The more I know, the more nearly is my faith that of the Breton peasant. Could I but know all I would have the faith of a Breton peasant woman.

The more I study nature, the more I stand amazed at the work of the Creator. Science brings men nearer to God.

Little science takes you away from God but more of it takes you to Him.

Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal. My strength lies solely in my tenacity.

Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.

Chance favors the prepared mind.

Messieurs, c'est les microbes qui auront le dernier mot." (Gentlemen, it is the microbes who will have the last word.)

One does not ask of one who suffers: What is your country and what is your religion? One merely says: You suffer, that is enough for me.

Question your priorities often, make sure God always comes first.

A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.

To know how to wonder and question is the first step of the mind toward discovery.

Beneath history, memory and forgettingBeneath memory and forgetting, life.

It is intoxicating joy for the sufferer to look away from his suffering and to forget himself.

And I won 'em back fair and square. So what are you going to do about it? Want to fight? Who wants the first bloody nose?

I always wanted to ride a dragon myself, so I decided to do this for a year in my imagination.

God may not play dice but he enjoys a good round of Trivial Pursuit every now and again.

It's not easy to strap yourself down to a desk and bash on a keyboard when you know you can direct lots of films, because directing films is fun and interactive and gregarious. Writing isn't.

Late birds get worms while early birds get tired.

The more I think about it, the more I realize there is nothing more artistic than to love others.

In fishing, golf and gardening, if you don't have a healthy tolerance for your own ineptitude, then it isn't for you.

When I leave the office on January 20th, I will leave even more idealistic than I was the day I took the oath of office.