At Rochester, I came with the same emotions as many of the entering freshman: everything was new, exciting and a bit overwhelming, but at least nobody had heard of my brothers and cousins.

Education in my family was not merely emphasized, it was our raison d'etre.

Somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.

As the saying goes, the Stone Age did not end because we ran out of stones; we transitioned to better solutions. The same opportunity lies before us with energy efficiency and clean energy.

The atoms become like a moth, seeking out the region of higher laser intensity.

So imagine a world 6 degrees warmer. It's not going to recognize geographical boundaries. It's not going to recognize anything. So agriculture regions today will be wiped out.

I approached the bulk of my schoolwork as a chore rather than an intellectual adventure.

Geometry was the first exciting course I remember.

I'm the least-educated person in my immediate family. My two other brothers have multiple advanced degrees, and I only have one. [...] Actually, now that I've got a Nobel Prize, I feel equal.

Sustainable energy is the equivalent of the U.S. moon shot.

If other countries don't impose a cost on carbon, then we will be at a disadvantage...we would look at considering perhaps duties that would offset that cost.

The condition of our soul is usually the source of many sicknesses.

Serving my generation with excellence will in turn mean my generation can lead with excellence.

What if the church should be less concerned with creating saints than creating a world where we do not need saints? A world where people like Mother Teresa and MLK would have nothing to do.

A church begins to die when it says, ‘They were just children.

Do not risk your life for someone who doesn't care about you.

We must not only give what we have, we must give what we are.

There is no more beautiful sight than a young woman who glows with the light of the spirit who is confident and courageous because she is virtuous.

A duck walks into a bar and the bartender asks, what'll it be? The duck doesn't answer because it's a duck.

Prayers for the condemned man will be offered on an adding machine. Numbers constitute the only universal language.

I find happiness comes from numerous sources in my life. Most often, the happy moments I cherish most are quiet moments with my wife and family back home in Nova Scotia.