Talking with most people usually involves a search for truth. Talking with congressmen is strictly special effects.

Technological civilizations don't last long. You're all right until you get a printing press. Then a race starts between technology and common sense. And maybe technology always wins.

It can provide horrendous weapons to idiots.

Katie commented that Americans had lost the ability to enjoy themselves. "We watch television," Dave said.

There are few professions whose primary objective is to advance the cause of humanity rather than simply to make money or accrue power. Among this limited group of humanitarians I would number teachers, nurses, bookstore owners, and bartenders.

Intelligence is like pornography. I can't define it, but I know if when I see it.

People who wear their religion on their sleeves talk a lot about going to Sunday school, reading the Bible, and doing good works. And I suppose there's no harm in that. But if I'd gone to the trouble to pull all this together ... and people never paid any attention to it, never bothered to try to find out how the world worked, then I think I'd get annoyed.