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In much of society, research means to investigate something you do not know or understand.

I would be remiss if I left the impression that my life has been totally preoccupied with scholarly research.

Study with desire is real activity; without desire it is but the semblance and mockery of activity.

What I've tried to do is combine both my personal experiences with scientific research. I like to cross the divide between the personal world and the scientific world.

Scientists and academics in particular focus on detail and the minutiae. When they talk to each other, they usually don't focus on the broad ideas; they don't focus on social interconnectedness. They focus on the task that they're doing.

Research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought.

Some people stay in the academic world just to avoid becoming self-aware. You can quote me on that.

Mostly, research is much more fun than the actual writing.

While the lab plays an enormous role, research is also influenced by inner peace of mind and one's family environment, depending on what stage of one's life and career a scientist is at.

Intellectual work is essentially a lonely process, and if you can find a way of doing something so that you're in company without being disturbed, that, for me, is the critical thing. I often get to feel isolated so often if I'm sitting either where there aren't people or isn't a view.