Religion is a by-product of fear. For much of human history it may have been a necessary evil, but why was it more evil than necessary? Isn’t killing people in the name of god a pretty good definition of insanity?

The space elevator will be built about 50 years after everyone stops laughing.

They had not yet attained the stupefying boredom of omnipotence; their experiments did not always succeed.

But please remember: this is only a work of fiction. The truth, as always, will be far stranger.

I've been saying for a long time that I'm hoping to find intelligent life in Washington.

I'm sure the universe is full of intelligent life. It's just been too intelligent to come here.

Across the gulf of centuries, the blind smile of Homer is turned upon our age. Along the echoing corridors of time, the roar of the rockets merges now with the creak of the wind-taut rigging. For somewhere in the world today, still unconscious of his destiny, walks the boy who will be the first Odysseus of the Age of Space.