"Professor Mirkin explained to the Times that his article was 'meant to be subversive.' Subversiveness is acceptable as a by-product of scholarly inquiry; but it is unworthy as a goal. The goal of inquiry is (in the deathless words of Howard Cosell) to tell it like it is. If beliefs and assumptions are thereby subverted, so be it."
-- Louis Menand in the May 13, 2002 New Yorker.