Life is always walking up to us and saying, "Come on in, the living's fine," and what do we do? Back off and take its picture.
Russell BakerThose who remember Washington's cold war culture in the 1980s will recall the shocked reactions to Reagan's intervention. People interested in foreign policy were astonished when in 1985 he met alone at Geneva - alone, not a single strategic thinker at his elbow! - with the Soviet Communist master Gorbachev.
Russell BakerThe biographer's problem is that he never knows enough. The autobiographer's problem is that he knows too much.
Russell BakerAnything that isn't opposed by about 40 percent of humanity is either an evil business or so unimportant that it simply doesn't matter.
Russell BakerScientists have been struck by the fact that things that break down virtually never get lost, while things that get lost hardly ever break down.
Russell BakerHow many more years will our educators continue to lecture us on the evils of whipping children until they bring home high grades? Year after year we listen to these fellows tell us that it is not the grade that counts but the development of the child's personality. After the lecture they go back to all the best schools and reject our children because they have C averages.
Russell Baker