Sir David Attenborough is arguably the nation’s most beloved broadcaster, the voice behind some of the world’s favourite nature programmes including Life on Earth, Natural World, Blue Planet, and most recently, David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet.
Age 93 and with a career spanning seven decades, his lifetime of knowledge and wise demeanour makes him a sage voice of reason and advocate of nature beyond his absorbing narration of nature documentaries.
Indeed he is speaking out more and more about the effects of human behaviour and activity, and the impact this will have on the natural world.
Here are 10 of our favourite David Attenborough quotes…
David Attenborough quotes on nature and sustainability
1 of 101. “There is no reason to suppose that our stay here will be any more permanent than that of the dinosaur.”
"There is no reason to suppose that our stay here will be any more permanent than that of the dinosaur."
2 of 102. "I wish the world was twice as big - and half of it was still unexplored."
"I wish the world was twice as big - and half of it was still unexplored."
3 of 103. "An understanding of the natural world is a source of not only great curiosity, but great fulfilment."
"An understanding of the natural world is a source of not only great curiosity, but great fulfilment."
4 of 104. "The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?"
"The question is, are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?"
5 of 105. “In moments of great grief, that’s where you look and immerse yourself. You realise you are not immortal, you are not a god, you are part of the natural world and you come to accept that.”
"In moments of great grief, that's where you look and immerse yourself. You realise you are not immortal, you are not a god, you are part of the natural world and you come to accept that."
6 of 106. “Young people - they care. They know that this is the world that they're going to grow up in, that they're going to spend the rest of their lives in. But, I think it's more idealistic than that. They actually believe that humanity, human species, has no right to destroy and despoil regardless.”
"Young people - they care. They know that this is the world that they're going to grow up in, that they're going to spend the rest of their lives in. But, I think it's more idealistic than that. They actually believe that humanity, human species, has no right to destroy and despoil regardless."
7 of 107. “The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It provides our food, water and air. It is the most precious thing we have and we need to defend it.”
"The truth is: the natural world is changing. And we are totally dependent on that world. It provides our food, water and air. It is the most precious thing we have and we need to defend it."
8 of 108. “No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced”
"No one will protect what they don't care about; and no one will care about what they have never experienced"
9 of 109. “We can now destroy or we can cherish, the choice is ours.”
"We can now destroy or we can cherish, the choice is ours."
10 of 1010. “The fact is that no species has ever had such wholesale control over everything on earth, living or dead, as we now have. That lays upon us, whether we like it or not, an awesome responsibility. In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share the earth.”
"The fact is that no species has ever had such wholesale control over everything on earth, living or dead, as we now have. That lays upon us, whether we like it or not, an awesome responsibility. In our hands now lies not only our own future, but that of all other living creatures with whom we share the earth."