American political discourse had framed the Jewish problem as an immigration problem. Germany's persecution of Jews raised the specter of a vast influx of Jewish refugees at a time when America was reeling from the Depression.

— Erik Larson

As a rule, I am very skeptical of tying books to anniversaries. I don't think readers care. I also feel that it just about guarantees that somebody else will be writing a book on the same subject, but being a former journalist, I'm always interested in, like, why write about something today? Why do it now?

— Erik Larson

But one thing was quite clear…” he wrote. “[B]ang broke didn’t disturb me in the least. I had started with nothing, and if I now found myself with nothing, I was at least even. Actually, I was much better than even: I had had a wonderful time.” Bloom went on to become a congressman and one of the crafters of the charter that founded the United Nations.

— Erik Larson

Dodd acknowledged Congress's reluctance to become entangled abroad but added, "I do, however, think facts count; even if we hate them.

— Erik Larson

During World War I, Germany had only 25 of its vaunted submarines sailing at any one time.

— Erik Larson

Germans grew reluctant to stay in communal ski lodges, fearing they might talk in their sleep. They postponed surgeries because of the lip-loosening effects of anesthetic. Dreams reflected the ambient anxiety. One German dreamed that an SA man came to his home and opened the door to his oven, which then repeated every negative remark the household had made against the government.

— Erik Larson

He disliked the social obligations of the captaincy.

— Erik Larson

I always thought a shipwreck was a well-organized affair, but I've learned the devil a lot in the last five minutes.

— Erik Larson

If you had to jump six or seven feet or certainly drown, it's surprising how far even older people will jump.

— Erik Larson

It's all right to drill your crew, but why not drill the passengers.

— Erik Larson