You can learn as much about the history from reading about the present as you can vice versa, that is learning about the present through history, which is what I do for a living. – Ken Burns
History is malleable. A new cache of diaries can shed new light, and archeological evidence can challenge our popular assumptions. – Ken Burns
I began to feel that the drama of the truth that is in the moment and in the past is richer and more interesting than the drama of Hollywood movies. So I began looking at documentary films. – Ken Burns
I think we too often make choices based on the safety of cynicism, and what were lead to is a life not fully lived. Cynicism is fear, and its worse than fear – its active disengagement. – Ken Burns
I think in the end, when youre famous, people like to narrow you down to a few personality traits. I think Ive just become this ambitious, say-whatevers-on-her-mind, intimidating person. And thats part of my personality, but its certainly not anywhere near the whole thing. – Madonna Ciccone