You have to be careful when you use beauty as a guide. There are many theories people didn't think were beautiful at the time but did find beautiful later—and vice versa. I think simplicity is a good guide: The more economical a theory, the better.

One of the nice things about math and science is it’s obvious, you get the answer or you don’t get the answer.

There is real confusion about what it means to be right and wrong - the difference between what spiritual beliefs are and what science is.

When it comes to the world around us, is there any choice but to explore?

Our hypotheses are initially rooted in theoretical consistency and elegance, but...ultimatel y it is experiment not rigid belief that determines what is correct.

Basically, I wasn't properly socialized, so it made sense to do physics.

We certainly don't yet know all the answers. But the universe is about to be pried open.