A religion old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the universe as revealed by modern science, might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths. Sooner or later such a religion will emerge.

We are rare and precious because we are alive, because we can think as well as we can. We are privileged to influence and perhaps control our future. I believe we have an obligation to fight for life on Earth - not just for ourselves, but for all those, humans and others, who came before us, and to whom we are beholden, and for all those who, if we are wise enough, will come after.

[Kepler] preferred the hard truth to his dearest illusions, and that is the heart of science.

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 fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses.

Humans are very good at dreaming, although you'd never know it from your television.

That kind of skeptical, questioning, "don't accept what authority tells you" attitude of science - is also nearly identical to the attitude of mind necessary for a functioning democracy. Science and democracy have very consonant values and approaches, and I don't think you can have one without the other.