You've got to marinate your head, in that time and culture. You've got to become them." (Speaking about researching, and reading, and immersing yourself in History)

When you start to write, things begin to come into focus in a way they don't when you're not writing. It's a very good way to find out how much you don't know because you learn specifically what you need to know that you don't know at the moment by writing.

You can't be a full participant in our democracy if you don't know our history.

Since September 11, it seems to me that never in our lifetime, except possibly in the early stages of World War II, has it been clearer that we have as a source of strength, a source of direction, a source of inspiration - our story.

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.

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