Of all the sciences, astronomy was the one the superstitious liked least.

The real world is far too complex and unpredictable to make something like the idea of humanity controlling its own evolution or engineering itself - well, I wouldn't say impossible but it should be approached with a degree of caution.

Change the problem by changing your mind.

Science fiction made me aware of how big and strange the universe was, leaving aside the whole question of aliens.

Falling in love indicated that your genes were complementary to those of the loved one. It told you nothing about when your personalities and sexualities were compatible.

For us scientists, on the other wing, life is not quite so simple. Because we learn the unknown. Unlike, hah-hah, our esteemed friends the philosophers, who learn the unknowable.

I'm a long-term optimist, and I don't think the problems with our society are from being overly optimistic.