According to his habit, Theodore Roosevelt sought to harness anxiety through action.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin

As a nation, we began by declaring that ‘all men are created equal.’ We now practically read it ‘all men are created equal, except Negroes.’ When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read ‘all men are created equal, except Negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.’ When it comes to this I should prefer immigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty—to Russia, for instance.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin

As ever, books remained a medium through which Theodore and Edith connected and interpreted larger world.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin

As soon as (Teddy Roosevelt) received an assignment for a paper or project, he would set to work, never leaving anything to the last minute. Prepared so far ahead "freed his mind" from worry and facilitated fresh, lucid thought.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin

Edith (the future Mrs. Teddy Roosevelt) developed a lifelong devotion to drama and poetry. "I have gone back to Shakespeare, as I always do," she would write seven decades later.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin

Excitement about things became a habit, a part of my personality, and the expectation that I should enjoy new experiences often engendered the enjoyment itself.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin

Go ahead, and fear not. You will have a full library at your service.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin

He (William Howard Taft) had little patience with the unconscious arrogance of conscious wealth and financial success.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin

If he could not go out into the world, the world could come to him.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin

If he (Teddy Roosevelt) lacked Will Taft's immediate charisma, gradually his classmates could not resist the spell of his highly original personality.

— Doris Kearns Goodwin