I had this great urge... I had it the day I was born. Some may call it destiny. My parents and friends called it dismaying.

[My] excursions provided a unique opportunity for observing [the gorillas' behavior] in their natural habitat... Then, all too soon, the infants were demanded for their trip to the zoo. ... [H]appily the babies did not know they would never see their mountain home again

It was their individuality combined with the shyness of their behavior that remained the most captivating impression of this first encounter with the greatest of the great apes.

I have no friends. The more you learn about the dignity of the gorilla, the more you want to avoid people.

Gorillas are almost altruistic in nature. There's very little if any 'me-itis.' When I get back to civilization I'm always appalled by 'me, me, me.'

I feel more comfortable with gorillas than people. I can anticipate what a gorilla's going to do, and they're purely motivated.

The man who kills the animals today is the man who kills the people who get in his way tomorrow.