While the easiest way in metaphysics is to condemn all metaphysics as nonsense, the easiest way in morals is to elevate the common practice of the community into a moral absolute. Daniel J. Boorstin More Quotes by Daniel J. Boorstin More Quotes From Daniel J. Boorstin Until now when we have started to talk about the uniqueness of America we have almost always ended by comparing ourselves to Europe. Toward her we have felt all the attraction and repulsions of Oedipus Daniel J. Boorstin oedipus europe country There's something beautifully soothing about a fact — even (or perhaps especially) if we're not sure what it means. Daniel J. Boorstin mean reality facts The force of the advertising word and image dwarfs the power of other literature in the 20th century. Daniel J. Boorstin advertising century literature A pseudo-event ... comes about because someone has planned it, planted, or incited it. Typically, it is not a train wreck or an earthquake, but an interview. Daniel J. Boorstin train-wrecks events earthquakes destruction is easy for humans but creation is too difficult. Daniel J. Boorstin creation destruction easy The star is the ultimate American verification of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile. His mere existence proves the perfectability of any man or woman. Oh wonderful pliability of human nature, in a society where anyone can become a celebrity! And where any celebrity . . . may become a star! Daniel J. Boorstin jean-jacques-rousseau stars men . . . the messiness of experience, that may be what we mean by life. Daniel J. Boorstin messiness may mean Our American past always speaks to us with two voices: the voice of the past, and the voice of the present. We are always asking two quite different questions. Historians reading the words of John Winthrop usually ask, What did they mean to him? Citizens ask, What do they mean to us? Historians are trained to seek the original meaning; all of us want to know the present meaning. Daniel J. Boorstin creativity reading wisdom While the focus in the landscape of Old World cities was commonly government structures, churches, or the residences of rulers, the landscape and the skyline of American cities have boasted their hotels, department stores, office buildings, apartments, and skyscrapers. In this grandeur, Americans have expressed their Booster Pride, their hopes for visitors and new settlers, and customers, for thriving commerce and industry. Daniel J. Boorstin government pride cities The celebrity is a person who is known for his well-knownness. Daniel J. Boorstin known wells persons The hero was a big man; the celebrity is a big name. Daniel J. Boorstin hero names men The hero created himself; the celebrity is created by the media. Daniel J. Boorstin media hero The hero was distinguished by his achievement; the celebrity by his name or trademark. Daniel J. Boorstin achievement hero names It is very unlikely that the computer will displace the books, except in areas where we need information speedily. Daniel J. Boorstin information book needs Time makes heroes but dissolves celebrities. Daniel J. Boorstin idols hero time Books are messengers of freedom. They can be hidden under a mattress or smuggled into slave nations. Daniel J. Boorstin messengers slave book The mind is a vagrant thing.... Thinking is not analogous to a person working in a laboratory who invents something on company time. Daniel J. Boorstin vagrants mind thinking Disagreement produces debate but dissent produces dissension. Daniel J. Boorstin debate dissent produce American civilization, from its beginnings, had combined a dogmatic confidence in the future with a naive puzzlement over what the future might bring. Daniel J. Boorstin naive might civilization The world of crime is a last refuge of the authentic, uncorrupted, spontaneous event. Daniel J. Boorstin events lasts world
