Elmer Davis on Applause, Boos, and Hisses

Today is the birthday of Elmer Davis, the US newspaperman, radio commentator, and author (1890-1958) who said that

 Applause, mingled with boos and hisses, is about all that the average voter is able or willing to contribute to public life.

One of the things that is wrong with America is that everybody who has done anything at all in his own field is expected to be an authority on every subject under the sun.

The first and great commandment is, Don't let them scare you.

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.

This nation was conceived in liberty and dedicated to the principle — among others — that honest men may honestly disagree; that if they all say what they think, a majority of the people will be able to distinguish truth from error.

This republic was not established by cowards; and cowards will not preserve it.