I have never been especially impressed by the heroics of people convinced they are about to change the world. I am more awed by those who struggle to make one small difference.

Personal life
Goodman was born in Newton Massachusetts. Her step-son Gregory Levey died by self-immolation in 1991 protesting the First Gulf War. Ellen Goodman (born April 11 1941) is an American journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning syndicated columnist.