102 Quotes by H. W. Brands

If a separation of the states ever should take place, it will be on some occasion when one portion of the country undertakes to control, to regulate and to sacrifice the interest of another.

No man fails, or can fail who so grandly gives himself and all he has to a righteous cause.[Frederick Douglass, on John Brown, Speech given at Storer College, Harpers Ferry West Virginia, May 30, 1881]

Harry Truman's decision to fire Douglas MacArthur at the height of the Korean War in April 1951 shocked the American political system and astonished the world. Much of the world didn't realize the president had the power to fire a five-star general; much of America didn't realize Truman had the nerve.

The president of the United States from the 1940s until 2017 was considered the leader of the free world - probably the most powerful person in the world - not simply in terms of America's military might but in terms of the moral authority of the president. Donald Trump has largely abdicated that.

President Trump is doing what he can to act decisively. And if there's one thing most people have in mind in distinguishing the business world from the political world is that the CEO of a business can act decisively.

People who teach American history survey classes have a lot of ground to cover and tend to focus on landmarks. You get through the Civil War and Reconstruction, and you have to get to the beginning of the 20th century fast. It's pretty easy to go lightly on the Gilded Age.

George W. Bush has shown himself to be a decent guy, not exploiting his former office to make top dollars giving speeches.

America can change its presidents, but the world doesn't change.

Members of Congress are somewhat reluctant to tangle with a president who seems to have the backing of the American people.