Alan Lightman quotes: wise famous quotes, sayings and quotations by Alan Lightman

Alan Lightman Famous Quotes & Sayings

Discover top inspirational quotes from Alan Lightman on Wise Famous Quotes.

Alan Lightman quotes: In a world without future, each moment is the end of the world.

In a world without future, each moment is the end of the world.

Alan Lightman quotes: The pilgrims chant with every minute subtracted from their lives. This is their sacrifice.

The pilgrims chant with every minute subtracted from their lives. This is their sacrifice.

Alan Lightman quotes: Continents of memory had been lost.

Continents of memory had been lost.

Alan Lightman quotes: It's the Platonic philosophy in The Republic that philosophers should lead the country ...

It's the Platonic philosophy in The Republic that philosophers should lead the country ...

Alan Lightman quotes: The urge to discover, to invent, to know the unknown, seems so deeply human that we cannot imagine our history without it.

The urge to discover, to invent, to know the unknown, seems so deeply human that we cannot imagine our history without it.

Alan Lightman quotes: We often do not see what we do not expect to see.

We often do not see what we do not expect to see.

Alan Lightman quotes: I wouldn't overall say that The Diagnosis it's a funny book. I would say that it has comic moments. It's a modern tragedy.

I wouldn't overall say that The Diagnosis it's a funny book. I would say that it has comic moments. It's a modern tragedy.

Alan Lightman quotes: As I understand it, a universe is a ... well, a totality. A universe is everything that is, as far as the inside of the thing.

As I understand it, a universe is a ... well, a totality. A universe is everything that is, as far as the inside of the thing.

Alan Lightman quotes: What sense is there in continuing when one has seen the future?

What sense is there in continuing when one has seen the future?

Alan Lightman quotes: If you over-plot your book you strangle your characters. Your characters have to have enough freedom and life to be able to surprise you.

If you over-plot your book you strangle your characters. Your characters have to have enough freedom and life to be able to surprise you.

Alan Lightman quotes: I have always loved magic realism as a form of writing. I have also been fascinated for a long time with the intersection of science and religion.

I have always loved magic realism as a form of writing. I have also been fascinated for a long time with the intersection of science and religion.

Alan Lightman quotes: I think Joe Leiberman has been one of the leaders of the country ... people have such a broad respect for him as a moral force.

I think Joe Leiberman has been one of the leaders of the country ... people have such a broad respect for him as a moral force.

Alan Lightman quotes: Time paces forward with exquisite regularity, at precisely the same velocity in every corner of space. Time is an infinite ruler. Time is absolute.

Time paces forward with exquisite regularity, at precisely the same velocity in every corner of space. Time is an infinite ruler. Time is absolute.

Alan Lightman quotes: Thus, to explain what we see in the world and in our mental deductions, we must believe in what we cannot prove.

Thus, to explain what we see in the world and in our mental deductions, we must believe in what we cannot prove.

Alan Lightman quotes: No one ever expects poetry to sell.

No one ever expects poetry to sell.

Alan Lightman quotes: While people brood, time skips ahead without looking back.

While people brood, time skips ahead without looking back.

Alan Lightman quotes: I still will sit down at the piano and play when I am wrestling with something emotionally or just want to move into the musical world.

I still will sit down at the piano and play when I am wrestling with something emotionally or just want to move into the musical world.

Alan Lightman quotes: Imagine a world in which there is no time. Only images.

Imagine a world in which there is no time. Only images.

Alan Lightman quotes: He had a problem, like any other problem. The problem just hadn't been well posed. The problem was: Should he leave Penny or not?

He had a problem, like any other problem. The problem just hadn't been well posed. The problem was: Should he leave Penny or not?

Alan Lightman quotes: Scientists will forever have to live with the fact that their product is, in the end, impersonal.

Scientists will forever have to live with the fact that their product is, in the end, impersonal.

Alan Lightman quotes: If a person holds no ambitions in this world, he suffers unknowingly. If a person holds ambitions, he suffers knowingly, but very slowly.

If a person holds no ambitions in this world, he suffers unknowingly. If a person holds ambitions, he suffers knowingly, but very slowly.

Alan Lightman quotes: Writers are a loosely knit community - community is an overstated word. Writers don't see each other very much.

Writers are a loosely knit community - community is an overstated word. Writers don't see each other very much.

Alan Lightman quotes: You've made something grand, but it will be grander if it has feeling and beauty and harmony.

You've made something grand, but it will be grander if it has feeling and beauty and harmony.

Alan Lightman quotes: So many little lives, amounting to nothing. I ask you: What is infinity multiplied by zero? It is hardly worth our discussion.

So many little lives, amounting to nothing. I ask you: What is infinity multiplied by zero? It is hardly worth our discussion.

Alan Lightman quotes: All writers have roots they draw from - travel, work, family. My roots are in science and it is fertile ground for fiction.

All writers have roots they draw from - travel, work, family. My roots are in science and it is fertile ground for fiction.

