The only part of an argument that really matters is what we think of the people arguing. X claims a, Y claims b. They make arguments to support their claims with any number of points. But when their listeners remember the discussion, what matters is simply that X believes a and Y believes b. People then form their judgment on what they think of X and Y.

The distinguishing mark of true adventures, is that it is often no fun at all while they are actually happening.

A lot of scientists act on their beliefs and so do things that look crazy to the rest of us.

We should conceive of ourselves not as rulers of Earth, but as highly powerful, conscious stewards: The Earth is given to us in trust, and we can screw it up or make it work well and sustainably.

You can never properly predict the future as it really turns out. So you are doing something a little different when you write science fiction. You are trying to take a different perspective on now.

Each of us have a gift, you see, given us freely by the universe. And each of us with every breath gives something back

Whistling together. Some kind of performance. I mean, not just a conversation, but a performance.