Δαφνη Ευτυχια Αρθουρος

"The problem is that, although we're all entitled to our beliefs, our culture increasingly holds that science is just another belief. Maybe this is because it's easier to believe something -- anything -- than not to know.

"We don't like uncertainty -- so we gravitate back to the last comfortable solution we had, and in this way we elevate belief to the status of fact.

"But scientists are comfortable with not knowing. They thrive on it. They don't assume that just because they had an idea it must be right. They attack it as vigorously as they can because they don't want to lie to themselves."

-- Alan Alda, 2003

[Also: happy birthday to silmaril]