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We have language and they do not. Chimps communicate by embracing, patting, looking - all these things. And they have lots of sounds. But they cannot sit and discuss. They cannot teach about things that are not present, as far as we know.
Jane Goodall
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote highlights the unique capacity of humans to use complex language for abstract communication, setting us apart from animals like chimps.

In this quote, Jane Goodall emphasizes the distinctive feature of human beings: the ability to use language for complex thought and communication. While chimpanzees can express emotions and ideas through physical gestures and sounds, they lack the capacity for abstract discussion and teaching about concepts that are not immediately present. This distinction underscores the importance of language in human culture and social interaction.

Themes

LanguageCommunicationChimpsHumansAbstract Thought

In practice

Example use cases

In a discussion about cognitive abilities in animals, this quote can be used to emphasize the significance of language in human evolution.

More from Jane Goodall

The voice of the natural world would be, "Could you please give us space and leave us alone to get along with our own lives and our own ways, because we actually know much better how to do it then when you start interfering."
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We can't leave people in abject poverty, so we need to raise the standard of living for 80% of the world's people, while bringing it down considerably for the 20% who are destroying our natural resources.
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I was born in London in England in 1934. I went through, as a child, the horrors of World War II, through a time when food was rationed and we learned to be very careful, and we never had more to eat than what we needed to eat. There was no waste. Everything was used.
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Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutan shave been living for hundreds of thousands of years in their forest,living fantastic lives, never overpopulating, never destroying the forest. I would say that they have been in a way more successful than us as far as being in harmony with the environment.
Jane GoodallRead
There are an awful lot of scientists today who believe that before very long we shall have unraveled all the secrets of the universe. There will be no puzzles anymore. To me, it'd be really, really tragic because I think one of the most exciting things is this feeling of mystery, feeling of awe, the feeling of looking at a little live thing and being amazed by it and how it has emerged through these hundreds of years of evolution and there it is and it is perfect and why.
Jane GoodallRead
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? Yes.
Jane GoodallRead

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