---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You better not mess with chimps. They are…"
description: "\"You better not mess with chimps. They are much stronger than humans.\" — Jane Goodall"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/jane-goodall-950_humans_you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are_1760742.jpg"
---

#  You better not mess with chimps. They are much stronger…

![“You better not mess with chimps. They are much stronger than humans.” quote by Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/jane-goodall-950_humans_you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are_1760742.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/jane-goodall-950_humans_you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are_1760742.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/jane-goodall-950_humans_you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are_1760742.jpg)

> “You better not mess with chimps. They are much stronger than humans.”

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Chimps possess far greater physical strength than humans, so they should be treated with caution and respect.

**In simple terms:** Chimps are much stronger than people.

Key Takeaway

Never underestimate animal strength.

Themes

animal behavior ethics conservation

Mood

cautious respectful

Type

educational warning

When to use this quote

- zoo management
- wildlife research
- public safety
- animal welfare

Key Concepts

primate strength human-animal interaction

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you ensure safe interactions with strong animals?
- What responsibilities arise from this knowledge?

A Different Perspective

Strength alone does not guarantee safety; context matters.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Animal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/) [Chimps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chimps-498554/) [Chimps Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chimps-stronger-1690556/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Mess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess/) [Mess Chimps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mess-chimps-1690557/) [Stronger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger/) [Stronger Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stronger-humans-1690558/)

## Related quotes

> [People say, 'Where do you get your strength from?' Well, where does an ape get his strength from? They are 20 times stronger than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-haye/people-say-where-do-you-get-your-strength-from-well-where-does-an-ape/)

[David Haye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-haye/)

> [We have language and they do not. Chimps communicate by embracing, patting, looking - all these things. And they have lots of sounds. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/we-have-language-and-they-do-not-chimps-communicate-by-embracing/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [The chimps' way of aggression is quick and brutal. I compare them to gang attacks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/the-chimps-way-of-aggression-is-quick-and-brutal-i-compare-them-to/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Chimps are very quick to have a sudden fight or aggressive episode, but they're equally as good at reconciliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/chimps-are-very-quick-to-have-a-sudden-fight-or-aggressive-episode/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Chimps are unbelievably like us - in biological, non-verbal ways. They can be loving and compassionate and yet they have a dark side... 98…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/chimps-are-unbelievably-like-us-in-biological-non-verbal-ways-they/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [When you meet chimps you meet individual personalities. When a baby chimp looks at you it's just like a human baby. We have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/when-you-meet-chimps-you-meet-individual-personalities-when-a-baby/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Our brain is almost the same as the chimps', but we have language, we have electronic communications, we've put people on the moon -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/our-brain-is-almost-the-same-as-the-chimps-but-we-have-language-we/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [I shouldn't have named the chimps. It wasn't scientific. I didn't know. I knew nothing. And worse sin of all was that I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/i-shouldn-t-have-named-the-chimps-it-wasn-t-scientific-i-didn-t-know/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [It's the bond between mother and child, which is really for us and for chimps and other primates, the root of all the expressions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/it-s-the-bond-between-mother-and-child-which-is-really-for-us-and-for/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [I don't even think of chimps as animals. I think of them as beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/i-don-t-even-think-of-chimps-as-animals-i-think-of-them-as-beings/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Just think of the trust that often exists in soldiers. Within their own unit, you could say they have to trust each other. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/just-think-of-the-trust-that-often-exists-in-soldiers-within-their/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Even when it comes to things like wars over oil, which may seem like a whole different ball game, there are still comparisons one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/even-when-it-comes-to-things-like-wars-over-oil-which-may-seem-like-a/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Chimps act the way they feel unless they are afraid of reprisal if they do so. But that doesn't apply to humans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/chimps-act-the-way-they-feel-unless-they-are-afraid-of-reprisal-if/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [We, as humans, have actually developed a sense of social responsibility. We have gone beyond our basic instincts. We can and we do. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/we-as-humans-have-actually-developed-a-sense-of-social-responsibility/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Chimps are far too much human to be my favorite animal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/chimps-are-far-too-much-human-to-be-my-favorite-animal/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

