I feel guilty because I think people should do something they really like to do in life. I should do something else, but there is nothing I can do re… - Studs Terkel

I wanted to be at my parents’ house when electricity came. It was in 1940. We’d all go around flipping the switch, to make sure it hadn’t come on yet. We didn’t want to miss it. When they finally came on, the lights just barely glowed. I remember my mother smiling. When they came on full, tears started to run down her cheeks. After a while, she said: “Oh, if we only had it when you children were growing up.” We had lots of illness. Anyone who’s never been in a family without electricity — with illness — can’ t imagine the difference.

I don’t know if I’m partisan to the underdog or whether I’m the underdog.

Automation? Depends how it’s applied. It frightens me if it puts me out on the street. It doesn’t frighten me if it shortens my work week.