Alan Lightman quotes: Indeed, what sense is there in continuing the present when one has seen the future?

Indeed, what sense is there in continuing the present when one has seen the future?

Alan Lightman quotes: Faith is the ability to honor stillness at some moments, and at others to ride the passion and exuberance.

Faith is the ability to honor stillness at some moments, and at others to ride the passion and exuberance.

Alan Lightman quotes: -But rational thoughts lead only to rational thoughts, whereas irrational thoughts lead to new experiences.

-But rational thoughts lead only to rational thoughts, whereas irrational thoughts lead to new experiences.

Alan Lightman quotes: ... part of the grief was that each member of the family was mourning his own mortality.

... part of the grief was that each member of the family was mourning his own mortality.

Alan Lightman quotes: Time is the clarity for seeing right and wrong.

Time is the clarity for seeing right and wrong.

Alan Lightman quotes: I would think that you are more fluent with the rational. It has its appeal. But the irrational permits a greater exercise of ... shall we say, power.

I would think that you are more fluent with the rational. It has its appeal. But the irrational permits a greater exercise of ... shall we say, power.

Alan Lightman quotes: Yet the time-deaf are unable to speak what they know. For speech needs a sequence of words, spoken in time.

Yet the time-deaf are unable to speak what they know. For speech needs a sequence of words, spoken in time.

Alan Lightman quotes: Sadness is no more than a bit of acid transfixed in the cerebellum.

Sadness is no more than a bit of acid transfixed in the cerebellum.

Alan Lightman quotes: Each time is true, but the truths are not the same.

Each time is true, but the truths are not the same.

Alan Lightman quotes: Suppose time is a circle, bending back on itself. The world repeats itself, precisely, endlessly.

Suppose time is a circle, bending back on itself. The world repeats itself, precisely, endlessly.

Alan Lightman quotes: Time is a rigid, bonelike structure, extending infinitely ahead and behind, fossilizing the future as well as the past.

Time is a rigid, bonelike structure, extending infinitely ahead and behind, fossilizing the future as well as the past.

Alan Lightman quotes: Each act is an island in time, to be judged on its own.

Each act is an island in time, to be judged on its own.

Alan Lightman quotes: They have been trapped by their own inventiveness and audacity. And they must pay with their lives.

They have been trapped by their own inventiveness and audacity. And they must pay with their lives.

Alan Lightman quotes: My second novel, Good Benito, was not finished. I wished that I had spent another year with it.

My second novel, Good Benito, was not finished. I wished that I had spent another year with it.

Alan Lightman quotes: Everyone shares the same fate.

Everyone shares the same fate.

Alan Lightman quotes: I should have written books instead of reading them.

I should have written books instead of reading them.

Alan Lightman quotes: In a world in which time is a circle, every handshake, every kiss, every birth, every word, will be repeated precisely.

In a world in which time is a circle, every handshake, every kiss, every birth, every word, will be repeated precisely.

Alan Lightman quotes: If the past has uncertain effect on the present, there is no need to dwell on the past. And if the present has little effect on the future,

If the past has uncertain effect on the present, there is no need to dwell on the past. And if the present has little effect on the future,

Alan Lightman quotes: Writers read essays and serious thinkers and serious readers ... that is a small population.

Writers read essays and serious thinkers and serious readers ... that is a small population.

Alan Lightman quotes: For my students who are trying to learn the craft of writing in a writing class - contemporary literature is what's most useful.

For my students who are trying to learn the craft of writing in a writing class - contemporary literature is what's most useful.

Alan Lightman quotes: The target of power is more interesting than its quantity.

The target of power is more interesting than its quantity.

Alan Lightman quotes: A world with one month is a world of equality.

A world with one month is a world of equality.

Alan Lightman quotes: No one knows the nature of God, or even if God exists. In a sense, all of our religions are literary works of the imagination.

No one knows the nature of God, or even if God exists. In a sense, all of our religions are literary works of the imagination.

Alan Lightman quotes: I think it is always a long shot getting a book made into a film. Making that book into a film is going to be quite a challenge.

I think it is always a long shot getting a book made into a film. Making that book into a film is going to be quite a challenge.

Alan Lightman quotes: Except for a God who sits down after the universe begins, all other gods conflict with the assumptions of science.

Except for a God who sits down after the universe begins, all other gods conflict with the assumptions of science.

Alan Lightman quotes: The tragedy of this world is that everyone is alone. For a life in the past cannot be shared with the present.

The tragedy of this world is that everyone is alone. For a life in the past cannot be shared with the present.

Alan Lightman quotes: A person who cannot imagine the future is a person who cannot contemplate the results of his actions. Some are thus paralyzed into inaction.

A person who cannot imagine the future is a person who cannot contemplate the results of his actions. Some are thus paralyzed into inaction.

Alan Lightman quotes: As a scientist, I don't believe science will ever discover whether God exists. Nor do I believe religion will ever prove it.

As a scientist, I don't believe science will ever discover whether God exists. Nor do I believe religion will ever prove it.