"A way in which an increased knowledge of the nature of the physical and biological world can be of value to the individual citizen is through the conferring on him of an increased equanimity, an increased confidence in natural law and order. The well-being of an individual may be greatly impaired by his fear of the unknown, which may far exceed the fear that he would have of a known danger, which he might prepare to meet in a rational way." - Linus Pauling, as quoted in Linus Pauling in His Own Words: Selections from his Writings, Speeches, and Interviews (Barbara Marinacci, Ed.; Simon and Schuster).

"Scientists are people of very dissimilar temperments doing different things in very different ways. Among scientists are collectors, classifiers, and compulsive tidiers-up; many are detectives by temperment and many are explorers; some are artists and others artisans. There are poet-scientists and philosopher-scientists and even a few mystics."
- Peter B. Medawar, "The Art of the Soluble," London: Methuen, 1967; p. 132