Deism is logically compatible with evolutionary theory for the simple reason that the theory says nothing about the origin of the universe or of the laws of nature.

The big picture, I think, is that common ancestry is evidentially prior to natural selection in Darwin's theory and in contemporary evolutionary biology as well.

Deism claims that God creates the universe and the laws of nature and then is hands-off, with everything that subsequently happens in nature being due to natural processes.

Earlier attempts to show that simpler theories always have higher prior probabilities have failed, but there is a restricted circumstance in which the claim is right.

I think that the existence of Beethoven is remarkable, but I do not bristle at the suggestion that this event had a low probability given the initial state of the universe.

Biologists now pretty universally regard vitalism as a vestige of a bygone age.

When one theory is simpler than its competitor, this fact is relevant to saying what the world is like.

In many contexts, simplicity is not an aesthetic frill.

Scientists often seek predictively accurate models, rather than models that are true.

Our own species evolved under the influence of group selection, as Darwin emphasized when he discussed the evolution of altruism.

"Tiger is a natural kind" and "Tiger is a historical particular" are incompatible with each other, and evolutionary biology provides a reason for favoring the latter over the former.

You have to exercise, or at some point you'll just break down.

…she was discovering once again that reading and writing were not the same — you couldn't just soak it up then squeeze it out again.

You say 'erbs, and we say Herbs because there's a f*****g H in it!

Who is his manager? Milton Bradley.

Be aware of your inner voice and follow it, even though most of the time it will tell you the most uncomfortable path to choose.

'The Simpsons' is an especially collaborative show.

I was wishing I'd bought some of that Camp Half Blood orange thermal underwear..." ?!?!

Even a mirror will not show you yourself, if you do not wish to see.

Insisting on living in your past will kill your future. Let it go.

Joy is the reflex of terror.