No harm's done to history by making it something someone would want to read.

Quote by David McCullough

Topics: David McCullough Quotes

My next book is also set in the eighteenth century. It's about the Revolution, with...

My next book is also set in the eighteenth century. It's about the Revolution, with...

I work very hard on the writing, writing and rewriting and trying to weed out...

I work very hard on the writing, writing and rewriting and trying to weed out...

I would pay to do what I do if I had to.

I would pay to do what I do if I had to.

I'm very aware how many distractions the reader has in life today, how many good...

I'm very aware how many distractions the reader has in life today, how many good...

My shorthand answer is that I try to write the kind of book that I...

My shorthand answer is that I try to write the kind of book that I...

First of all, you can make the argument that there's no such thing as the...

First of all, you can make the argument that there's no such thing as the...

There's an awful temptation to just keep on researching. There comes a point where you...

There's an awful temptation to just keep on researching. There comes a point where you...

I love all sides of the work but that doesn't mean it isn't hard.

I love all sides of the work but that doesn't mean it isn't hard.

May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.

May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.

When I read that the British army had landed thirty-two thousand troops - and I...

When I read that the British army had landed thirty-two thousand troops - and I...

When I began, I thought that the way one should work was to do all...

When I began, I thought that the way one should work was to do all...

I had been writing for about twelve years. I knew pretty well how you could...

I had been writing for about twelve years. I knew pretty well how you could...

You can't be a full participant in our democracy if you don't know our history.

You can't be a full participant in our democracy if you don't know our history.

With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War...

With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War...

I just thank my father and mother, my lucky stars, that I had the advantage...

I just thank my father and mother, my lucky stars, that I had the advantage...

To go back and read Swift and Defoe and Samuel Johnson and Smollett and Pope...

To go back and read Swift and Defoe and Samuel Johnson and Smollett and Pope...

People are so helpful. People will stop what they're doing to show you something, to...

People are so helpful. People will stop what they're doing to show you something, to...

I can fairly be called an amateur because I do what I do, in the...

I can fairly be called an amateur because I do what I do, in the...

I love Dickens. I love the way he sets a scene.

I love Dickens. I love the way he sets a scene.

Every book is a new journey. I never felt I was an expert on a...

Every book is a new journey. I never felt I was an expert on a...