Away from the safety of your home, the universe was not made for your convenience.

There was a long history of speculation that in quantum gravity, unlike Einstein's classical theory, it might be possible for the topology of spacetime to change.

There is a difference between knowing what is true and knowing why it is true

We know a lot of things, but what we don't know is a lot more.

I have a tendency, more than most other physicists, to try to figure out everything all at once, before I publish. And even to try to figure out everything in my head, without pencil and paper.

Im actually, for the most part, a complete agnostic politically.

So when you ask me how string theory might be tested, I can tell you what's likely to happen at accelerators or some parts of the theory that are likely to be tested.

I have a much easier time imagining how we would understand the big bang, even though we can't do it yet, than I can imagine understanding consciousness.

As of now, string theorists have no explanation of why there are three large dimensions as well as time, and the other dimensions are microscopic. Proposals about that have been all over the map.

One very important aspect of string theory is definitely testable. That was the prediction of supersymmetry, which emerged from string theory in the early '70s.

String theory is an attempt at a deeper description of nature by thinking of an elementary particle not as a little point but as a little loop of vibrating string.

Once a generation there is a girl born who is destined to slay the vampires.

When a heart has set a course, let it navigate the laughter in failure and generosity in overcoming crisis. Love weaves lives and distills.

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later.

Old men are fond of giving good advice to console themselves for being no longer in a position to give bad examples.

Though thy beginning was small yet thy latter end should greatly increase.

I read a little bit of nonfiction and a lot of poetry. I think of poetry as my shot of whiskey when I don't have time to savor a whole bottle of wine.

Because tanning and steroids are only a problem if you plan to live a long time.

The great square has no corners and the great implement completes nothing.

Writing is hard work; its also the best job Ive ever had.

I was 29 and I really fell in love, I think, for the first time. I was vulnerable in a way I didn't think I could be.