The secrets of evolution are death and time-the deaths of enormous numbers of lifeforms that were imperfectly adapted to the environment; and time for a long succession of small mutations.

If you want to make a [rhubarb] pie from scratch, first you have to create the universe.

Advances in medicine and agriculture have saved vastly more lives than have been lost in all the wars in history.

The absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence.

The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles. Darkness gathers. The demons begin to stir.

There are as many atoms in one molecule of DNA as there are stars in a typical galaxy.

Extraordinary observations require extraordinary evidence to make them believable.