We human beings do have some genuine freedom of choice and therefore some effective control over our own destinies. I am not a determinist. But I also believe that the decisive choice is seldom the latest choice in the series. More often than not, it will turn out to be some choice made relatively far back in the past.

We have been God-like in our planned breeding of our domesticated plants and animals, but we have been rabbit-like in our unplanned breeding of ourselves.

When I had got my notes all written out I thought I'd polish it off in two summers, but it took me twenty-seven years.

To be able to fill leisure intelligently is the last product of civilization.