Quotes from John Jakes

He and Marie wandered through a square

Reading's the means by which the lowest man can lift himself from a state of ignorance.

War was never glorious, never grand—except in the pronouncements pols and other noncombatants made about it. It was, as he had experienced it, mostly dirty, disorderly, boring, lonely, and, for brief intervals, terrifying.

He said he would die an educated man if he didn't live long enough to die as a free one.

God! he swore silently. That man was ever born to be torn and troubled by women!

He thought of nothing but the ardent, open warmth of this singular and passionate young woman who inspired him to love with all of his body and mind.

1891-1892 Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of exiles. 1883 The New Colossus by EMMA LAZARUS, written to raise funds to complete the Statue of Liberty

Spend as much time as you can with your mouth shut and your eyes and ears open.

The first treasure California began to surrender after the Gold Rush as the oldest: her land.

No writer should minimize the factor that affects everyone but is beyond control: luck.

We was at Sharpsburg. Charlie still is.

Yet how strong was friendship? Could it banish disagreement over a fundamental issue of human liberty—as if the issue and the disagreement didn't exist?

What impossible matter will he make easy next?

Davis was especially scored for allegedly favoring foreigners and Jews in his administration.

Is it because they all testify that we are never guaranteed a happy life, only life itself? …

His younger brother looked to him for advice—wisdom—never realizing that older people were almost as uncertain of everything as Billy was, if not more.

Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever.

The greatest crime a human being can commit is to allow himself to be humbled into poverty, into obscurity, into—" She let go of his arm, swept the room with a gesture at once damning and sad. "This. I committed that crime so that you will never

an army of incompetents, poltroons, political cronies, and victims—always there are the victims whom the others send to slaughter in their stead—

Jefferson said men are naturally divided by temperament into two classes. Those who fear and distrust ordinary people, and want to concentrate power in the hands of a small, select elite—and those who trust and cherish ordinary people, and think of them as the safest, if not always the wisest repositories of power.

but needlessly cruel in Stone Dreamer's opinion, ranted and swore that he'd never submit to the white chiefs while he could draw breath.

He continued to be deeply concerned about the growing self-indulgence of the American people. Wealth was worshiped above all else. To many, admission

But that's the purpose of education! To begin to understand! Then to want to understand!

No, sir. But even if they are, I'm inclined to go with them." "For God's sake, man—why?" The foreman peered at Cooper as if he were callow, not very bright. "South Carolina is my home. Those men speak up for it. No one else does, Mr. Main.