"In Paris, you learn wit, in London you learn to crush your social rivals, and in Florence you learn poise.” (c) Virgil Thomson

At the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes - an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive, and the most ruthlessly sceptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new. This is how deep truths are winnowed from deep nonsense. (c)