Alexandra Petri

“Woodstock didn't define a generation because everyone showed up or those who did were a perfectly representative sample. It defined a generation because, for a few days, it bottled its peculiar zeitgeist.”

“In society at large, nerds are law-abiding, caring, fundamentally good folk who keep the wheels of civilization grinding.”

“At Harvard, people like to impart the idea that you are a mover and shaker.”

“Yale students want to impress you with what they're doing. Harvard students want to impress you with how cool they look while doing it.”

“When police are shutting down cameras, it is a sign that they know the truth is not going to be kind to them.”

“Hi, my name is Alexandra, and I'm a netaholic.”

“Bad things happen, and you can only be so prepared.”

“All children, except two, grow up: Peter Pan and Donald Trump Jr.”

“Forced to confront a reptile or an international financial crisis, I'll take the reptile every time.”

“By isolating ourselves from those with whose opinions we disagree, we lose the ability to defend our beliefs.”

“People talk to pass the time, share information, and entertain each other.”

“The problem with technology, as with fashion, is that it's impossible to be 'in' forever.”

“Millennials give comics the kind of adulation past generations reserved for musicians. We respect Lady Gaga. But we'll travel hundreds of miles to touch the hem of Jon Stewart's robe.”

“Nearly everything faith-related that I have done at Harvard has been followed by free food, from going to services at Harvard's Episcopal Chaplaincy to attending a day of interfaith discussion and dialogue hosted by the university chaplains in the fall.”

“It turns out that in order to think well, knowledge helps.”

“Although no one explicitly wants a president who could have a reliable fall back career in stand-up comedy, everyone shudders at the thought of a Rutherford B. Hayes or John Kerry.”

“How many stories do you know about people cooped up in places because of deep snowfall? How many stories where something good happens to those people?”

“As long as I'm writing stuff and people are reading it, I'll be happy.”

“Harvard is a wondrously tolerant climate for debate and exchange among a wide variety of thoughts, backgrounds, and beliefs, but the voice of religion on campus is largely inaudible.”

“No matter how successful you are, no matter how good you are at what you do, even if a golden path rolls out in front of your feet your whole life, there will come one particularly bleak Tuesday when you glance over at Facebook and notice that Jen From Down The Hall has just won an Oscar.”