Stephen Ambrose Quotes & Sayings

The more sophisticated we get, the more advanced our buildings and vehicles become, the more vulnerable we are. — Stephen Ambrose

Washington, not Jefferson, freed his slaves upon his death. — Stephen Ambrose

The number one secret of being a successful writer is this: marry an English major. — Stephen Ambrose

I think that the opportunity to improve race relations in the United States has been put off temporarily. — Stephen Ambrose

The Holocaust was the most evil crime ever committed. — Stephen Ambrose

I was too young for Korea and too old for Vietnam. — Stephen Ambrose

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. — Stephen Ambrose

Most of the POWs were taken before they could cut loose form their harness. Among then was Pvt. Paul Bouchereau, a Louisiana Cajun. He was being taken to a German command post where other POWs were being harshly interrogated. The German captain, speaking English, was demanding to know how many Americans had jumped into the area.
"Millions and millions of us." One GI replied.
The angry captain asked Bouchereau the same question. With his strong Cajun accent, Bouchereau answered, "Jus' me! — Stephen Ambrose

It would not be possible to praises nurses too highly. — Stephen Ambrose

The great wars of the 20th Century made it into the worst Century ever. — Stephen Ambrose

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

You don't hate history, you hate the way it was taught to you in high school. — Stephen Ambrose

During the Second World War, the Germans took four years to build the Atlantic Wall. On four beaches it held up the Allies for about an hour; at Omaha it held up the U.S. for less than one day. The Atlantic Wall must therefore be regarded as one of the greatest blunders in military history. — Stephen Ambrose

Even before Watergate and his resignation, Nixon had inspired conflicting and passionate emotions. — Stephen Ambrose

History is everything that has ever happened. — Stephen Ambrose

In the 19th century, we devoted our best minds to exploring nature. In the 20th century, we devoted ourselves to controlling and harnessing it. In the 21st century, we must devote ourselves to restoring it. — Stephen Ambrose

American corporations hate to give away money. — Stephen Ambrose

Friends never cheat on each other, or take advantage, or lie. Friends do not spy on one another, yet they have no secrets. Friends glory in each other's successes and are downcast by the failures. Friends minister to each other, nurse each other. Friends give to each other, worry about each other, stand always ready to help. Perfect friendship is rarely achieved, but at its height it is an ecstasy. — Stephen Ambrose

Custer had dead heroes. Crazy Horse had only live ones. — Stephen Ambrose

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries you have these great nation states hurling their young men at one another. The victory was really going to rest on who could do the best job of bringing up their kids to become efficient and effective soldiers. That's pretty grandiose, I guess, but I do think that, and thank God it's been the armies of democracy that have emerged from this as the triumphant armies. — Stephen Ambrose

I think it's just that the private lives of our public leaders are so much more exposed today that if you're sensitive to protecting your family, it's much harder to not get defensive when somebody asks you those really rude questions about what your wife and your children are thinking and feeling at that exact moment. — Stephen Ambrose

My first book was the book that changed my life. — Stephen Ambrose

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

All men ultimately want to know two things - 'To whom do I owe thanks that I should live in such opportunity?' And, 'Will I have the courage when the time comes? — Stephen Ambrose

There are many more want-to-be writers out there than good editors. — Stephen Ambrose

Johnson had been the most powerful man in the world, yet the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong had resisted, overcome his power, broken his will. — Stephen Ambrose

Almost everything Truman did in foreign affairs I approve of. — Stephen Ambrose

Like their predecessors, the Presidents of today just throw up their hands. — Stephen Ambrose

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. — Stephen Ambrose

The American Constitution is the greatest governing document, and at some 7,000 words, just about the shortest. — Stephen Ambrose

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

The war in Vietnam I thought a dreadful mistake. — Stephen Ambrose

As to the Indians, the guiding principle was, promise them anything just so long as they get out of the way. — Stephen Ambrose

I'm no politician. I'm an historian who has learned through a lifetime of studying that nothing in the world beats universal education. — Stephen Ambrose

