It seems probable that humans have been on the planet, with much the same brain, for about 250,000 years.

It is surely important that the differences between coma, deep sleep, being under anesthesia, on the one hand, and being alert on the other, all involve changes in the brain.

Brains are not magical; they are causal machines.

Humility bids us to take ourselves as we are; we do not have to be cosmically significant to be genuinely significant.

It seems that the brain has a "small world" architecture - or at least the cortex does. Everything can connect to everything else in a few synaptic steps.

Theorizing is of course essential to make progress in understanding, but theorizing in the absence of knowing available relevant facts is not very productive.

If you give up because you announce the phenomenon cannot be explained, you are missing out.

In all probability, mental states are processes and activities of the brain. Exactly what activities, and exactly at what level of description, remains to be seen.

Suppression of impulses that would put you in danger is obviously an important neurobiological function.

I am less attracted to guesses about what cannot be done, than about making progress on a problem.

When that theory is isolated from known facts, it is likely not to be productive.

That just seems to be the way we’re built.

You can't improve anything if you don't first know what needs to be improved.

Happiness held is the seed

A decision is made with the brain. A commitment is made with the heart. Therefore, a commitment is much deeper and more binding than a decision.

There is a natural limit to the success we wish our friends, even when we have spurred them on their way.

The whole trial seemed surreal.

So, what's it like in the real world? Well, the food is better, but beyond that, I don't recommend it.

So from the housing standpoint, steady as you go, I think, would be the best medicine.

Do the work. Do the analysis. But feel your run. Feel your race. Feel the joy that is running.

Look at the declining television coverage. Look at the declining voting rate. Economics and economic news is what moves the country now, not politics.