No one is dumb who is curious. The people who don't ask questions remain clueless throughout their lives.

By the way, were we to find life-forms on Venus, we would probably call them Venutians, just as people from Mars would be Martians. But according to rules of Latin genitives, to be “of Venus” ought to make you a Venereal. Unfortunately, medical doctors reached that word before astronomers did. Can’t blame them, I suppose. Venereal disease long predates astronomy, which itself stands as only the second oldest profession.

Space only becomes ordinary when the frontier is no longer being breached.

Rational thoughts never drive people's creativity the way emotions do.

The most successful people recognize that in life they create their own love, they manufacture their own meaning, they generate their own motivation.

I don't live life to be remembered for anything.

Typically, when you look for role models, you want someone who has your interests and came from the same background. Well, look how restricting that is. What people should do is take role models a la carte. If there's someone whose character you appreciated, you respect that trait.