You have to steer a course between not appalling people, but at the same time not misleading them. David Attenborough More Quotes by David Attenborough More Quotes From David Attenborough I have no doubt that the fundamental problem the planet faces is the enormous increase in the human population David Attenborough populationfundamentalsdoubt The whole of science, and one is tempted to think the whole of the life of any thinking man, is trying to come to terms with the relationship between yourself and the natural world. Why are you here, and how do you fit in, and what's it all about. David Attenborough tryingmenthinking Birds were flying from continent to continent long before we were. They reached the coldest place on Earth, Antarctica, long before we did. They can survive in the hottest of deserts. Some can remain on the wing for years at a time. They can girdle the globe. Now, we have taken over the earth and the sea and the sky, but with skill and care and knowledge, we can ensure that there is still a place on Earth for birds in all their beauty and variety - if we want to... And surely, we should. David Attenborough takenseayears I would be absolutely astounded if population growth and industrialisation and all the stuff we are pumping into the atmosphere hadn't changed the climatic balance. Of course it has. There is no valid argument for denial. David Attenborough atmospherebalancegrowth All life is related. And it enables us to construct with confidence the complex tree that represents the history of life David Attenborough history-of-lifelife-istree Until humanity manages to sort itself out and get a co-ordinated view about the planet, it's going to get worse and worse. David Attenborough planetshumanityviews There is no question that climate change is happening; the only arguable point is what part humans are playing in it. David Attenborough climate-changeclimatehumans It never really occurred to me to believe in God. David Attenborough believe-in-godbelieve It's a moral question about whether we have the right to exterminate species. David Attenborough speciesanimal-rightsmoral I had a huge advantage when I started 50 years ago - my job was secure. I didn't have to promote myself. These days there's far more pressure to make a mark, so the temptation is to make adventure television or personality shows. I hope the more didactic approach won't be lost. David Attenborough adventurejobsyears I believe the Abominable Snowman may be real. I think there may be something in that. David Attenborough realbelievethinking Well, I'm having a good time. Which makes me feel guilty too. How very English. David Attenborough guiltygood-timestravel The human population can no longer be allowed to grow in the same old uncontrollable way. If we do not take charge of our population size, then nature will do it for us and it is the poor people of the world who will suffer most David Attenborough sizesufferingpeople Apart from anything else, I am designed by evolution, like we all are: if we see a little thing like that, big eyes, tiny nose, we go 'aaah'. That's what evolution does. We are programmed to do that. So to find babies the most amazing, isn't surprising, I don't think. David Attenborough eyebabythinking I'm not an animal lover if that means you think things are nice if you can pat them, but I am intoxicated by animals. David Attenborough niceanimalmean Birds are the most popular group in the animal kingdom. We feed them and tame them and think we know them. And yet they inhabit a world which is really rather mysterious. David Attenborough animalbirdthinking If you watch animals objectively for any length of time, you're driven to the conclusion that their main aim in life is to pass on their genes to the next generation. David Attenborough generationsanimalwatches It is that range of biodiversity that we must care for - the whole thing - rather than just one or two stars. David Attenborough carestarstwo Very few species have survived unchanged. There's one called lingula, which is a little shellfish, a little brachiopod about the size of my fingernail, that has survived for 500 million years, but it's survived by being unobtrusive and doing nothing, and you can't accuse human beings of that. David Attenborough doing-nothinglittlesyears 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. David Attenborough economicsour-societyreal
