---
title: "18 Ifs Quotes By David McCullough"
description: "18 Ifs quotes by David McCullough. Plus more from David McCullough and more Ifs sayings from other authors."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/david-mccullough-1091_contagious_courage-is-contagious-if-a-leader-shows_2006163.png"
---

> [Courage is contagious. If a leader shows courage, others get the idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/courage-is-contagious-if-a-leader-shows-courage-others-get-the-idea/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/708/david-mccullough-1091_contagious_courage-is-contagious-if-a-leader-shows_2006163.png)

> [If everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/if-everyone-is-special-then-no-one-is-if-everyone-gets-a-trophy/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c82/david-mccullough-1091_ifs_if-everyone-is-special-then-no-one-is-if_2686605.png)

> [There are people who are trying to write history for the general reader who can be quite tedious. That said, I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/there-are-people-who-are-trying-to-write-history-for-the-general/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/19c/david-mccullough-1091_books_there-are-people-who-are-trying-to-write_3188765.jpg)

> [“How can we know who we are and where we are going if we don't know anything about where we have come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/how-can-we-know-who-we-are-and-where-we-are-going-if-we-don-t-know/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f9/david-mccullough-1091_cost_how-can-we-know-who-we-are-and-where-we_2885680.jpg)

> [I think it's important to remember that these men are not perfect. If they were marble gods, what they did wouldn't be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-think-it-s-important-to-remember-that-these-men-are-not-perfect-if/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f3d/david-mccullough-1091_admirable_i-think-it-s-important-to-remember-that_1553623.png)

> [If we think back through our own lives, the subjects that you liked best in school almost certainly were taught by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/if-we-think-back-through-our-own-lives-the-subjects-that-you-liked/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cdd/david-mccullough-1091_best-teacher_if-we-think-back-through-our-own-lives-t_278612.png)

> [I feel that what I do is a calling. I would pay to do what I do if I had to. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-feel-that-what-i-do-is-a-calling-i-would-pay-to-do-what-i-do-if-i/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8cc/david-mccullough-1091_book_i-feel-that-what-i-do-is-a-calling-i-wou_1541061.jpg)

> [We should draw on our story, we should draw on our history. If we don't know who we are, if we don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/we-should-draw-on-our-story-we-should-draw-on-our-history-if-we-don-t/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a41/david-mccullough-1091_amnesia_we-should-draw-on-our-story-we-should-dr_1519409.png)

> [You can't love what you don't know much about. You can't convince, stimulate, hold the attention, teach, if you don't know what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/you-can-t-love-what-you-don-t-know-much-about-you-can-t-convince/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5d7/david-mccullough-1091_attention_you-can-t-love-what-you-don-t-know-much_1950371.png)

> [If the attitude of the teacher toward the material is positive, enthusiastic, committed and excited, the students get that. If the teacher…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/if-the-attitude-of-the-teacher-toward-the-material-is-positive/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be3/david-mccullough-1091_attitude_if-the-attitude-of-the-teacher-toward-th_2949788.jpg)

> [People often ask me if I'm working on a book. That's not how I feel. I feel like I work in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/people-often-ask-me-if-i-m-working-on-a-book-that-s-not-how-i-feel-i/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/503/david-mccullough-1091_ask-me_people-often-ask-me-if-i-m-working-on-a_1522423.png)

> [I think the public library system is one of the most amazing American institutions. Free for everybody. If you ever get the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-think-the-public-library-system-is-one-of-the-most-amazing-american/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d77/david-mccullough-1091_american-culture_i-think-the-public-library-system-is-one_2611613.png)

> [I feel very strongly that history is about everything. It isn't just about politics or the military or social issues. If art,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-feel-very-strongly-that-history-is-about-everything-it-isn-t-just/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/david-mccullough-1091_all-kinds_i-feel-very-strongly-that-history-is-abo_529442.png)

> [I don't pick my presidents because they were great presidents. I'm not much interested in ranking presidents and who is the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-don-t-pick-my-presidents-because-they-were-great-presidents-i-m-not/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/219/david-mccullough-1091_failing_i-don-t-pick-my-presidents-because-they_337882.png)

> [You can make the argument that there's no such thing as the past. Nobody lived in the past. They lived in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/you-can-make-the-argument-that-there-s-no-such-thing-as-the-past/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/001/david-mccullough-1091_argument_you-can-make-the-argument-that-there-s-n_406234.jpg)

> [We still dislike hypocrites. It's a very American characteristic. We still like people who have ideas and who are willing to stand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/we-still-dislike-hypocrites-it-s-a-very-american-characteristic-we/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e7e/david-mccullough-1091_america_we-still-dislike-hypocrites-it-s-a-very_2456380.png)

> [History isn't just what happened, but what happened to whom and why and what would have been different if the cast of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/history-isn-t-just-what-happened-but-what-happened-to-whom-and-why/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d02/david-mccullough-1091_casts_history-isn-t-just-what-happened-but-wha_34220.png)

