“I existed finally as the idea of temporal extension.”

“We know the existence of the infinite without knowing its nature, because it too has extension but unlike us no limits.But we do not know either the existence or the nature of God, because he has neither extension nor limits.”

“One of the deepest needs of the human soul is for centeredness . . . which confers meaning on the shapelessness of temporal existence.”

“People, I thought, wanted security. They couldn't bear the idea of death being a big black nothing, couldn't bear the thought of their loved ones not existing, and couldn't even imagine themselves not existing. I finally decided that people believed in an afterlife because they couldn't bear not to.”

“I finally realized that what I wanted didn't exist where I thought it did.”

“He [Pierre Teilhard de Chardin] was thrilled with the idea that through work in the world human beings were participating in the ongoing extension and consecration of God's creation.”