Richard Dawkins Quotes

If we do discover a complete theory, it should be in time understandable in broad principle by everyone. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people be able to take part in the discussion of why we and the universe exist.

When you think of it, really there are four fundamental questions of life. You've asked them, I've asked them, every thinking person asks them. They boil down to this; origin, meaning, morality and destiny. 'How did I come into being? What brings life meaning? How do I know right from wrong? Where am I headed after I die?'

There is philosophy, which is about conceptual analysis - about the meaning of what we say - and there is all of this ... all of life.

We know so little of the why, what the universe is, what infinity is. The veil around us is very fragile.

Every kid goes to school full of questions about meaning. You know, 'What's my place in the universe? What does it mean to be a human being? What are human beings?' Existing courses cannot help you answer those questions. They can't even help you ask them.

I want to know why the universe exists, why there is something greater than nothing.

Science may eventually explain the world of How. The ultimate world of Why may remain for contemplation, philosophy, religion.

In my solitude I have pondered much on the incomprehensible subjects of space, eternity, life and death.

Why are there beings at all, instead of Nothing?

The Universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.

Science and literature are both ways to ask questions about why we're here.

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.

We are all students of the world; frail embodied consciousnesses struggling to understand, and be a meaningful part of this great, mysterious gift of life.

Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing?

One of the main reasons for the existence of philosophy is not that it enables you to find truth (it can never do that) but that it does provide you a refuge for definitions.

Humans have always wondered the big questions, "Who am I? Where have I come from? Where am I going?" It's part of human nature. It's perhaps the underpinnings of religion.

Through space the universe encompasses and swallows me up like an atom; through thought I comprehend the world.

The Universe is one great kindergarten for man. Everything that exists has brought with it its own peculiar lesson.

Faith is not a rational thing, and yet to understand the universe, rationality alone will not give it to us. Our understanding of the universe must transcend the rational.

The mystery of the beginning of all things is insoluble by us; and I for one must be content to remain an agnostic.

The meaning of the universe lies outside the universe.

The world's philosophers and theologians searched for answers to the same mysteries.

Without consciousness and intelligence, the universe would lack meaning.

Time was God's first creation.

It's always interesting just to see how the human mind is relating to the natural universe, and what we try to make of it just so we can believe we understand what's going on.