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

People yearn to be in one of the best--a combat marine regiment, an elite college, the executive committee of a company, a religious sect, a fraternity, a garden club--any collectivity that can be compared favorably with other, competing groups.

The two major challenges for the 21st century are to improve the economic situation of the majority and save as much of the planet as we can.

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

We are compelled to drive toward total knowledge, right down to the levels of the neuron and the gene. When we have progressed enough to explain ourselves in these mechanistic terms...the result might be hard to accept.

We don't know nearly enough about the complexities of Nature. If we think we can eliminate natural ecosystems and substitute prosthetic devices, i.e. clean air or water with fusion energy - we are kidding ourselves.

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