American civilization, from its beginnings, had combined a dogmatic confidence in the future with a naive puzzlement over what the future might bring.

As you make your bed, so you must lie in it.

Disagreement produces debate but dissent produces dissension.

The traveler used to go about the world to encounter the natives. A function of travel agencies now is to prevent this encounter.

Where ruts have not yet been worn, it requires less effort to stay out of them.

A pseudo-event ... comes about because someone has planned it, planted, or incited it. Typically, it is not a train wreck or an earthquake, but an interview.

There is no disinfectant like success.