“ The secret of happiness: Find something more important than you are and dedicate your life to it. Daniel C. Dennett
“ The fundamental core of contemporary Darwinism, the theory of DNA-based reproduction and evolution, is now beyond dispute among scientists. It demonstrates its power every day, contributing crucially… Daniel C. Dennett
“ When I was a child, I used to pray to God for a bicycle. But then I realized that God doesn’t work in that way—so I stole a bike and prayed for forgiveness! Daniel C. Dennett
“ There is a species of primate in South America more gregarious than most other mammals, with a curious behavior.The members of this species often gather in groups, large and small, and in the course o… Daniel C. Dennett
“ I should emphasize this, to keep well-meaning but misguided multiculturalists at bay: the theoretical entities in which these tribal people frankly believe — the gods and other spirits — don't exist.… Daniel C. Dennett
“ But recently I have learned from discussions with a variety of scientists and other non-philosophers (e.g., the scientists participating with me in the workshop on the future of naturalism) that they… Daniel C. Dennett
“ In the long run I certainly hope information is the cure for fanaticism, but I am afraid information is more the cause than the cure. Daniel C. Dennett
“ I'm the guy who reputedly denies that people experience colors or pains, and thinks that thermostats think — just ask my critics. Daniel C. Dennett
“ Words exist. What are they made of? Air under pressure? Ink? Some instances of the word cat are made of ink, and some are made of bursts of acoustic energy in the atmosphere, and some are made of patt… Daniel C. Dennett
“ In fact, if you are faced with the prospect of running across an open field in which lightning bolts are going to be a problem, you are much better off if their timing and location are determined by s… Daniel C. Dennett
“ Some people would much prefer the infinite regress of mysteries, apparently, but in this day and age the cost is prohibitive: you have to get yourself deceived. You can either deceive yourself or let… Daniel C. Dennett
“ A mountain climber foolishly climbing alone slips off a precipice and finds himself dangling at the end of his safety rope, a thousand feet above a ravine. Unable to climb the rope or swing to a safe… Daniel C. Dennett
“ To put it bluntly but fairly, anyone today who doubts that the variety of life on this planet was produced by a process of evolution is simply ignorant—inexcusably ignorant, in a world where three out… Daniel C. Dennett
“ Our fundamental tactic of self-protection, self-control, and self-definition is not spinning webs or building dams, but telling stories, and more particularly connecting and controlling the story we t… Daniel C. Dennett
“ If I know better than you know what I am up to, it is only because I spend more time with myself than you do. Daniel C. Dennett
“ I find that some philosophers think that my whole approach to qualia is not playing fair. I don’t respect the standard rules of philosophical thought experiments. But Dan, your view is so counterintui… Daniel C. Dennett
“ This 'web of discourses' as Robyn called it...is as much a biological product as any of the other constructions to be found in the animal world. (Clothes too, are part of the extended phenotype of Hom… Daniel C. Dennett
“ Is this Tree of Life a God one could worship? Pray to? Fear? Probably not. But it did make the ivy twine and the sky so blue, so perhaps the song I love tells a truth after all. The Tree of Life is ne… Daniel C. Dennett
