“You cannot separate passion from pathology any more than you can separ...” — Richard Selzer Quote

“You cannot separate passion from pathology any more than you can separate a person's spirit from his body.”

“The scientific method is nothing more than a system of rules to keep us from lying to each other.”

“There were long stretches of DNA in between genes that didn't seem to be doing very much; some even referred to these as "junk DNA," though a certain amount of hubris was required for anyone to call any part of the genome "junk," given our level of ignorance.”

“Moreover, knowledge and investigation help promote wonder they do not destroy it. Whatever our tastes, we can generally appreciate such things as music, art or wine better when we understand a bit about them. We read up on our favourite singers or artists because we feel we can appreciate their work better when we know how they think and what they bring to their work. The giddy delight and curiosity that comes from marvelling at the beauty of this universe is deepened, not cheapened, by the laws and facts science gives us to aid our understanding. In a similar way, the psychological tricks at work behind many seemingly paranormal events are truly more fascinating than the explanation of other-worldiness precisely because they are of this world, and say something about how rich and complex and mysterious we are as human beings to be convinced by such trickery, indeed to want to perpetuate it in the first place.”

“Climate change is real, and global warming is accelerating. It is a special threat to our youth since they will be around for 30-50 more years. Without significant efforts to control global warming, its effects by then will be draconian.”