at Gombe (1999)
That means questioning the ways animals are used — in farming, entertainment, fashion — and making gentler choices where we can.
“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.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
“Animals have personalities and minds and feelings.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
This is a fact science now supports — but Jane knew it long before the research caught up. Our children need to know it too.
Jane Goodall On the Environment and Our Planet
Like Jane, I don’t believe we can separate human wellbeing from the health of the Earth. And yet, we live in a culture that still treats nature as a resource, not a relative.
“The greatest danger to our future is apathy.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
We can’t afford to look away. Our children will inherit the results of what we choose now. And they are watching.
“Only if we understand, can we care. Only if we care, we will help. Only if we help, we shall be saved.”
— Jane Goodall: 40 Years at Gombe (1999)
The more our children connect with the natural world — through walks, gardening, even conversations about where our food comes from — the more they will grow into protectors of it.
“How is it possible that the most intellectual creature to ever walk planet Earth is destroying its only home?”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
This one gives me chills. We must stop seeing destruction as the price of progress. It doesn’t have to be that way.
“Fortunately, nature is amazingly resilient: places we have destroyed, given time and help, can once again support life.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
Hope lies in action. In rewilding, replanting, reducing waste, and raising kids who care.
Jane Goodall On Hope and Action
There’s so much despair in the world right now. But Jane doesn’t wallow in it. She reframes hope as something active. Something we create through doing.
“Hope is often misunderstood. People tend to think that it is simply passive wishful thinking: I hope something will happen but I’m not going to do anything about it. This is indeed the opposite of real hope, which requires action and engagement”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
In our families, that might mean picking up litter, cutting back on plastic, or choosing not to buy from companies that harm animals or the earth.
“Young people, when informed and empowered, when they realize that what they do truly makes a difference, can indeed change the world.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
This is one of my biggest hopes — that our children don’t inherit helplessness. That they learn to trust their voice, their values, and their impact.
“Change happens by listening and then starting a dialogue with the people who are doing something you don’t believe is right.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
Sometimes this means having difficult conversations, even with friends or family. But silence never brings change. Our children need to see us living with integrity, not just preaching it.
Jane Goodall On Humanity and Connection
If we want to raise kind, conscious humans, we must model both emotional intelligence and ecological awareness. Jane puts it beautifully:
“Empathy is really important. Only when our clever brain and our human heart work together in harmony can we achieve our full potential.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
“We have so far to go to realize our human potential for compassion, altruism, and love.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
In my opinion these values are essential for a healthy mind. But they are just as vital for a healthy planet.
“To reconnect with nature is key if we want to save the planet.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
Let’s not lose that connection. Let’s walk barefoot on the grass, plant seeds with our children, and pause to admire the trees. It all matters.
“It’s up to us to save the world for tomorrow: it’s up to you and me.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
“Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference.”
— The Book of Hope (2021)
There is no single solution. But there are millions of small, powerful ones. And they begin with the way we live, the way we raise our families, and the values we pass on.
Want to know more about Jane Goodall’s incredible work? Take a look at the Jane Goodall Institute.
Stephanie Simmons is an Anglo-American mum of two who is passionate about all things outdoors. She loves camping, outdoor crafting, and all outdoor activities.
Steph believes in getting the kids outdoors no matter the weather!
She created Wild Bloom Families to share her passion for the outdoors with other families.
Getting in nature can transform your physical health, mental health and happiness!
