That fact that Athens could condemn its noblest citizen to death did more than make a profound impression on him. It was to shape the course of his entire philosophic endeavor.

A state that does not educate and train women is like a man who only trains his right arm.

A hydrogen atom in a cell at the end of my nose was once part of an elephant's trunk. A carbon atom in my cardiac muscle was once in the tail of a dinosaur.

How terribly sad it was that people are made in such a way that they get used to something as extraordinary as living.

The most subversive people are those who ask questions.

An answer is always on the stretch of road that is behind you. Only a question can point the way forward.

The question of whether a thing is right or wrong, good or bad, must always be considered in relation to a persons needs.

Wasn’t it extraordinary to be in the world right now, wandering around in a wonderful adventure!

Since the Renaissance, people have had to get used to living their life on a random planet in the vast galaxy.

We are thrown together with a sprinkling of stardust.

Athens is like a sluggish horse, and I am the gadfly trying to sting it into life.

Is there any friendship, without forgiveness?

Anything may happen when womanhood has ceased to be a protected occupation.

Sometimes you have to make choices, and they're imperfect, but they're the only choices you can make and live with yourself.

People talk of situations, read books, repeat quotations.

Scientists and religious leaders, activists and first nation leaders, CEOs of corporations and actors, all of us need to come together right now, because the planet is in a lot of pain.

I didn't know your identity, but I had an impression of who my opponent was, being surrounded by things you made.

I had a good time doing ["The Congressman"], and I hope that Treat [Williams] and I plan to go flying in his [private] jet!

Education of both men and women is a wonderful contraceptive.

My first two novels were set in the past, and that freed me up in a lot of ways; it allowed me to find my way into my story and my characters through research.

...for the human brain can become the best torture house of all those it has invented, established and used in a millions of years, in millions of lands, on millions of howling creatures.