Down underneath, there wasn’t much difference between people and anima — Harry Turtledove

"It was like trying to kill a butterfly with an axe."

"The difference between what you counted on and what you got explained why so many people had unhappy marriages."

"I see people who write characters who are loonies and make them convincing and believable, and I envy them tremendously. I don’t really understand them. It’s funny, because I’ve created my own monster. In the ‘Great War’ and ‘American Empire’ books, I’m writing the person who is the functional equivalent of Adolf Hitler. I’m inside his head — and that’s a very strange place for somebody who thinks of himself as a fairly rational fellow to be. That’s alarming."

"“How many Mormons are polygamists, truly?” Lincoln asked. “They write all sorts of things in the eastern papers.” “They say all sorts of things here, too,” Hamilton answered. “The truth is devilish hard to find, and they don’t keep any public records of marriages past the first, which makes it harder yet. I’d say it’s about one in ten, if that, but the polygamists have influence beyond their numbers. If you’re going to support more than one wife and family, you need more than the common run of money, you see.” “Oh, yes,” Lincoln said. “A case similar to that of slaveholders in the Confederate States.”"

"Bureau of Ordnance, Richmond January 17, 1864 General Lee: I have the honor to present to you with this letter Mr. Andries Rhoodie of Rivington, North Carolina, who has demonstrated in my presence a new rifle, which I believe may prove to be of the most significant benefit conceivable to our soldiers. As he expressed the desire of making your acquaintance & as the Army of Northern Virginia will again, it is likely, face hard fighting in the months ahead, I send him on to you that you may judge both him & his remarkable weapon for yourself. I remain, Your most obt servant, Josiah Gorgas Colonel"

"When a politician, which was what the president of the CSA had long since become, said he was personally in sympathy with something, Jackson had learned, he meant the opposite."