It is only a short step from exaggerating what we can find in the world to exaggerating our power to remake the world. Expecting more novelty than there is, more greatness than there is, and more strangeness than there is, we imagine ourselves masters of a plastic universe. But a world we can shape to our will is a shapeless world.
Daniel J. BoorstinStanding, standing, standing - why do I have to stand all the time? That is the main characteristic of social Washington.
Daniel J. BoorstinThe traveler used to go about the world to encounter the natives. A function of travel agencies now is to prevent this encounter.
Daniel J. BoorstinThe hero is known for achievements; the celebrity for well-knowns. The hero reveals the possibilities of human nature. The celebrity reveals the possibilities of the press and media. Celebrities are people who make news, but heroes are people who make history. Time makes heroes but dissolves celebrities.
Daniel J. BoorstinIt is only a short step from exaggerating what we can find in the world to exaggerating our power to remake the world.
Daniel J. BoorstinThe courage to imagine the otherwise is our greatest resource, adding color and suspense to all our life.
Daniel J. BoorstinDisagreement produces debate but dissent produces dissension. Dissent (which come from the Latin, dis and sentire) means originally to feel apart from others. People who disagree have an argument, but people who dissent have a quarrel. People may disagree and both may count themselves in the majority. But a person who dissents is by definition in a minority. A liberal society thrives on disagreement but is killed by dissension. Disagreement is the life blood of democracy, dissension is its cancer.
Daniel J. Boorstin