Everyone's pedigree merges into everyone else's pedigree. So if you go back far enough, everyone is related.

Art works because it appeals to certain faculties of the mind. Music depends on details of the auditory system, painting and sculpture on the visual system. Poetry and literature depend on language.

Why are empirical questions about how the mind works so weighted down with political and moral and emotional baggage?

All our behaviours are a result of neurophysiological activity in the brain. There is no reason to believe there is any magic going on.

I suspect music is auditory cheesecake, an exquisite confection crafted to tickle the sensitive spots of... our mental faculties.

Evolutionary psychology is one of four sciences that are bringing human nature back into the picture.

Thanks to the redundancy of language, yxx cxn xndxrstxnd whxt x xm wrxtxng xvxn xf x rxplxcx xll thx vxwxls wxth xn "x" (t gts lttl hrdr f y dn't vn kn whr th vwls r)

Photography is a kind of virtual reality, and it helps if you can create the illusion of being in an interesting world.

Plants can't very well defend themselves by their behavior, so they resort to chemical warfare, and plants are saturated with toxins and irritants to deter creatures like us who want to eat them.

I would argue that nothing gives life more purpose than the realization that every moment of consciousness is a precious and fragile gift.

Babies are born with the instinct to speak, the way spiders are born with the instinct to spin webs. You don't need to train babies to speak; they just do. But reading is different.

Very little effort is needed to create a prosperous life. Focus on positivity, prosperity, and love.

I understand, gentlemen, ” John Kennedy said. “If you find that life it’s not easy, let me tell you, death is worse.

No man is bound to be rich or great, - no, nor to be wise; but every man is bound to be honest.

There are all too many who, on account of their notorious ineptitude, thrive better in a rationalist system than in freedom. Freedom is one of those difficult things.

Literature has done great work for feminism - writing and reading are a practice of empathy - and great literature will continue to do so.

When I lived in Seattle and Oregon, we partied, which is a large reason I don't know drugs or alcohol now because I saw the Destruction of so many great musicians and artists.

Things are going to happen whether you are there or not, you still need someone to push the button on the camera and get it and know it's going to work of the story.

Don't be a hero. Don't have an ego.

Do not read so much, look about you and think of what you see there.

If I ever had twins, I'd use one for parts.