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David McCullough Quotes

David McCullough quotes about writing

American Historian July 7, 1933

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Quotes

I can fairly be called an amateur because I do what I do, in the original sense of the word - for love, because I love it. On the other hand, I think that those of us who make our living writing history can also be called true professionals. David McCullough
When a friend of Abigail and John Adams was killed at Bunker Hill, Abigail's response was to write a letter to her husband and include these words, "My bursting heart must find vent at my pen. David McCullough
Writing again, he stressed that the events of war are always uncertain. Then, paraphrasing a favorite line from the popular play Cato by Joseph Addison - a line that General Washington, too, would often call upon - Adams told her, "We cannot insure success, but we can deserve it. David McCullough
My shorthand answer is that I try to write the kind of book that I would like to read. If I can make it clear and interesting and compelling to me, then I hope maybe it will be for the reader. David McCullough
According to Adams, Jefferson proposed that he, Adams, do the writing [pf the Declaration of Independence], but that he declined, telling Jefferson he must do it. Why?" Jefferson asked, as Adams would recount. Reasons enough," Adams said. What can be your reasons?"Reason first: you are a Virginian and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business. Reason second: I am obnoxious, suspected and unpopular. You are very much otherwise. Reason third: You can write ten times better than I... David McCullough
David McCullough quote: "When I began, I thought that the way one should work was to do..."
When I began, I thought that the way one should work was to do all the research and then write the book. David McCullough
In time I began to understand that it's when you start writing that you really find out what you don't know and need to know. David McCullough
David McCullough quote: "The source of our suffering has been our timidity. We have..."
The source of our suffering has been our timidity. We have been afraid to think....Let us dare to read, think, speak, write. David McCullough
David McCullough quote: "I work very hard on the writing, writing and rewriting and..."
I work very hard on the writing, writing and rewriting and trying to weed out the lumber. David McCullough
Writing is thinking. To write well is to think clearly. That's why it's so hard."(Interview with NEH chairman Bruce Cole, Humanities, July/Aug. 2002, Vol. 23/No. 4) David McCullough
I had been writing for about twelve years. I knew pretty well how you could find things out, but I had never been trained in an academic way how to go about the research. David McCullough
David McCullough quote: "There's an awful temptation to just keep on researching. There..."
There's an awful temptation to just keep on researching. There comes a point where you just have to stop, and start writing. David McCullough

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