John Adams: "The Revolution was effected..."

"The Revolution was effected before the war commenced. The Revolution was in the hearts and minds of the people... This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments and affections of the people was the real American Revolution."

—John Adams (as quoted in Rules for Radicals by Saul D. Alinsky)

Robert Shetterly: "The second strong feeling..."

"The second strong feeling --- the first being horror --- I had on September 11 was hope, hope that the United States would use the shock of this tragedy to reassess our economic, environmental, and military strategies in relation to the other countries and peoples of the world. Many people hoped for the same thing --- not to validate terrorism, but to admit that the arrogance and appetite of the U.S., all of us, have created so much bad feeling in many parts of the world that terrorism is inevitable. I no longer feel hopeful. If one looks closely at U.S. foreign policy, the common denominator is energy, oil in particular. The world is running out of oil. Political leadership that had respect for the future of the Earth and a decent concern for the lives of American and non-American people would be leading us away from conflict toward conservation and economic justice, toward alternative energy, toward a plan for the survival of the world that benefits everyone. We see hegemony and greed thinly veiled behind patriotism and security. We get pre-emptive war instead of pre-emptive planning for a sustainable future. The greatness of our country is being tested and will be measured not by its military might but by its restraint, compassion, and wisdom. De Toqueville said, “America is great because it is good. When it ceases to be good, it will cease to be great.” A democracy, whose leaders and media do not try to tell the people the truth, is a democracy in name only. If the consent of voters is gained through fear and lies, America is neither good nor great. Nor is it America."

—Robert Shetterly, AmericansWhoTellTheTruth.org

Sarah Vowell: "Walking in New York...

"Walking in New York is a battle of the wills, a balance of aggression and kindness. I'm not saying it's always easy... But I believe all that choreography has made me a better person."

—Sarah Vowell, The Partly Cloudy Patriot (The Partly Cloudy Patriot)

Sarah Vowell: "Neither snow, nor rain..."

"'Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.'"

—Sarah Vowell, The Partly Cloudy Patriot (The Partly Cloudy Patriot), quoting the U.S. Postal Service credo

Sarah Vowell: "American history is a..."

"American history is a quagmire, and the more one knows, the quaggier the mire gets."

—Sarah Vowell, The Partly Cloudy Patriot (The Partly Cloudy Patriot)

Sarah Vowell: "The Brits don't apologize..."

"The Brits don't apologize for being knowledgeable. In fact, they're a little disdainful of you for not doing your homework. And in America, doing your homework is the most uncool thing in the world."

—Sarah Vowell, The Partly Cloudy Patriot (The Nerd Voice, Part II)