It [traveling to Mars] is important for our future. If the dinosaurs had a space program, they'd still be here.

An earlier similar quotation can be found in | The dinosaurs became extinct because they didn't have a space program. And if we become extinct because we don't have a space program, it'll serve us right! | By Larry Niven As quoted by Arthur C. Clarke in "Meeting of the Minds : Buzz Aldrin Visits Arthur C. Clarke" by Andrew Chaikin (27 February 2001)