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Bruce Catton

Bruce Catton Quotes

Historian

Bruce Catton was an American historian renowned for his works on the American Civil War. His writing style, marked by clarity and narrative power, made complex historical events understandable to a broad audience. Catton was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1953 for his book 'The Civil War: A Narrative'.

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All American Civil War Civil War Eastern Theater War History Civil War Army Of The Potomac Men Union Army Confederate Army Confederate States Of America

Famous Bruce Catton Quotes

“Even the most painstaking history is a bridge across an eternal mystery.”

History Mystery Eternal Bridges Scrapbooking

Author:Bruce Catton

“A singular fact about modern war is that it takes charge. Once begun it has to be carried to its conclusion, and carrying it there sets in motion events that may be beyond men's control. Doing what has to be done to win, men perform acts that alter the very soil in which society's roots are nourished.”

Men May War Done Facts Winning Peace Society Modern Events Roots Conclusion Soil Modern War

Book:The Civil War

Source: The Civil War

“There is a rowdy strain in American life, living close to the surface but running very deep. Like an ape behind a mask, it can display itself suddenly with terrifying effect.”

Running Behinds Effects Surface Mask Display Strain Apes Very Deep American Life Life Living Rowdy

Book:This Hallowed Ground: A History of the Civil War

Source: This Hallowed Ground: A History of the Civil War

“Beneath everything else, North and West, there ran a profound, unvoiced, almost subconscious conviction that the [American] nation was going to go on growing-in size, in power, in everything a man could think of-and in that belief there was a might and a fury that would take form instantly at the moment of shock.”

Thinking Men Moments Might Form Belief Nations Destiny Growing Goes On Profound West Size Conviction Ran Shock Subconscious Fury

Author:Bruce Catton

“Yet there is a dignity in the human spirit which can become most clearly visible in the moment of defeat and disaster.”

Humans Moments Spirit Dignity Defeat Disaster Visible Human Spirit

Author:Bruce Catton

“Men see things late, and it may be that at times an evil fate drives them on.”

Men May Evil Fate Late

Book:This Hallowed Ground: A History of the Civil War

Source: This Hallowed Ground: A History of the Civil War

“Abraham Lincoln was not all brooding and melancholy and patient understanding. There was a hard core in him, and plenty of toughness. He could recognize a revolutionary situation when he saw one, and he could act fast and ruthlessly to meet it.”

Hard Understanding Situation Saws Patient Core Plenty Revolutionary Melancholy Abraham Toughness Brooding Hard Core

Book:This Hallowed Ground: A History of the Civil War

Source: This Hallowed Ground: A History of the Civil War

“Soldiers who had been in the army long enough to know what a bloody swindle war really is would begin to feel that army life was really kind of fun, as long as [General Philip] Sheridan was up front.”

Knows Feels Kind Long War Enough Fun Fronts Army Soldier Bloody Philip

Author:Bruce Catton

About the Author

Born: October 9, 1899
Died: August 28, 1978
Known for: Historian
Quotes: 58

Related Topics

American Civil War Civil War Eastern Theater War History Civil War Army Of The Potomac Men Union Army Confederate Army Confederate States Of America

Popular Topics

People Ifs Thinking Knows Men World Way Want Love Life Inspirational Needs Giving Feels Should Writing Trying Years Mind Firsts

Books & Sources

Mr. Lincoln's ArmyRelated source material

Grant Takes Command 1863-1865Related source material

Waiting for the Morning Train: An American BoyhoodRelated source material

This Hallowed Ground: A History of the Civil WarRelated source material

Never Call RetreatRelated source material

Terrible Swift SwordRelated source material

The Civil WarRelated source material

A Stillness at AppomattoxRelated source material

American Heritage History of the Civil WarRelated source material

Bruce Catton's America: Selections from His Greatest WorksRelated source material

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