Most people believe they know how they themselves think, how others think too, and even how institutions evolve. But they are wrong. Their understanding is based on folk psychology, the grasp of human nature by common sense ¾ defined (by Einstein) as everything learned to the age of 18 ¾ shot through with misconceptions, and only slightly advanced over ideas employed by the Greek philosophers

I think that's my nature, to want to bring people together rather than to try to bombard them into agreement.

One thing I did was grow up as an ardent naturalist. I never grew out of my bug period.

The human juggernaut is permanently eroding Earth's ancient biosphere.

In addition I wanted to write a Southern novel, because I'm a Southerner.

I like what Abba Eban once said during the 1967 war. He said, "When all else fails, men turn to reason."

The paradox is that, by children taking shortcuts through computer games, through fantasies, through movies that load on all the emotional stimulation of encountering life in a stylized way - all of this is the equivalent of mainlining of paleolithic emotions, emotions about combat, about personal success, about overcoming monsters, about making powerful friendships, about winning wars and entering new territory.