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.

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.

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.

At this early stage in our evolution, now through our infancy and into our childhood and then, with luck, our growing up, what our species needs most of all, right now, is simply a future.

If you judge art by its cover, you efface the very essence of it

Contentment is a state of happiness and satisfaction. The choices we make are our own decisions for how we want to live our life.

In the seventies we had to make it acceptable for people to accept girls and women as athletes. We had to make it okay for them to be active. Those were much scarier times for females in sports.

When I was born I owed twelve dollars.

You had to be into sport and, sad to say, I'm a traitor to my country because I don't have a sporting bone in my body.

Don't get cynical. Don't ever think you can't make a difference.

Barry Manilow is a guy who's had a tremendous longevity that few have had in the music business. I'm in awe of what he does.

I don't even think whether I play the blues or not, I just play whatever feels right at the moment.

The straight line is godless and immoral. The straight line is not a creative line, it is a duplicating line, an imitating line.

If somebody is strong and showing good performances and perfect in the thing you are doing, there are people who want to disturb you.