John Kerry doesn't think in terms of black-and-white. He's all gray, and he looks at all sides of the issues. That makes people think he likes to be devil's advocate. Whatever you say, he'll challenge you on. Douglas Brinkley
There is nobody that's ever going to fill Ted Kennedy's shoes, and that's a tall order for somebody in the family to try to live up to. Douglas Brinkley
Politicians wanted to mine the Grand Canyon for zinc and copper, and Theodore Roosevelt said, 'No.' Douglas Brinkley
When I was 8 years old, I made my own encyclopedia of American biography - Johnny Appleseed, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone, Charles Lindbergh, my pantheon of favorite heroes. Then I would write my own things and sew them together and try to make my own book. Douglas Brinkley
I think there's a green side to John Kerry, if you like, that he's an environmental activist. His record on the environment is as best as you have on a pro-environment record of anybody in the U.S. Senate. Douglas Brinkley
John Kerry can be absolutely ruthless. I would not want to be on his enemies list when he's ready to go after you. Douglas Brinkley
If you're a Kennedy and you go to Italy or you go to Argentina, you're treated as royalty. And in the United States, we're endlessly fascinated by the family. Douglas Brinkley
When I begin a book, I inevitably discover many things along the way, about the characters, their past histories and the political intrigues that surround them. This discovery process is vital, and I would not prejudice it by deciding too much in advance. David Brin
In the book, America had already been weakened by bio terror plagues before waves of selfish violence took down the rest. But the real enemy was the kind of male human being who nurses fantasies of violent glory at the expense of his fellow citizens. David Brin
I like to be surprised. Fresh implications and plot twists erupt as a story unfolds. Characters develop backgrounds, adding depth and feeling. Writing feels like exploring. David Brin
Change is the principal feature of our age and literature should explore how people deal with it. The best science fiction does that, head-on. David Brin
When it comes to privacy and accountability, people always demand the former for themselves and the latter for everyone else. David Brin