Long before I ever saw the desert I was aware of the mystical overtones which the observation of nature made audible to me. But I have never been more frequently or more vividly aware of them than in connection with the desert phenomena.

Few people have ever seriously wished to be exclusively rational. The good life which most desire is a life warmed by passions and touched with that ceremonial grace which is impossible without some affectionate loyalty to traditional form and ceremonies.

Life is very persistent and very ingenious in seizing every opportunity.

Every time a value is born, existence takes on a new meaning; every time one dies, some part of that meaning passes away.

Technology made large populations possible; large populations now make technology indispensable.

There is no conceivable human action which custom has not at one time justified and at another condemned.

Whenever man forgets that man is an animal, the result is always to make him less humane.