The United States is definitely ahead in culture of innovation. If someone wants to accomplish great things, there is no better place than the U.S.

I think it's important to reason from first principles rather than by analogy. The normal way we conduct our lives is we reason by analogy. [With analogy] we are doing this because it's like something else that was done, or it is like what other people are doing. [With first principles] you boil things down to the most fundamental truths…and then reason up from there.

Trying to read our DNA is like trying to understand software code - with only 90% of the code riddled with errors. It's very difficult in that case to understand and predict what that software code is going to do.

The primary means of energy generation is going to solar. It will at least be a plurality, and probably be a slight majority in the long term.

In almost any industry, if you're passionate about doing a great job and making people that buy your product or service as happy as possible, it's really fulfilling.

The extension of life beyond Earth is the most important thing we can do as a species.

Patience is a virtue, and I'm learning patience. It's a tough lesson.