What I like about sceptics is that in good science you need critics that make you think: 'Crumbs have I made a mistake here?' If you don't have that continuously you really are up the creek. The good sceptics have done a good service but some of the mad ones I think have not done anyone any favours.

Science my lad is made up of mistakes but they are mistakes which it is useful to make because they lead little by little to the truth.

Science is properly more scrupulous than dogma. Dogma gives a charter to mistake but the very breath of science is a contest with mistake and must keep the conscience alive.

When I find myself in the company of scientists I feel like a shabby curate who has strayed by mistake into a room full of dukes.

What makes me sad about school is that the people who are unhappy are unhappy because they don't believe it will change. And I just want to say: 'It does! High school ends and it's over.' I will tell anyone that it's OK to be unhappy at school make lots of mistakes and then it will be over.

I once made the mistake of going for a whole row of false eyelashes which was just wrong as it gave me a sad puppy-eyed look.

I respect and empathize with reporters and editors who must compete in today's environment. And I know full well that when I've been covering campaigns which I still do I've made my mistakes and have been far from perfect.

I never make the mistake of arguing with people for whose opinions I have no respect.

There is a holy mistaken zeal in politics as well as in religion. By persuading others we convince ourselves.

I am not going to condemn anybody. That's where religion gets a bad name when people get holier than thou. We are all human. If my children make a mistake I want them to know it is all right and they should try harder next time.

All religion seems to need to prove that it's the only truth. And that's where it turns demonic. Because that's when you get religious wars and persecutions and burning heretics at the stake.

Formerly when religion was strong and science weak men mistook magic for medicine now when science is strong and religion weak men mistake medicine for magic.

I feel like in a lot of shows where the woman is in charge the woman is this ball buster and the guy is sort of weak and spineless. And that's never been my experience in a relationship. I think it's much more interesting that the guy is the boss. And there are stakes.

Putin has a lot at stake here and restoring the relationship with the United States and there are already signs as Sandy mentioned that he's moving in the right direction to begin to ascertain that their trade with Iran is not used for the production of nuclear weapons.

The biggest mistake is believing there is one right way to listen to talk to have a conversation - or a relationship.

I'm out there arguing the Labor case. I will do it anywhere and everywhere that I can. I do it within various communities across Australia where I am able to make a positive contribution. And let me tell you my voice won't be silenced in the public debate because the issue at stake for Australia are so stark.

Positive adj.: Mistaken at the top of one's voice.

To be positive is to be mistaken at the top of one's voice.

If you're not making mistakes then you're not doing anything. I'm positive that a doer makes mistakes.

On the mountains mistakes are fatal. In politics mistakes are wounding emotionally but you recover. Personally wilderness helps me get back in touch with natural rhythms helps me reflect and in the process restore my creativity.

We mistake politics for legislative debate. You can be passionate without being personal.

There is too much at stake for us to surrender to the politics of polarization.

University politics are vicious precisely because the stakes are so small.

In politics... never retreat never retract... never admit a mistake.