Very few people changed the world by sitting on their couch.

When I went to Israel, it was a little disorienting, because there are so many people who look crazy and were dressed like me. There, I was just one of the apocalyptic crowd.

It's hard to be in a bad mood when you're walking around looking like you're about to play the semifinals at Wimbledon.

Its sort of my job to feel good.

Let me tell you, though: being the smartest boy in the world wasn’t easy. I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want this. On the contrary, it was a huge burden. First, there was the task of keeping my brain perfectly protected. My cerebral cortex was a national treasure, a masterpiece of the Sistine Chapel of brains. This was not something that could be treated frivolously. If I could have locked it in a safe, I would have. Instead, I became obsessed with brain damage.

Behavior shapes beliefs.

A loud noise will get your fight-or-flight response going. This, over the years, can cause real cardiovascular damage.