Science is incapable of supplying answers to ultimate questions about why things exist and what their purpose is.

I don't have to live the lives of my characters to write about them. It's about really putting yourself in their shoes.

Jodi Picoult

I really don't know why it is that all of us are so committed to the sea, except I think it is because in addition to the fact that the sea changes and the light changes, and ships change, it is because we all came from the sea. And it is an interesting biological fact that all of us have, in our veins the exact same percentage of salt in our blood that exists in the ocean, and, therefore, we have salt in our blood, in our sweat, in our tears. We are tied to the ocean. And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch it, we are going back from whence we came.

John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Remarks

Religion has caused more harm than any other idea since the beginning of time. There's nothing good I can say about it. People use it as a crutch.

Larry Flynt

Crown and cloth maken no priest, nor emperor's bishop with his words, but power that crist giveth; and thus by life have been priests known.

John Wycliffe

Faith goes out through the window when beauty comes in at the door.

George Edward Moore

The Republican form of government is the highest form of government: but because of this it requires the highest type of human nature, a type nowhere at present existing.

Herbert Spencer

If the experience of science teaches anything, it's that the world is very strange and surprising. The many revolutions in science have certainly shown that.

John Polkinghorne

You know, when someone prefers their own brother over you, it isn't a confidence booster.

Cassandra Clare

Character is the basis of happiness and happiness the sanction of character.

George Santayana

A family is a unit composed not only of children but of men, women, an occasional animal, and the common cold.

Ogden Nash

The battle of life is, in most cases, fought uphill; and to win it without a struggle were perhaps to win it without honor. If there were no difficulties there would be no success; if there were nothing to struggle for, there would be nothing to be achieved.

Samuel Smiles

Certainly, protecting oppressed people, stopping ethnic conflict and promoting responsible governance are worthy goals. But none is as important for American security and prosperity as keeping the peace in the Middle East, Europe and East Asia.

Michael Mandelbaum