> [Find something to do that you love because then the work itself is always the reward not the recompense. And if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/find-something-to-do-that-you-love-because-then-the-work-itself-is/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

[Image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b9e/david-mccullough-1091_doing-you_find-something-to-do-that-you-love-becau_1129814.png)

## Other authors on Ifs

## More by David McCullough

> [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Steamboats by this time were becoming a familiar presence on the rivers and coastal waters of America, but not until 1838 did steam-powered ships…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/steamboats-by-this-time-were-becoming-a-familiar-presence-on-the/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [I feel that history is in many ways the most important of all subjects because it is about everything and because it's about who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/i-feel-that-history-is-in-many-ways-the-most-important-of-all/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Even mighty states and kingdoms are not exempted. If we look into history, we shall find some nations rising from contemptible beginnings and spreading…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/even-mighty-states-and-kingdoms-are-not-exempted-if-we-look-into/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [History isn't just what happened, but what happened to whom and why and what would have been different if the cast of characters had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/history-isn-t-just-what-happened-but-what-happened-to-whom-and-why/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [Nobody ever lived in the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/nobody-ever-lived-in-the-past/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Only TR openly declared his love for the job. “Nobody ever enjoyed the presidency as I did,” he boasted, and by all evidence that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/only-tr-openly-declared-his-love-for-the-job-nobody-ever-enjoyed-the/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“s ships Phoenix and Rose, in the company of three tenders, cast off their moorings at Staten Island and started up the harbor under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/s-ships-phoenix-and-rose-in-the-company-of-three-tenders-cast-off/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“a people may let a King fall, yet still remain a people, but if a King let his people slip from him, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/a-people-may-let-a-king-fall-yet-still-remain-a-people-but-if-a-king/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [Why limit yourself to the experience of your own relatively brief time on earth, according to your biological clock, when the whole realm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/why-limit-yourself-to-the-experience-of-your-own-relatively-brief/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“He worked at a plain, tall desk at which he wrote standing up or perched on a high stool,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/he-worked-at-a-plain-tall-desk-at-which-he-wrote-standing-up-or/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Nothing happens in isolation. Everything that happens has consequences. We”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/nothing-happens-in-isolation-everything-that-happens-has-consequences/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [America faces an enemy who believes in enforced ignorance. And all that we stand for is the open mind, the generous spirit, the ideal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/america-faces-an-enemy-who-believes-in-enforced-ignorance-and-all/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [My shorthand answer is that I try to write the kind of book that I would like to read. If I can make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/my-shorthand-answer-is-that-i-try-to-write-the-kind-of-book-that-i/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

> [“Seen under the microscope, Stegomyia is a creature of striking beauty. Its general color is dark gray, but the thorax is marked with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/seen-under-the-microscope-stegomyia-is-a-creature-of-striking-beauty/)

[David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/)

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                        "text": "I feel that what I do is a calling. I would pay to do what I do if I had to. I will never live long enough to do the work I want to do: the books I would like to write, the ideas I would like to explore.",
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                        "text": "People often ask me if I'm working on a book. That's not how I feel. I feel like I work in a book. It's like putting myself under a spell. And this spell, if you will, is so real to me that if I have to leave my work for a few days, I have to work myself back into the spell when I come back. It's almost like hypnosis.",
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                        "text": "I think the public library system is one of the most amazing American institutions. Free for everybody. If you ever get the blues about the status of American culture there are still more public libraries than there are McDonald's. During the worst of the Depression not one public library closed their doors.",
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                        "text": "I feel very strongly that history is about everything. It isn't just about politics or the military or social issues. If art, music, engineering, science, medicine, finance, the world of architecture and technology - if those are left out, then you're not getting a full sense of the human condition. History is human and we human beings are involved in all kinds of things and that's part of our humanity.",
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                        "text": "I don't pick my presidents because they were great presidents. I'm not much interested in ranking presidents and who is the best and who is the worst. I am much more inclined to be interested in them if they had an interesting life and if they were a complete person - and by that I mean they also had flaws and failings.",
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                        "text": "You can make the argument that there's no such thing as the past. Nobody lived in the past. They lived in the present. It is their present, not our present, and they don't know how it's going to come out. They weren't just like we are because they lived in that very different time. You can't understand them if you don't understand how they perceived reality.",
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                        "text": "We still dislike hypocrites. It's a very American characteristic. We still like people who have ideas and who are willing to stand up for what they believe in. We're very forgiving of failures and very willing to give people a second and third chance if they mean to do better and are sorry for what they've done.",
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                        "text": "Find something to do that you love because then the work itself is always the reward not the recompense. And if you love what you're doing you probably do better at it than doing something you don't love and therefore you'll be compensated appropriately.",
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