My father said, ‘When in doubt, castle.’

I didn't know then what a sperm was, and so wouldn't understand his answer for several years. "My boy," he said, "you are descended from a long line of determined, resourceful, microscopic tadpoles-- champions every one.

Everything that ever has been always will be, and everything that ever will be always has been.

I've got at least one tiny corner of the universe I can make just the way I want it.

That's what is was to be young - to be enthusiastic rather than envious about the good work other people could do.

We are America's Great Lakes people, her freshwater people, not an oceanic but a continental people. Whenever I swim in an ocean, I feel as though I am swimming in chicken soup.

My ancestors were Freethinkers - and that's what I am, except we're called secular humanists now.