The sturdiest pillars of human morality are compassion and a sense of justice.

Male bonobos really don't fit the human male ideal.

It is well known that apes in the wild offer spontaneous assistance to each other, defending against leopards, say, or consoling distressed companions with tender embraces.

Studies of reconciliation in primates have demonstrated that if the relationship value increases between two parties they are more willing to make peace.

I sometimes try to imagine what would have happened if we’d known the bonobo first and the chimpanzee only later—or not at all. The discussion about human evolution might not revolve as much around violence, warfare and male dominance, but rather around sexuality, empathy, caring and cooperation. What a different intellectual landscape we would occupy!

A chimpanzee who is really gearing up for a fight doesn't waste time with gestures but just goes ahead and attacks.

Armies are a purely human invention. Most soldiers who go to war nowadays don't even do it because they're inherently aggressive.