By the time I was 12 or 13, I was studying biochemistry textbooks.

The single biggest threat to man's continued dominance on the planet is the virus.

I get curious about new things. My real strength is going into a field that has not been investigated before, and finding new approaches to it.

All of civility depends on being able to contain the rage of individuals.

I have many shortcomings. I feel very lucky to have been able to have what I've had.

Try hard to find out what you're good at and what your passions are, and where the two converge, and build your life around that.

If we have isolated individuals able to inflict enormous harm, imagine what a single lunatic can do with a nuclear weapon. I think the whole base of civil society is at risk.

If it takes you 20 or 25 years to establish yourself in one field, you really ought to be careful not to stray too far.

I certainly saw science as a kind of calling, and one with as much legitimacy as a religious calling.

I'd like to put in a vote for the intrinsic fascination of science.

When I was in high school, I became interested in cytochemistry: chemical analysis under the microscope, and trying to understand the composition of cells.

Words are the clothes thoughts wear.

I think the power of persuasion would be the greatest superpower of all time.

I dyed my hair blonde when I was 14. My mom was not happy. But I love being blonde.

My paintings are so legible, I feel guilty.

The march of the human mind is slow.

As people do a task, they improve at it.

Nature gives constantly to us. We as indendepent egos think we're important. Selfless giving has to do with overcoming the ego. The ego makes us unhappy.

When you teach a child something you take away forever his chance of discovering it for himself.

If any of my men kill prisoners, I'll kill them.

Morally it makes no difference whether a person is killed in war or condemned to starve by the indifference of others.