If there is anything worth fearing in the world, it is living in such a way that gives one cause for regret in the end.

Misuse of reason might yet return the world to pre-technological night; plenty of religious zealots hunger for just such a result, and are happy to use the latest technology to effect it.

People should be left to believe what they like, so long as they harm no one else. Apart from normal expectations of politeness, it is not however clear why people should require their personal beliefs to be treated with special sensitivity by others, to the point that if others fail to tip-toe respectfully around them they will start throwing bombs.

Look at the blogosphere - the biggest lavatory wall in the universe, a palimpsest of graffiti and execration.

Religion and science have a common ancestor - ignorance.

I believe that decisions about the timing and manner of death belong to the individual as a human right. I believe it is wrong to withhold medical methods of terminating life painlessly and swiftly when an individual has a rational and clear-minded sustained wish to end his or her life.

The wise say that our failure is to form habits: for habit is the mark of a stereotyped world.