Never underestimate the ego of a politician.

I've been through a lot. I've thought a lot about life, and I've spent a lot of time studying history and science.

Imagine how different a world might be if more leaders took time to ponder the finality of death before racing off to war.

Men go to far greater lengths to avoid what they fear than to obtain what they desire.

Faith does not protect you. Medicine and airbags... Those are the things that protect you. God does not protect you. Intelligence protects you. Enlightenment. Put your faith in something with tangible results. How long has it been since someone walked on water? Modern miracles belong to science. Computers, vaccines, space stations... Even the divine miracle of creation. Matter from nothing... In a lab. Who needs God? No! Science is God!

If I'm not at my desk by 4 AM, I feel like I'm missing my most productive hours. In addition to starting early, I keep an antique hour glass on my desk and every hour break briefly to do pushups, sit-ups, and some quick stretches. I find this helps keep the blood (and ideas) flowing.

Authors, he thought. Even the sane ones are nuts.