I think if everyone had the luxury to pursue a life of exactly what they love, we would all be ranked as visionaries and brilliant.

If you want to assert a truth, first make sure it's not just an opinion that you desperately want to be true.

I'm not a scientist, I was not a good science student, I felt effectively alienated from science throughout my young life, and it was only when I became an adult that I began to really appreciate from a completely different angle the power of science.

The history of exploration across nations and across time is not one where nations said, 'Let's explore because it's fun.' It was, 'Let's explore so that we can claim lands for our country, so that we can open up new trade routes; let's explore so we can become more powerful.'

I wake up and I go to work. I don't look for the cup of coffee. The universe is enough of a draw for me - to awaken me and have me bound out of bed and go to my office.

We are star dust in the highest exalted way, called by the universe, reaching out to the universe

You know, dark matter matters.