“Sometimes asking God for a reason for something is like asking Him why the sky is blue. There is a complex, scientific reason for it, Claire, but most children, including you, are content with knowing it is blue because it is. If we understood everything about everything, we would have no need for faith.”

“...because God knows everything about us, cares about us, helps us, and listens to us whenever we turn to Him, we are not carrying our burdens alone. We therefore have no reason to be bitter.”

“That’s one thing about us Americans, right? We want everything tied up perfectly, no loose ends. We want all the answers and logical reasons for everything.... We demand a happy ending and for shit to make sense. Well, let me tell you something. It ain’t like that. Sometimes you don’t get to find out why. Sometimes shit doesn’t belong to you.”

“Why you need a reason for everything? Reason is something people say to make sense of things that don't make sense.”

“Why does the universe go to all the bother of existing? Is the unified theory so compelling that it brings about its own existence? Or does it need a creator, and, if so, does he have any other effect on the universe? And who created him?....Up to now, most scientists have been too occupied with the development of new theories that describe what the universe is to ask the question why. On the other hand, the people whose business it is to ask why, the philosophers, have not been able to keep up with the advance of scientific theories....However, if we do discover a complete theory, it should in time be understandable in broad principle by everyone, not just a few scientists. Then we shall all, philosophers, scientists, and just ordinary people, be able to take part in the discussion of the question of why it is that we and the universe exist. If we find the answer to that, it would be the ultimate triumph of human reason--for then we would know the mind of God.”

“...When I asked [my dad why the sky was blue] he said it was because God's a boy. If God were a girl, the sky would be pink.'What about sunrise and sunset?' I'd asked.Dad had looked dumbfounded. 'You kids. You think too much.'It frightened me how shallow the gene pool was that Liam and I were wading in.”