274 Quotes by David McCullough

The author perceptively outlines what might be an underrated aspect of his subject and of many others whose public achievements are of note – a "gift for friendship". McCullough says Adams, despite his towering intellect and curmudgeonly demeanor, had a soft heart for other people and a genuine interest in their particulars.

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

Those for whom things came easily usually made less of an effort, not more.

Talk helps shape one's thoughts.

The reason is, because it’s of more importance to community, that innocence should be protected, than it is, that guilt should be punished.

We learn much by tribulation, and by adversity our hearts are made better. -Bishop Milton Wright to Orville Wright, 20 Sept. 1908

The man who wishes to keep at the problem long enough to really learn anything positively must not take dangerous risks. Carelessness and overconfidence ate usually more dangerous than deliberately accepted risks.

However little television you watch, watch less.

I feel that as much as I enjoy loafing, there is something higher for which to live.