I often think of that when I hear people say that they haven't time to read.

Napoleon could never imagine that some people loved their country as much as he loved his own.

It was a day and age that saw no reason why one could not learn whatever was required - learn vitally anything - by the close study of books.

Books can change your life. Some of the most influential people in our lives are characters we meet in books.

History is about life. It's awful when the life is squeezed out of it and there's no flavor left, no uncertainties, no horsing around. It always disturbed me how many biographers never gave their subjects a chance to eat. You can tell a lot about people by how they eat, what they eat, and what kind of table manners they have.

I feel that what I do is a calling. I would pay to do what I do if I had to. I will never live long enough to do the work I want to do: the books I would like to write, the ideas I would like to explore.

However little television you watch, watch less.