I might not have risen to destroy people's beliefs, but some beliefs do need destruction if the human society is meant to progress in harmony instead of sinking into the depths of illustrious interhuman conflicts. Meekness-induced prejudices have no place in the society of thinking humanity.

“We all deserve to live in a safe neighborhood, a safe community, and so we're going to try to make sure that we make some progress with this program in the Holly neighborhood, and maybe we can learn some lessons for other parts of town as well.”

“It's one of those situations that's a balancing test. We have technology on one hand and aesthetics on the other. Everyone wants [cell phone] coverage. But where do you draw the line? At what point do we sacrifice aesthetics for progress?”

When the standard of success becomes merely acting—when any result is regarded as progress and important, when inspiration is seen as a reward rather than a prerequisite—we propel ourselves ahead. We feel free to fail, and that failure moves us forward.

In fact, it is the progressive nature of a nation that permits continuing revisions to its bedrock institutions –– its constitution, its electorate, its definition of marriage –– that has allowed marriage to evolve, to become more inclusive, more equal, and potentially more appealing to more people.

“The message delivered by OMB [the Office of Management and Budget] is that performance and measurement will play critical roles in the review and approval of budgeted spending, especially the close review of agency-by-agency progress reports on meeting administration goals for managing IT projects and developing effective business cases.”

“At the depths of the '82 recession, Reagan looked like a goner, but the economy came back and so did Reagan's fortunes? He stayed the course. Had he faltered in his policies in '82, we might not have seen as much progress in '83 and '84.”

Palestinian and Israeli leaders finally recover the Road Map to Peace, only to discover that, while they were looking for it, the Lug Nuts of Mutual Interest came off the Front Left Wheel of Accommodation, causing the Sport Utility Vehicle of Progress to crash into the Ditch of Despair.

too many left-wing student groups treat no one as badly as students of color or women who consider themselves to be classical liberals, libertarians, or conservatives, or who merely disagree with the actions of progressive protesters on campus. They’re seen as special kinds of traitors.

“The progress that has happened through research and through greater awareness is an understanding that cancer is not a death sentence any more. Once your first thought was I am going to die, but now there is so much out there to help and a lot of survivors out there too.”