Quote

The most extraordinary thing about trying to piece together the missing links in the evolutionary story is that when you do find a missing link and put it in the story, you suddenly need all these other missing links to connect to the new discovery. The gaps and questions actually increase - it's extraordinary.

David Attenborough

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

David Attenborough
Age: 98
Born: 1926
Born: May 8
Actor
Autobiographer
Biologist
Broadcaster
Director
Environmentalist
Film Director
Journalist
Naturalist
Presenter
Screenwriter
London
England
Sir David Attenborough
David Frederick Attenborough
Sir David Frederick Attenborough
Need
Increase
Gaps
Needs
Missing
Links
Thing
Pieces
Connect
Trying
Story
Suddenly
Actually
Discovery
Stories
Piece
Together
Extraordinary
Evolutionary
Find
Questions
Link

More quotes by David Attenborough

Image
I have no doubt that the fundamental problem the planet faces is the enormous increase in the human population
David Attenborough
Image
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
Image
I suffer much less than many of my colleagues. I am perfectly able to go to Australia and film within three hours of arrival.
David Attenborough
Image
I find it far more awesome, wonderful, that creation our appearance in the world should be the culmination, or at least one of the latest products of 3,000 Million years of organic evolution, than a kind of country trick, taking a rib out of a man's side in a trance.
David Attenborough
Image
Using his burgeoning intelligence, this most successful of all mammals has exploited the environment to produce food for an ever increasing population. Instead of controlling the environment for the benefit of the population, perhaps it's time we controlled the population to allow the survival of the environment.
David Attenborough
Image
We keep putting on programmes about famine in Ethiopia that’s what’s happening. Too many people there. They can’t support themselves — and it’s not an inhuman thing to say. It’s the case. Until humanity manages to sort itself out and get a coordinated view about the planet it’s going to get worse and worse.
David Attenborough
Image
It never really occurred to me to believe in God.
David Attenborough
Image
Can a growing human population still leave space for wildlife?
David Attenborough
Image
You can only get really unpopular decisions through if the electorate is convinced of the value of the environment. That's what natural history programmes should be for.
David Attenborough
Image
I just wish the world was twice as big and half of it was still unexplored.
David Attenborough
Image
Before the BBC, I joined the Navy in order to travel.
David Attenborough
Image
I'm against this huge globalisation on the basis of economic advantage.
David Attenborough
Image
I don't like rats, but there's not much else I don't like. The problem with rats is they have no fear of human beings, they're loaded with foul diseases, they would run the place given half the chance, and I've had them leap out of a lavatory while I've been sitting on it.
David Attenborough
Image
I've been to Nepal, but I'd like to go to Tibet. It must be a wonderful place to go. I don't think there's anything there, but it would be a nice place to visit.
David Attenborough
Image
How could I look my grandchildren in the eye and say I knew what was happening to the world and did nothing.
David Attenborough
Image
I've been bitten by a python. Not a very big one. I was being silly, saying: 'Oh, it's not poisonous' Then, wallop! But you have fear around animals.
David Attenborough
Image
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
Image
All we can hope for is that the thing is going to slowly and imperceptibly shift. All I can say is that 50 years ago there were no such thing as environmental policies.
David Attenborough
Image
You'll find people where their conditions aren't changing in any way, its rather rare for them to be happy.
David Attenborough
Image
The notion of ever more old people needing ever more young people, who will in turn grow old and need even more young people, and so on ad infinitum, is an obvious ecological Ponzi scheme.
David Attenborough