I don't think readers of Mann have overlooked the fact that he was a great ironist, but they have tended to see the irony in particular parts of the novella, and to miss it in others.

It's a very bad idea for scientific conclusions to be accepted because they fit with the political values of a group of researchers.

I believe that the arts make indispensable contributions to our understanding.

I'm very suspicious of the idea of a "final theory" in natural science, and the thought of a complete system of ethical rules seems even more dubious.

Philosophers ought to aspire to know lots of different things and to forge useful synthetic perspectives.

It may be hyperbolic to declare that Shakespeare teaches us more about being human than all the natural scientists combined.

The "little theme" from Vinteuil, heard by Swann as emblematic of his love for Odette, remains a point of reference for him, as the character of that love changes and as the love eventually fades.

Science literacy consists in the ability and the desire to follow reports of new scientific advances, throughout your whole life.

The theory of evolution explains to us what our ancestry has been. It does not explain away our worth. Why should we be afraid to learn more about what we are?

In ethics, we don't make progress by discovering pre-existent truths; we do so by solving problems.

The point of philosophy, as I see it, is to change thinking, and thereby to change the conversation.

Some might wonder that the two men should consider themselves to be old friends having only known each other for four years

Prospects get called everyday by salespeople. They can tell if you are a sincere or impatient sales person who doesn't really care about their problems.

We live in a time of unprecedented abundance.

To be honest, I think that I am a bit of a singer, coming from Wales; being Welsh, we are all very proud of our singing heritage.

You are perfectly entitled to invent your life and to claim that it's true.

It is difficult to judge, when both sides are employing weapons of violence, which side 'deserves' to succeed.

It often happens that things are other than what they seem, and you can get yourself into trouble by jumping to conclusions.

The States were much more fun. L.A. was L.A. It's not L.A. now. L.A. infested with jaded 12-year-olds is not the L.A. that I really dug.

Aloneness and selfness are too important to betray for company.

Being stubborn can be a good thing. Being stubborn can be a bad thing. It just depends on how you use it.