Sarah Vowell

“Being a nerd, which is to say going too far and caring too much about a subject, is the single most defining characteristic of our species.”

“The only thing more dangerous than an idea is a belief.”

“Like most people, I'm fascinated by characters who are completely flawed.”

“Part of the kick of being a writer is that you get to meet people you admire, and you get to follow them around.”

“The past is a foreign country. Some of us are diplomats.”

“In my own little way, I am part of a tradition of writers who inspire nerdy people to go to the library.”

“Of course, it is boring to read about boring people.”

“To me, the assassination of Lincoln is a defining moment for our country.”

“What is it about the American character that is so attracted to the doomed?”

“All any of us are ever doing is trying to get through the day.”

“The people who whine about 'political correctness' are generally the same people who say racist or sexist things and want to be able to do so without being called on it.”

“There’s a fine line between being a patriot and being a jerk.”

“When you're a writer, you're always looking for conflict.”

“Familiarity breeds contentment.”