Frederick Douglas taught that literacy is the path from slavery to freedom. There are many kinds of slavery and many kinds of freedom, but reading is still the path.

When you make the finding yourself - even if you're the last person on Earth to see the light - you'll never forget it.

We are, in the most profound sense, children of the Cosmos.

Who is more humble? The scientist who looks at the universe with an open mind and accepts whatever the universe has to teach us, or somebody who says everything in this book must be considered the literal truth and never mind the fallibility of all the human beings involved?

Knowing a great deal is not the same as being smart; intelligence is not information alone but also judgement, the manner in which information is coordinated and used.

Not all birds can fly. What separates the flyers from the walkers is the ability to take off.

Our loyalties are to the species and the planet. We speak for Earth.