There are things which cannot be taught in ten easy lessons, nor popularized for the masses; they take years of skull sweat.

My dear, I used to think I was serving humanity . . . and I pleasured in the thought. Then I discovered that humanity does not want to be served; on the contrary it resents any attempt to serve it. So now I do what pleases myself.

Do not confuse "duty" with what other people expect of you; they are utterly different. Duty is a debt you owe to yourself to fulfill obligations you have assumed voluntarily. Paying that debt can entail anything from years of patient work to instant willingness to die. Difficult it may be, but the reward is self-respect.

No statement should be believed because it is made by an authority.

A zygote is a gamete's way of producing more gametes. This may be the purpose of the universe.

Damnit! Nationalism should stop at the stratosphere!

Hit it! You have to hit it harder than that. Electrons are timid little things but notional; you have to let them know who’s boss.