Shelby Foote

A university is just a group of buildings gathered around a library. The library is the university.

— Shelby Foote

Before the war, it was said 'the United States are' - grammatically it was spoken that way and thought of as a collection of independent states. And after the war it was always 'the United States is', as we say today without being self-conscious at all. And that sums up what the war accomplished. It made us an 'is'.

— Shelby Foote

People make a grievous error thinking that a list of facts is the truth. Facts are just the bare bones out of which truth is made.

— Shelby Foote

I think making mistakes and discovering them for yourself is of great value.

— Shelby Foote

As a protest against the election of Abraham Lincoln, who had received not a single southern electoral vote, secession was a fact—to be reinforced, if necessary, by the sword. The senator from Mississippi rose. It was high noon. ...He was going home. ...By nature he was a moderate, with a deep devotion to the Union. ...he reserved secession as a last resort.

— Shelby Foote