To all appearances he was just drifting. In actuality he was... - Robert M. Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values

"…the doctrinal differences between Hinduism and Buddhism and Taoism are not anywhere near as important as doctrinal differences among Christianity and Islam and Judaism. Holy wars are not fought over them because verbalized statements about reality are never presumed to be reality itself."

"The place to improve the world is first in one's own heart and head and hands, and then work outward from there."

"The real purpose of the scientific method is to make sure nature hasn’t misled you into thinking you know something you actually don’t know."

"You are never dedicated to something you have complete confidence in. No one is fanatically shouting that the sun is going to rise tomorrow. They know it's going to rise tomorrow. When people are fanatically dedicated to political or religious faiths or any other kinds of dogmas or goals, it's always because these dogmas or goals are in doubt."

"The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth,"and so it goes away. Puzzling."