Terrorist bombings, like rampage shootings, are events that maximize the amount of publicity per amount of damage. That's why people do them, because they know they will set off a media frenzy.

You could think of an ecosystem as a bunch of antagonistic arms races, almost: Everything that an animal depends upon for food is the body part of some other animal or plant who would just as soon keep that body part for itself.

The typical imperative from biology is not "Thou shalt... ," but "If ... then ... else.

People consider the harms they inflict to be justified and forgettable, and the harms they suffer to be unprovoked and grievous.

So no, it's not all in the genes, but what isn't in the genes isn't in the family environment either. It can't be explained in terms of the overall personalities or the child-rearing practices of parents.

The rules of friendship are tacit, unconscious; they are not rational. In business, though, you have to think rationally.

M.I.T. has a reputation for turning out Dilberts. They may be brilliant in what they do, but no one can understand what they say.