John Harris
Information for Students | Advising Informaton | Math Links | Other Links | Vita | Photos

A Selection of Favorite Quotations

God, Religion

I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use.
Galileo Galilei

In my Father’s house are many mansions.
John 14:2

Science, Thinking and Knowledge

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...'
Isaac Asimov

The important thing in science is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.
Sir William Bragg

A person who won't think has no advantage over one who can't think.
Paul Lutus

As the island of our knowledge grows, so does the shore of our ignorance.
John Wheeler

Mathematics is about understanding the fundamental things which when well understood will shed light on many other things.
Frank Morgan

Children

I love you a million days in a row --- and "million" means "every."
Sophie Harris (age 4), July 6, 2001

Daddy, I think you're the best man in the whole wide world, and I love you like a crazy --- as much as God loves you.
Sophie Harris (age 5), June 10, 2002

I am four and six quarters old.
Sophie Harris (age 5 1/2 ), August 24, 2002

Mommy, you are pretty. Especially your eyes and your mouth when you smile.
Sophie Harris, September 7, 2002

I love you, Will.
I love you, too, Sophie.
Sophie and Will Harris (ages 6 and 2), August, 2003

Is Mommy coming? (yes)
Is Daddy coming? (yes)
Is Sophie coming? (yes)
Is Will coming? (yes)
(pause)
(smiling: ) Is blanket coming? (yes)
(pause)
Blanket have feet?
Will Harris (age 2), August, 2003

We do not inherit the land, we borrow it from our children.
Native American Proverb

Funny

I'm sorry, I can't hear you. Can you turn off your car?
heard over the speaker at a drive-thru window (referring to my slightly noisy 1987 Honda)