I mused for a few moments on the question of which was worse, to lead a life so boring that you are easily enchanted, or a life so full of stimulus that you are easily bored.

There is the odd exception, like Albert Einstein, but as a breed, scientists tend not be very good at presenting themselves.

I refer of course to the soaring wonder of the age known as the Eiffel Tower. Never in history has a structure been more technologically advanced, materially obsolescent, and gloriously pointless all at the same time.

You don't have to know anything about baseball to respond to Babe Ruth because he's just this magnificent human being. And a really good story because he was this kid who grew up essentially as an orphan, you know, had a tough life, and then he became the most successful baseball player ever. But he was also a really good guy.

Boston's freeway system is insane. It was clearly designed by a person who had spent his childhood crashing toy trains.

In three minutes, 98 percent of all the matter there is or will ever be has been produced. We have a universe

It's an unnerving thought that we may be the living universe's supreme achievement and its worst nightmare simultaneously.