The part that always shocked me was the inter-community violence among the chimps: the patrols and the vicious attacks on strangers that lead to death. It's an unfortunate parallel to human behavior - they have a dark side just as we do. We have less excuse, because we can deliberate, so I believe only we are capable of true calculated evil.

In this quote, Jane Goodall reflects on the surprising and disturbing behavior she observed in chimpanzees during her groundbreaking research. She specifically points to the inter-community violence among chimps, where patrols and vicious attacks on strangers can lead to death. Goodall’s observations highlight the darker side of chimpanzee behavior, which, while shocking, parallels certain aspects of human aggression and violence. This observation serves as a stark reminder of the brutality that exists in the natural world, even among our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.

The comparison to human behavior is significant in this quote, as Goodall draws a direct parallel between the violent tendencies of chimpanzees and the darker aspects of humanity. While she acknowledges the existence of these behaviors in both species, she argues that humans have a unique ability to deliberate and make calculated decisions, which gives us the potential for true calculated evil. This reflection underscores the responsibility humans have to recognize and confront our own capacity for harm.

Goodall’s statement suggests that while chimpanzees may act out of instinct or as part of their natural social structure, humans, with our advanced cognitive abilities, have the capacity to act with greater intent and malice. The quote implies that our ability to deliberate—to think through our actions—means that we bear more responsibility for our violent actions than animals do. This places a moral weight on human behavior, highlighting the ethical challenges of our ability to choose.

Originating from Jane Goodall, the renowned British primatologist, this quote comes from her extensive studies of chimpanzees in the wild. Goodall's research has had a profound impact on the field of primatology, revealing the complex social and emotional lives of chimpanzees. Her reflections on violence in the animal world and its parallels to human behavior offer a sobering look at the nature of aggression, both in animals and in humans, while also challenging us to consider the ethical implications of our actions.