Notable Quotable: Jane Goodall's Famous Last Words

Jane Goodall, the trailblazing primatologist and conservationist, passed away on October 1, 2025, at the age of 91.

Her legendary insights into chimpanzees and her extraordinary discovery that chimps made tools to facilitate fishing changed the scientific worldview that held only humans possessed such skill and intelligence.

Before her death, Goodall was interviewed for a Netflix documentary, Famous Last Words. In her candid interview, she left a heartfelt message to the world. In the quote below, she assures us of the inherent value in every human being and reminds us all that we are here to make a difference.

“In the place where I am now, I look over my life. I look back at the life I left behind. What message do I want to leave? I want to make sure that you all understand that each and every one of you has a role to play. You may not know it. You may not find it. But it matters, and you are here for a reason. And I just hope that reason will become apparent as you live through your life. I want you to know that whether or not you find that role that you’re supposed to play, your life does matter, and that every single day you live, you make a difference in the world, and you get to choose the difference you make.”

— Jane Goodall