Beware of charisma . . . Representative Men; was Ralph Waldo Emerson's 1850 phrase for the great men in a democracy . . . Is there some common quality among these Representative Men who have been most successful as our leaders? I call it the need to be authentic-or, as our dictionaries tell us, conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance or belief. While the charismatic has an uncanny outside source of strength, the authentic is strong because he is what he seems to be.
Daniel J. BoorstinA wonderful thing about a book, in contrast to a computer screen, is that you can take it to bed with you.
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 star is the ultimate American verification of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile. His mere existence proves the perfectability of any man or woman. Oh wonderful pliability of human nature, in a society where anyone can become a celebrity! And where any celebrity . . . may become a star!
Daniel J. Boorstin