Joseph J. Ellis Quotes

United States, Historian
July 18, 1943

Joseph John Ellis is an American historian whose work focuses on the lives and times of the founders of the United States of America. American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson won a National Book Award and Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for History. Both these books were bestsellers.

Also known as Author

Because he could not afford to fail, he could not afford to trust.

Joseph J. Ellis
- Trust
- Fail
- Afford
Chronology, so the saying goes, is the last refuge of the feeble-minded and the only resort for historians.

Joseph J. Ellis
- Refuge
- Resort
- Chronology

Washington's task was to transform the improbable into the inevitable.

Joseph J. Ellis
Remember sometimes just the rush of having a crush is a temptation, even if it is inappropriate, but beware of playing with fire, you will get burned.

Joseph J. Ellis
- Fire
- Temptation
- Rush
And the only thing to do with a sin is to confess, do penance and then, after some kind of decent interval, ask for forgiveness.

Joseph J. Ellis
- Sin
- Forgiveness
- Penance
Some models of self-control are able to achieve their serenity easily because the soul fires never burn brightly to begin with.

Joseph J. Ellis
- Soul
- Models
- Serenity
Men make history, but they can never know the history they are making.

Joseph J. Ellis
- Men
- History
- Making
I'm one of those people that believes you should start writing before you think you're ready.

Joseph J. Ellis
- Writing
- Think
- Ready

Even in the best of lives, mistakes are made.

Joseph J. Ellis
- Made
- Mistakes
- Lives
I believe I am an honorable man.

Joseph J. Ellis
- Believe
- Man
- Honorable