My Life with the Chimpanzees

“If I moved, I would spoil everything. So I stayed quite still. So did the chicken.”

This quote reflects Jane Goodall’s early fascination with animal behavior. The careful observation and patience she demonstrates mirror the qualities that define her scientific work. This moment foreshadows her future career, where her meticulous and respectful approach to studying primates leads to groundbreaking discoveries. The parallel structure (“So I stayed quite still. So did the chicken.”) also establishes Goodall’s core belief in animals and humans as equals.

“You have to be patient if you want to learn about animals.”

Goodall uses the second person to directly address her reader. This creates emphasis, establishing this as one of the main takeaways of her memoir. Her advice emphasizes the necessity of time and observation in understanding animals, highlighting the contrast between human impatience and the natural world’s slow, deliberate rhythms. This theme is reinforced through the straightforward, didactic tone, which underscores the universal truth of patience as a virtue.

“It took me a long time before I could get close enough to the chimps to make good observations. At first, they were very shy. […] But it was worth it. Because, apart from the human animal, the chimpanzee is the most fascinating animal of all.”

The chimps’ initial shyness and the time it took to gain their trust underscore the dedication required for meaningful scientific observation. The use of the word “fascinating” conveys Goodall’s deep admiration and passion for chimpanzees, a driving force behind her groundbreaking studies. This passage also reflects her intrinsic