I learn more about the world around me, and also more about myself. My basic personality trait is to try to figure out why things are the way they are, rather than to try to change them so they are more like what I want. I guess that's why I am more attracted to science than engineering, and more to the arts than the social sciences.

I have learned that as I lose the idealism of youth, I have become more cynical as well as more realistic. Less creative and more suspicious. More selfish and less courageous. I have also become incredibly lazy, and not as brave as I used to be, which I have come to see is just another way of saying the same thing.

In general, I don't see myself as the kind of person who makes things happen. But I do see myself as someone who understands what is happening, and why.

Although I believe my reason and intelligence are still intact, my creativity has declined and my willingness to take risks has been greatly reduced. I was never a reckless person, in fact, I've always been cautious and conservative by nature, but thinking of some of the things I did and tried as a younger man I find myself cringing. Experiments and adventures which, for the most part, turned out quite well for me, would now be simply unthinkable.

In February, 2001, I wrote the following about myself. I wouldn't change a word of it today.

It may be useful to consider how an author evaluates his own soul. I will be brief: I am intelligent but I'm lazy, I am honest but I'm vain, I am responsible but I'm a coward. I have a well developed sense of humor, defined as a recognition of the absurdity of existence; but there is a streak of pomposity in my makeup as well. I despise injustice but I am an unrepentant snob. I consider myself a basically compassionate and decent human being who is well aware of his faults but not too serious about correcting them. On the whole, I like myself. I value truth, love and beauty but have absolutely no religious convictions. I strongly suspect the Universe is entirely the result of impersonal physical forces: matter and energy interacting in time and space. I am convinced that the Secret of the Universe is that there is no secret.