Editor’s Note: This article previously appeared in a different format as part of The Atlantic’s Notes section, retired in 2021.

“Why do people burn down their own cities? Well, it’s because they don’t feel like the city belongs to them,” —Travon Free, an actor, on growing up in Compton, California.

“Kaine was so dominant it was almost embarrassing at times,” Larry Sabato, a political scientist, on moderating vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine’s debate.

“We’re in the middle of something very serious. This is evil versus good. This is Mel Gibson now versus 1993 Mel Gibson,” Lee Camp, a comedian and activist, who continues to support Bernie Sanders.

“We have heard the Dems lack a deep bench, but you would not know it from the convention so far. And at least our bench actually shows up to the convention,” —an Atlantic reader, on the Democratic National Convention.

(Previous quotes from our sources here)