Respectfully Quoted: A Dictionary of Quotations. 1989.
| NUMBER: | 1437 |
| AUTHOR: | Joseph Gurney Cannon (1836–1926) |
| QUOTATION: | The Post Office Department is like a great root spreading many feet under ground and nourishing the mighty oak. It is the tap root of civilization. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Representative “Uncle Joe” Cannon, who was Speaker of the House from 1903–1911, served in the House for 46 years. |
| SUBJECTS: | Postal Service |