Sir David Attenborough turned 97 this year and his career - which began in 1952 - has led him through an incredible journey which has resulted in him being regarded as Britain’s most beloved broadcaster by many.
With his captivating narration in iconic documentaries like Blue Planet, Attenborough offers a wealth of wisdom on politics, human nature and the environment. In fact, despite having explored every continent on the planet, he commented that Scotland still had “some of the most marvellous landscapes and wildlife spectacles” on offer; a testament to our wee country.
His latest documentary entitled ‘Wild Isles’ has just hit the public in 2023 and it is already being called a ‘must-see’ by fans of his work. To celebrate his legacy and understand his beliefs about the world, here are 29 quotes from Sir David Attenborough.
. David Attenborough on... Scotland
“Scotland is a wonderfully fascinating place for wildlife and nature. It has, in my opinion, some of the most marvellous landscapes and wildlife spectacles you will find anywhere.” Photo: Submitted
. David Attenborough on... the natural world
“An understanding of the natural world is a source of not only great curiosity, but great fulfilment.” Photo: Submitted
. David Attenborough on... coral reefs
“The most single revelatory three minutes for me was the first time I put on scuba gear and dived on a coral reef. It’s just the unbelievable fact that you can move in three dimensions.” Photo: adiprayogo liemena via Canva Pro
. David Attenborough on... What makes life worth living
“The natural world is the greatest source of excitement. The greatest source of visual beauty. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” Photo: taylorherringpr on Flickr
. David Attenborough on... Composure
“About 70 or 80 men jumped onto the track, brandishing knives and spears. To say I was alarmed is putting it mildly. I walked towards this screaming horde of men, I stuck out my hand, and I heard myself say ‘good afternoon.'” Photo: Chris Young
. David Attenborough on... Snakes
“I’ve been bitten by a python. It wasn’t a very big one…” Photo: simonshim75 via Canva Pro
. David Attenborough on... Birds
“Birds were flying from continent to continent long before we were. They reached the coldest place on Earth, Antarctica, long before we did. They can survive in the hottest of deserts. Some can remain on the wing for years at a time. They can girdle the globe. Now, we have taken over the earth and the sea and the sky, but with skill and care and knowledge, we can ensure that there is still a place on Earth for birds in all their beauty and variety – if we want to – and surely, we should.” Photo: idizimage via Canva Pro
. David Attenborough on... Self-obsession
“It’s extraordinary how self-obsessed human beings are. There is so much more out there than what connects to us.” Photo: Victoria Jones
. David Attenborough on... Rhinos
“The only way to save a rhinoceros is to save the environment in which it lives. Because there’s a mutual dependency between it and millions of other species.” Photo: fietzfotos via Canva Pro
. David Attenborough on... Climate change
“There is no question climate change is happening. The only arguable point is what part humans are playing in it.” Photo: Andrew Matthews
. David Attenborough on... the world
“I wish the world was twice as big – and half of it was still unexplored.” Photo: 1xpert via Canva Pro
. David Attenborough on... Giving nature a chance
“If you give nature a chance, it recovers… if the world can get together and stop doing it, it will recover. And I am optimistic.” Photo: John Stillwell
1. David Attenborough on... Scotland
“Scotland is a wonderfully fascinating place for wildlife and nature. It has, in my opinion, some of the most marvellous landscapes and wildlife spectacles you will find anywhere.” Photo: Submitted
2. David Attenborough on... the natural world
“An understanding of the natural world is a source of not only great curiosity, but great fulfilment.” Photo: Submitted
3. David Attenborough on... coral reefs
“The most single revelatory three minutes for me was the first time I put on scuba gear and dived on a coral reef. It’s just the unbelievable fact that you can move in three dimensions.” Photo: adiprayogo liemena via Canva Pro
4. David Attenborough on... What makes life worth living
“The natural world is the greatest source of excitement. The greatest source of visual beauty. It is the greatest source of so much in life that makes life worth living.” Photo: taylorherringpr on Flickr