## More by Jane Goodall

> [The voice of the natural world would be, "Could you please give us space and leave us alone to get along with our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/the-voice-of-the-natural-world-would-be-could-you-please-give-us/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [What makes us human, I think, is an ability to ask questions, a consequence of our sophisticated spoken language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/what-makes-us-human-i-think-is-an-ability-to-ask-questions-a/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutan shave been living for hundreds of thousands of years in their forest,living fantastic lives, never overpopulating, never destroying the forest. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/chimpanzees-gorillas-orangutan-shave-been-living-for-hundreds-of/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [I did this book 'Harvest for Hope,' and I learned so much about food. And one thing I learned is that we have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/i-did-this-book-harvest-for-hope-and-i-learned-so-much-about-food-and/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [From my perspective, I absolutely believe in a greater spiritual power, far greater than I am, from which I have derived strength in moments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/from-my-perspective-i-absolutely-believe-in-a-greater-spiritual-power/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [We are always talking about how we can get more environmental and humanitarian education. It is about listening to the voice of young people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/we-are-always-talking-about-how-we-can-get-more-environmental-and/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Some humans are mathematicians-others aren't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/some-humans-are-mathematicians-others-aren-t/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [We started off with physical evolution and got our form. Then we somehow developed language, which meant cultural evolution could race so we could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/we-started-off-with-physical-evolution-and-got-our-form-then-we/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [It was both fascinating and appalling to learn that chimpanzees were capable of hostile and territorial behavior that was not unlike certain forms of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/it-was-both-fascinating-and-appalling-to-learn-that-chimpanzees-were/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [I wanted to talk to the animals like Dr. Dolittle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/i-wanted-to-talk-to-the-animals-like-dr-dolittle/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Some people say, therefore, that violence and war are inevitable. I say rubbish: Our brains are fully capable of controlling instinctive behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/some-people-say-therefore-that-violence-and-war-are-inevitable-i-say/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [It's been proven by quite a few studies that plants are good for our psychological development. If you green an area, the rate of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/it-s-been-proven-by-quite-a-few-studies-that-plants-are-good-for-our/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [Having respect for animals makes us better humans..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/having-respect-for-animals-makes-us-better-humans/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [If we kill off the wild, then we are killing a part of our souls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/if-we-kill-off-the-wild-then-we-are-killing-a-part-of-our-souls/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

> [“We still have a long way to go. But we are moving in the right direction. If only we can overcome cruelty, to human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/we-still-have-a-long-way-to-go-but-we-are-moving-in-the-right/)

[Jane Goodall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

[Explore all 321 Jane Goodall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/)

## More Animal quotes

> [I was 3-years-old - to this day it is a vivid memory. My family and I were on a boat, catching fish. As one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joaquin-phoenix/i-was-3-years-old-to-this-day-it-is-a-vivid-memory-my-family-and-i/)

[Joaquin Phoenix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joaquin-phoenix/)

> [Animals know nothing of themselves, and they also know nothing of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/animals-know-nothing-of-themselves-and-they-also-know-nothing-of-the/)

[Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/)

> [Humans are animals too, but some do not like to work from expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/humans-are-animals-too-but-some-do-not-like-to-work-from-expectations/)

[Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/)

> [When grubbing for necessities man is still an animal. He becomes uniquely human when he reaches out for the superfluous and extravagant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-hoffer/when-grubbing-for-necessities-man-is-still-an-animal-he-becomes/)

[Eric Hoffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-hoffer/)

> [I'm 38 and I'm single, and I'm having my most intense and gratifying relationship with a dog. But we all learn about love in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-knapp/i-m-38-and-i-m-single-and-i-m-having-my-most-intense-and-gratifying/)

[Caroline Knapp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-knapp/)

> [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/)

[Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/)

> [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [“it is a federal system of sadistic torture, vivisection, and animal genocide, which has been carried on for decades under the fraudulent guise of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tobias/it-is-a-federal-system-of-sadistic-torture-vivisection-and-animal/)

[Michael Tobias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tobias/)

> [“What does it mean to be a self-conscious animal? The idea is ludicrous, if it is not monstrous. It means to know that one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-becker/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-self-conscious-animal-the-idea-is-ludicrous/)

[Ernest Becker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-becker/)

> [We must love animals in such a powerful way that we should reject to eat them!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/we-must-love-animals-in-such-a-powerful-way-that-we-should-reject-to/)

[Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/)

> [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/)

[Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/)

> [This brings me back to the image of Kafka standing before a fish in the Berlin aquarium, a fish on which his gaze fell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/this-brings-me-back-to-the-image-of-kafka-standing-before-a-fish-in/)

[Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/)

> [That dog, I say that dog is lower than a snake full of buckshot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/foghorn-leghorn/that-dog-i-say-that-dog-is-lower-than-a-snake-full-of-buckshot/)

[Foghorn Leghorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/foghorn-leghorn/)

> [I bet plants go like 'Weeeeeeeee!' whenever they're swallowed by a giraffe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-bet-plants-go-like-weeeeeeeee-whenever-they-re-swallowed-by-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Animal rights without veganism is like human rights with slavery. It makes no sense. None whatsoever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-l-francione/animal-rights-without-veganism-is-like-human-rights-with-slavery-it/)

[Gary L. Francione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-l-francione/)

[Browse all 13,456 Animal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/animal/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "You better not mess with chimps. They are much stronger than humans.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jane Goodall"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are-much-stronger-than-humans/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Animal"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are-much-stronger-than-humans/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/jane-goodall-950_humans_you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are_1760742.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/jane-goodall-950_humans_you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are_1760742.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ba5/jane-goodall-950_humans_you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are_1760742.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“You better not mess with chimps. They are much stronger than humans.” — Jane Goodall",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jane Goodall",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-goodall/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "You better not mess with chimps....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are-much-stronger-than-humans/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-goodall/you-better-not-mess-with-chimps-they-are-much-stronger-than-humans/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
