To go back and read Swift and Defoe and Samuel Johnson and Smollett and Pope - all those people we had to read in college English courses - to read them now is to have one of the infinite pleasures…

Quote by David McCullough

Topics: David McCullough Quotes

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...

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...

The pull, the attraction of history, is in our human nature. What makes us tick?...

The pull, the attraction of history, is in our human nature. What makes us tick?...

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

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

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...

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 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 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...

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

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

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...

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...

In time I began to understand that it's when you start writing that you really...

In time I began to understand that it's when you start writing that you really...

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...

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...

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.

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...

People ask me when I start one of these projects, what is your theme? I...

People ask me when I start one of these projects, what is your theme? I...

The writer's duty is to keep on writing

The writer's duty is to keep on writing

Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.

Writing is the most fun you can have by yourself.