It was during my time at secondary school that I abandoned religion.

I was never very good at exams, having a poor memory and finding the examination process rather artificial, and there never seemed to be enough time to follow up things that really interested me.

I was by far the youngest of the family, and at times it was like being an only child.

I think it was this curiosity about the natural world which awoke my early interest in science.

My parents were neither wealthy nor academic, but we lived comfortably and they were always extremely supportive of my academic efforts and aspirations, both at school and university.

At age 11 in 1960, I moved to an academic state secondary school, Harrow County Grammar School for Boys.

Scientific understanding is often beautiful, a profoundly aesthetic experience which gives pleasure not unlike the reading of a great poem.

This possibility bothered me as I thought it was not advisable to remain in one academic environment, and the long dark winters in Edinburgh could be rather dismal.

I am still a keen mountain walker and an enthusiastic glider pilot.

During the winter my attention was attracted to the changes in the stars and planets in the sky.

After an extensive interview he arranged for my weaknesses in foreign languages to be over-looked and so I started a Biology degree at Birmingham in 1967.

She felt justified in hurting him, because he had hurt her...but now all her justifications fell away like dead butterflies...

Believe nothing until it has been officially denied.

I don't think you can separate a person's "style" and his persona. If you're writing or improvising honestly, you will inevitably reflect who you are.

The glances over cocktails That seem to be so sweet Don't seem quite so amorous Over Shredded Wheat

It is difficult for the isolated individual to work himself out of the immaturity which has become almost natural for him.

You can be free from everything but the consequences of what you do.

Management is all about managing in the short term, while developing the plans for the long term.

The professional arsonist builds vacant lots for money.

I had a very low voice for the character in the show. I said, "That's not actually my voice. That's the character's voice." I'm being such an actor.

If anything I consider myself non-violent. I'm from the hippy era, peace, love, groovy.