"Being the obvious center of the universe"

"Being the obvious center of the universe" - Is the Earth Round or Flat? by Alan Lightman

"Round or flat, whatever"

"Round or flat, whatever" - Is the Earth Round or Flat? by Alan Lightman

"Others have become philosophers ..."

"Others have become philosophers ..." - Mirage by Alan Lightman

"... arguing that nothing exists ..."

"... arguing that nothing exists ..." - Mirage by Alan Lightman

"... that all is mirage"

"... that all is mirage" - Mirage by Alan Lightman

"Few believe this explanation"

"Few believe this explanation" - Mirage by Alan Lightman

"There are abstractionists"

"There are abstractionists" - A Flash of Light by Alan Lightman

"And there are tinkerers"

"And there are tinkerers" - A Flash of Light by Alan Lightman

"They haven't noticed each other"

"They haven't noticed each other" - Smile by Alan Lightman

"He had large hands"

"He had large hands" - A Flash Of Light by Alan Lightman

"He had built cyclotrons"

"He had built cyclotrons" - A Flash Of Light by Alan Lightman

"No one notices, but it is exactly right"

"No one notices, but it is exactly right" - Pas de Deux by Alan Lightman