Imagine Who We Can Be – People Who Make a Difference in the World
When Jane Goodall died on October 1 this year, few of us realized we would have the opportunity to hear her last words recorded in March 2025 for the new Netflix series titled Famous Last Words. I invite you to watch the entire posthumously-released interview and savor her words below.
Here are Goodall’s last words to us.
“In the place where I am now, I look back over my life. I look back at the world I’ve 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 your life 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 that you make.
“I want you to understand that we are part of the natural world. And even today, when the planet is dark, there still is hope. Don’t lose hope. If you lose hope, you become apathetic and do nothing. And if you want to save what is still beautiful in this world — if you want to save the planet for the future generations, your grandchildren, their grandchildren — then think about the actions you take each day. Because, multiplied a million, a billion times, even small actions will make for great change. I want to — I just hope that you understand that this life on Planet Earth isn’t the end. I believe, and now I know that there is life beyond death. That consciousness survives.
“I can’t tell you, from where I am, secrets that are not mine to share. I can’t tell you what you will find when you leave Planet Earth. But I want you to know that your life on Planet Earth will make some difference in the kind of life you find after you die. Above all, I want you to think about the fact that we are part — when we’re on Planet Earth — we are part of Mother Nature. We depend on Mother Nature for clean air, for water, for food, for clothing, for everything. And as we destroy one ecosystem after another, as we create worse climate change, worse loss of diversity, we have to do everything in our power to make the world a better place for the children alive today, and for those that will follow. You have it in your power to make a difference. Don’t give up. There is a future for you. Do your best while you’re still on this beautiful Planet Earth that I look down upon from where I am now. God bless you all.”
On October 10 this year, Jennifer Rubin wrote in The Contrarian, though Goodall focused primarily on climate change and conservation, “her guiding philosophy delivered with such sincerity also serves us well as we battle not just for the survival of the planet, but the survival of our democracy. Her faith that we all have a role, a purpose (what Nancy Pelosi calls our ‘why’) speaks to people who may currently feel powerless. Her insight that finding one’s purpose is a lifelong process recognizes that we can find our path at age nine or ninety. And her clarion call to use our agency to save ‘what is beautiful’ applies to the ongoing struggle to save what is just and decent and true.”
“As Goodall warns us, ‘If you lose hope, you become apathetic and do nothing.’ Her admonition to preserve hope applies directly to the fight for democracy, truth, fairness, decency, and human progress. Without hope, we do not vote, protest, speak out, or resist. In other words, democracy dies in paralysis and fear.”
Jennifer Rubin, The Contrarian
