"I was a senior in high school when I decided I wanted to work on ants as a career. I just fell in love with them, and have never regretted it."

"I see no way out of the problems that organized religion and tribalism create other than humans just becoming more honest and fully aware of themselves."

"So in my freshman year at the University of Alabama, learning the literature on evolution, what was known about it biologically, just gradually transformed me by taking me out of literalism and increasingly into a more secular, scientific view of the world."

"Theology made no provision for evolution. The biblical authors had missed the most important revelation of all! Could it be that they were not really privy to the thoughts of God?"

"Passion is universal humanity. Without it religion, history, romance and art would be useless."

"Do not measure life by the breaths you take, but by the moments that stir your soul. Such is the immutable nature of understanding."

"He who inspires courage in a single soul has led a monumental campaign — an essential principle for the reflective life."

"The foundation of joy is hope is the anchor of a weary soul."