A human being is part of a whole, called by us the "Universe," a
part limited in time and read more

A human being is part of a whole, called by us the "Universe," a
part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his
thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest--a
kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is
a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires
and to affection for a few personsnearest us. Our task must be
to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of
compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of
nature in its beauty.

If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, read more

If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning.

Nor ear can hear nor tongue can tell
The tortures of that inward hell!

Nor ear can hear nor tongue can tell
The tortures of that inward hell!

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

The universe is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper.

Some say that the universe is made so that when we are about to understand it it changes into something read more

Some say that the universe is made so that when we are about to understand it it changes into something even more incomprehensible. And then there are those who say that this has already happened.

The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. But not in that order.

The two most common elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. But not in that order.

Anyone informed that the universe is expanding and contracting in pulsations of eighty billion years has a right to ask, read more

Anyone informed that the universe is expanding and contracting in pulsations of eighty billion years has a right to ask, "What's in it for me?"

The chess-board is the world, the pieces are the phenomena of the universe, the rules of the game are what read more

The chess-board is the world, the pieces are the phenomena of the universe, the rules of the game are what we call the laws of Nature. The player on the other side is hidden from us.

All inquires carry with them some element of risk. There is no guarantee that the universe will conform to our read more

All inquires carry with them some element of risk. There is no guarantee that the universe will conform to our predispositions.