“All publishers are Columbuses. The successful author is their America. The reflection that they-like Columbus-didn't discover what they expected to discover, and didn't discover what they started out to discover, doesn't trouble them. All they remember is that they discovered America; they forget that they started out to discover some patch or corner of India.” AmericaRememberForgetSuccessfulTroubleReflectionIndiaCornersExpectedPublishersPatchesColumbus Book:Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2: The Complete and Authoritative Edition Source: Autobiography of Mark Twain, Volume 2: The Complete and Authoritative Edition
“The tumults in America I expected would have produced in Europe an unfavorable opinion of our political state. But it has not. On the contrary, the small effect of these tumults seems to have given more confidence in the firmness of our governments. The interposition of the people themselves on the side of government has had a great effect on the opinion here in Europe.” PeopleStatesWisdomSeemsGovernmentAmericaPoliticalPoliticsGivenSidesOpinionEconomyEffectsEuropeExpectedContraryLiberalismFirmnessTumult Book:Jefferson: Political Writings Source: Jefferson: Political Writings
“In a strange way, I expected Russia to become more like America since the Soviet Union collapsed, but the reverse is true. America has become more like Russia: a kleptocratic society.” WayAmericaStrangeUnionsExpectedRussiaSovietReverseSoviet Union Author:Gary Shteyngart