In exchange for freedom of inquiry, scientists are obliged to explain their work.

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 star stuff harvesting sunlight.

Atoms are mainly empty space. Matter is composed chiefly of nothing.

You can't convince a believer of anything; for their belief is not based on evidence, it's based on a deep seated need to believe

The lifetime of a human being is measured by decades, the lifetime of the Sun is a hundred million times longer. Compared to a star, we are like mayflies, fleeting ephemeral creatures who live out their lives in the course of a single day.

My view is that if there is no evidence for it, then forget about it. An agnostic is somebody who doesn’t believe in something until there is evidence for it, so I’m agnostic.