Selfness is an essential fact of life. The thought of nonselfness, precise sameness is terrifying.

It is from the progeny of this parent cell that we all take our looks; we still share genes around, and the resemblance of the enzymes of grasses to those of whales is in fact a family resemblance.

The capacity to blunder slightly is the real marvel of DNA. Without this special attribute, we would still be anaerobic bacteria and there would be no music.

Statistically, the probability of any one of us being here is so small that you'd think the mere fact of existing would keep us all in a contented dazzlement of surprise.

In real life, every field of science is incomplete, and most of them - whatever the record of accomplishment during the last 200 years - are still in their very earliest stages.

We owe our lives to the sun... How is it, then, that we feel no gratitude?

The greatest single achievement of nature to date was surely the invention of the molecule DNA.

It is in our genes to understand the universe if we can, to keep trying even if we cannot, and to be enchanted by the act of learning all the way.

I would send the complete works of Johann Sebastian Bach into outer space on the Voyager spacecraft. But that would be boasting.

Animals have genes for altruism, and those genes have been selected in the evolution of many creatures because of the advantage they confer for the continuing survival of the species.

We leave traces of ourselves wherever we go, on whatever we touch.

Full emergency power to the engines. Ram the Blade ship.

I want to be the white man's brother not his brother-in-law.

If you know your life chances are greatly reduced, should you be in a position to take out life insurance if that knowledge is not available to the insurers?

They have different accents in America " Brisbane smiled. "Just as we do here." I waved a hand. "They all sound alike to me.

I've always loved music, and I've always sought out the stranger things, even in a record you could buy at the mall.

I think that it's the job of the artist to be in transition and constantly learn more.

Pride is a sweetmeat, to be savoured in small pieces; it makes for a poor feast.

Even the proudest spirit can be broken with love.

We can't live alone in any society. But the best way to help a society or group, is to be the best individual in it that we can be.