Science and religion are the two most powerful forces in the world. Having them at odds... is not productive.

No species ... possesses a purpose beyond the imperatives created by genetic history ... The human mind is a device for survival and reproduction, and reason is just one of its various techniques.

Ants have the most complicated social organization on earth next to humans.

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

So in my freshman year at the University of Alabama, learning the literature on evolution, what was known about it biologically, just gradually transformed me by taking me out of literalism and increasingly into a more secular, scientific view of the world.

I doubt that most people with short-term thinking love the natural world enough to save it.

It's obvious that the key problem facing humanity in the coming century is how to bring a better quality of life - for 8 billion or more people - without wrecking the environment entirely in the attempt.