Jane Goodall: On Cabbages, Kings, and Compassion

It’s often the simplest sentiments that capture the most profound spirits. Jane Goodall once mused on the pure joy of shared human connection: “It feels so heavenly to be able to just sit in front of the fire & talk for hours — of cabbages & kings — poetry, literature, art, music, philosophy, religion. It’s wonderful, marvelous, terrific… I will stop now, because I have to wash my hair.” This quote perfectly encapsulates her duality: a profound philosopher and a wonderfully down-to-earth human being.

Every now and then, someone truly special walks among us, and Jane Goodall is undoubtedly one of those people. As writer Maria Popova observed, there are few individuals who have changed our understanding of nature and our place in it more profoundly than Dr. Goodall. Her life’s work among the chimpanzees of Gombe didn’t just redefine primatology; it fundamentally challenged the arrogant boundary we had drawn between ourselves and the animal kingdom.

It is this profound impact, coupled with her approachable nature, that makes her so compelling. She embodies what we southerners consider a high compliment: “She was good people” It speaks to a rare quality—the ability to hold a massive vision while remaining grounded in simple, genuine conversation. I’ve often played the game of picking a dinner guest, alive or dead, and Jane is always on that list. What’s unique is that I mean this regardless of the age she might be; her wisdom is timeless.

So many have written of her, filmed her, and known her personally, and the shared narrative is one of universal awe. Her extensive legacy begins and ends with a deep, unwavering compassion—not just for animals, but for all life and for future generations. What a magnificent model she was, and continues to be, for our children and grandchildren.

About the author

Webb Hubbell is the former Associate Attorney General of The United States. His novels, When Men Betray, Ginger Snaps, A Game of Inches, The Eighteenth Green, and The East End are published by Beaufort Books and are available online or at your local bookstore. When Men Betray won one of the IndieFab awards for best novel in 2014. Ginger Snaps and The Eighteenth Green won the IPPY Awards Gold Medal for best suspense/thriller. His latest, “Light of Day” will be on the bookstands soon.

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