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.

Home is really where education does begin.

To write is to think, and to write well is to think well.

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.

The source of our suffering has been our timidity. We have been afraid to think....Let us dare to read, think, speak, write.

Unlike the people you see in Mathew Brady's photographs from the Civil War, the men and women of the Revolution seem more like characters in a costume pageant. And it's a pageant in which the performers are all handsome as stage actors, with uniforms and dress that are always costume perfect.

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.