The surface of the Earth is the shore of the cosmic ocean. From it we have learned most of what we know. Recently, we have waded a little out to sea, enough to dampen our toes or, at most, wet our ankles. The water seems inviting. The ocean calls.

Science is an attempt, largely successful, to understand the world, to get a grip on things, to get hold of ourselves, to steer a safe course. Microbiology and meteorology now explain what only a few centuries ago was considered sufficient cause to burn women to death.

We are the only species on the planet, so far as we know, to have invented a communal memory stored neither in our genes nor in our brains. The warehouse of this memory is called the library

The words "question" and "quest" are cognates. Only through inquiry can we discover truth.

Any sufficiently crisp question can be answered by a single binary digit-0 or 1, yes or no.

Who are we, if not measured by our impact on others?

Our passion for learning ... is our tool for survival.