Quotes from Stephen Ambrose

When Hitler declared war on the United States, he was betting that German soldiers, raised up in the Hitler Youth, would always out fight American soldiers, brought up in the Boy Scouts. He lost that bet. The Boy Scouts had been taught how to figure their way out of their own problems.

There are many rules of good writing, but the best way to find them is to be a good reader.

I've always tried to be fair to my subjects. That's easy when they are as likable and admirable as Lewis and Clark, or Eisenhower.

Eisenhower had the clearest blue eyes. He would fix them on you. In my every interview with him, he would lock his eyes on to mine and keep them there.

In 1945, there were more people killed, more buildings destroyed, more high explosives set off, more fires burning than before or since.

Immigrants do more than help us win our wars, or set up cleaning shops or ethnic restaurants.

In America, Jefferson noted with approval, women knew their place.

It does you no good to see the number two or number three man in the corporation-you have to get through to number one.

Writing is not the easiest way to make a living. Your work long hours, usually all by yourself. It is not a way to make money.

I was taught by professors who had done their schooling in the 1930s. Most of them were scornful of, even hated, big business.

The war in Vietnam I thought a dreadful mistake.

I was too young for Korea and too old for Vietnam.

We are part of a country that outshines those that have gone before us and most of those in existence today.