Nothing is inevitable in life. People make choices, and those choices have results, and we all live with the results. — Stephen Ambrose

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

To be a slaveholder meant one had to regard the African American as inferior in every way. — Stephen Ambrose

The Canadians have managed to live peacefully with their Indians. It is disgrace that the United States has not done the same. — Stephen Ambrose

Reading your own material aloud forces you to listen. — Stephen Ambrose

My favorite book is the last one printed, which is always better than those that were published earlier. — Stephen Ambrose

Winning the Revolutionary War, or the Civil War, or World War II were the turning points in our history, the sine qua non of our forward progress. — Stephen Ambrose

War creates many strange juxtapositions, perhaps none stranger than this: men who are doing their utmost to kill other men can transform in a split second into lifesavers. Soldiers who encounter a wounded man (often an enemy) become tender, caring angels of mercy. The urge to kill and the urge to save sometimes run together simultaneously. — Stephen Ambrose

Trial by jury. Live wherever you can make a living. How could a government based on such principles fail? — Stephen Ambrose

Who today is willing to say that Texas and California and the remainder of the Southwest would be better off if they were governed by Mexico? — Stephen Ambrose

Nixon regarded himself as having been cheated by life. He never got my vote. — Stephen Ambrose

Jefferson owned slaves. He did not believe that all were created equal. He was a racist. — Stephen Ambrose

Friendships are different from all other relationships. Unlike acquaintanceship, friendship is based on love. Unlike lovers and married couples, it is free of jealousy. Unlike children and parents, it knows neither criticism nor resentment. Friendship has no status in law. Business partnerships are based on a contract. So is marriage. Parents are bound by law. But friendships are freely entered into, freely given, and freely exercised ... — Stephen Ambrose

World War II, the atomic bomb, the Cold War, made it hard for Americans to continue their optimism. — Stephen Ambrose

Oftentimes the fascinating thing is that people who are seen as commanding figures at the moment that they were considered for President and did not run turned out to be treated by history as much more minor figures politically. — Stephen Ambrose

Washington's character was rock solid. He came to stand for the new nation and its republican virtues, which was why he became our first President by unanimous choice. — Stephen Ambrose

Neither Johnson nor his party nor the government as a whole were willing to raise, train, equip, and then send Vietnam sufficient manpower to do the job. — Stephen Ambrose

Crazy Horse saw history as integrated in the present, incorporated into daily life. — Stephen Ambrose

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

Neighbors are far better acoustic analyzers for determining the quality of their life versus any acoustic instrument left unattended by an expert. — Stephen Ambrose

American is the first democratic nation-state. — Stephen Ambrose

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. — Stephen Ambrose

It is through history that we learn who we are and how we got that way, why and how we changed, why the good sometimes prevailed and sometimes did not. — Stephen Ambrose

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. — Stephen Ambrose

Andrew Johnson was a Southerner generally who proclaimed that his native state of Tennessee was a country for white men. — Stephen Ambrose

I thought Nixon was the worst President we had ever had, save only perhaps Andrew Johnson. — Stephen Ambrose

Dams have harmed our wildlife and made rivers less useful for recreation. — Stephen Ambrose

Washington and Jefferson were both rich Virginia planters, but they were never friends. — Stephen Ambrose

Eisenhower is my choice as the American of the 20th Century. Of all the men I've studied and written about, he is the brightest and the best. — Stephen Ambrose

To have some parts flowing free again ... with deer grazing on its banks ... ducks and geese raising their young in the backwaters ... eddies and twists and turns for canoeists ... and fishing opportunities such as Lewis and Clark enjoyed ... would be the finest possible tribute to the men of the Expedition, and a priceless gift for our children. — Stephen Ambrose

D-Day represents the greatest achievement of the american people and system in the 20th century. It was the pivot point of the 20th century. It was the day on which the decision was made as to who was going to rule in this world in the second half of the 20th century. Is it going to be Nazism, is it going to be communism, or are the democracies going to prevail? — Stephen Ambrose