Historians who stuff in every item of research they have found, every shoelace and telephone call of a biographical subject, are not doing the hard work of selecting and shaping a readable story.

One must stop conducting research before one has finished. Otherwise, one will never stop and never finish.

Nothing is more satisfying than to write a good sentence.

The conduct of war was so much more interesting than its prevention.

Fateful moments tend to evoke grandeur of speech, especially in French.

To put away one's own original thoughts in order to take up a book is a sin against the Holy Ghost.

Russians, in the knowledge of inexhaustible supplies of manpower, are accustomed to accepting gigantic fatalities with comparative calm.