May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.

Washington was a man of exceptional, almost excessive self-command, rarely permitting himself any show of discouragement or despair.

I can fairly be called an amateur because I do what I do, in the original sense of the word - for love, because I love it. On the other hand, I think that those of us who make our living writing history can also be called true professionals.

I could not do what I do without the kindness, consideration, resourcefulness and work of librarians, particularly in public libraries... What started me writing history happened because of some curiosity that I had about some photographs I'd seen in the Library of Congress.

To this noble end the delegates had pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

On Christmas morning when I was a child, my mother would leave a book wrapped at the foot of the bed, which was a hint that Santa had come. It was also her way of keeping us in bed a little longer before we went downstairs. So I've always associated books with happiness and gifts. And they are. I can't get enough of them.

If you get down about the state of American culture, just remember there are still more public libraries in this country than there are McDonalds.