We are star stuff which has taken its destiny into its own hands. The loom of time and space works the most astonishing transformations of matter.

We are...capable of using our compassion and our intelligence, our technology and our wealth, to make an abundant and meaningful life for every inhabitant of this planet. To enhance enormously our understanding of the Universe, and to carry us to the stars.

Some racists still reject the plain testimony written in the DNA that all the races are not only human but nearly indistinguishable. . . .

If we continue to accumulate only power and not wisdom, we will surely destroy ourselves.

A blade of grass is a commonplace on Earth; it would be a miracle on Mars. Our descendants on Mars will know the value of a patch of green. And if a blade of grass is priceless, what is the value of a human being?

So those who wished for some central cosmic purpose for us, or at least our world, or at least our solar system, or at least our galaxy, have been disappointed, progressively disappointed. The universe is not responsive to our ambitious expectations.

Every cell is a triumph of natural selection, and we’re made of trillions of cells. Within us, is a little universe.