What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.

I would never say I was an icon, but so many people have said I am, so I suppose I am. I mean, I can't not be what everyone says I am. But I don't feel like an icon.

But does that mean that war and violence are inevitable? I would argue not because we have also evolved this amazingly sophisticated intellect, and we are capable of controlling our innate behavior a lot of the time.

We are unique. Chimpanzees are unique. Dogs are unique. But we humans are just not as different as we used to think.

I don't even think of chimps as animals. I think of them as beings.

People say to me so often, 'Jane how can you be so peaceful when everywhere around you people want books signed, people are asking these questions and yet you seem peaceful,' and I always answer that it is the peace of the forest that I carry inside.

I think the most important thing is to keep active, and to hope that your mind stays active.