Imagine my view: We are bags of chemicals with memories, there is no inherent meaning to anything and when we die, the chemical reactions stop and we cease to be. Yes, there is a collection of cells that remains around for a bit as the parts are recycled

No one is going to save us, there is no reward. We got to live and were aware of it. That is all we get

We get one try at this world and, good or bad, that is it

We live on only in others' memories

Someone once said that this was depressing. I don't see it that way. It is realistic - I have three mottoes

1. Think
2. If it's stupid and it works, it ain't stupid; if it's brilliant but it fails, it's not brilliant; it's a failure
3. no illusions

Lie to others, white or dark, if it is really needed. Tell children lies until the can understand the real answers. Exaggerate a bit if it makes the story better

But don't lie to yourself

When I was a kid I believed in things. I stopped and it made the world make sense. This? (sweep of hand to indicate the world and everything in it) My first statement where I said it had no meaning? I mean no inherent meaning - no innate purpose beyond life's own desire to continue. But we are aware. We give the meaning. We make it have meaning.

Intelligence makes things matter. To you, to me, to all of us

We are in the midst of a largely cold, dead, hostile universe. We are the only things we have

The 7 billion hominids you share the Earth with matter. Because we want them to.

Cast me out from the tribe's circle or come listen; I may not be doing things right or well but I can see the promised land from where I am. And I know that, in this little area, I am right