Edward J Murrow Quotes & Sayings

Good night, and good luck. — Edward R. Murrow

Don't be deluded into believing that the titular heads of the networks control what appears on their networks. They all have better taste. — Edward R. Murrow

In order to progress, radio need only go backward, to the time when singing commercials were not allowed on news reports, when there was no middle commercial on a news report, when radio was rather proud, alert and fast. — Edward R. Murrow

We hardly need to be reminded that we are living in an age of confusion - a lot of us have traded in our beliefs for bitterness and cynicism or for a heavy package of despair, or even a quivering portion of hysteria. Opinions can be picked up cheap in the market place while such commodities as courage and fortitude and faith are in alarmingly short supply. — Edward R. Murrow

Language is the memory of man. Without it he has no past, a paltry present, and an empty future. With it he can bring his dreams to life. — Edward R. Murrow

In the U.S., the '50s and '60s marked the documentary's golden age, especially at CBS, where pioneering television journalist Edward R. Murrow, immortalised in George Clooney's 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' produced such landmark investigations as the CBS Reports programme 'Hunger in America.' — Naomi Wolf

I have said, and I believe, that potentially we have in this country a free enterprise system of radio and television which is superior to any other. But to achieve its promise, it must be both free and enterprising. There is no suggestion here that networks or individual stations should operate as philanthropies. But I can find nothing in the Bill of Rights or in the Communications Act which says that they must increase their net profits each year, lest the Republic collapse. — Edward R. Murrow

All babies look like Winston Churchill. — Edward R. Murrow

I am entirely persuaded that the American public is more reasonable, restrained and mature than most of the broadcast industry's planners believe. Their fear of controversy is not warranted by the evidence. — Edward R. Murrow

Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices
just recognize them. — Edward R. Murrow

We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it. — Edward R. Murrow

I would like television to produce some itching pills rather than this endless outpouring of tranquilizers.. — Edward R. Murrow

To be credible we must be truthful. — Edward R. Murrow

It is almost impossible to substitute intelligence for experience. — Edward R. Murrow

We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home. — Edward R. Murrow

The only thing that counts is the right to know, to speak, to think - that, and the sanctity of the courts. Otherwise it's not America. — Edward R. Murrow

When the politicians complain that TV turns the proceedings into a circus, it should be made clear that the circus was already there, and that TV has merely demonstrated that not all the performers are well trained. — Edward R. Murrow

The Founding Fathers are always spinning in their graves over something, as is Ronald Reagan, or FDR. Edward R. Murrow is a perennial grave spinner in the news business (though in fact, Murrow was cremated). — Mark Leibovich

This instrument [radio] can teach. It can illuminate, yes, and it can even inspire. But it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it's nothing but wires and lights in a box. — Edward R. Murrow

No one can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices. — Edward R. Murrow

I was greatly influenced by one of my teachers. She had a zeal not so much for perfection as for steady betterment-she demanded not excellence so much as integrity. — Edward R. Murrow

All I can hope to teach my son is to tell the truth and fear no man. — Edward R. Murrow

The politician is ... trained in the art of inexactitude. His words tend to be blunt or rounded, because if they have a cutting edge they may later return to wound him. — Edward R. Murrow

We will not be driven by fear into an age of unreason. — Edward R. Murrow

It has always seemed to me the real art in this business is not so much moving information or guidance or policy five or 10,000 miles. That is an electronic problem. The real art is to move it the last three feet in face to face conversation. — Edward R. Murrow

The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is also true that speed can multiply the distribution of information that we know to be untrue. — Edward R. Murrow

The real crucial link in the international exchange is the last three feet, which is bridged by personal contact, one person talking to another. — Edward R. Murrow

We are to a large extent an imitative society. — Edward R. Murrow

Except for those who think in terms of pious platitudes or dogma or narrow prejudice (and those thoughts we aren't interested in), people don't speak their beliefs easily, or publicly. — Edward R. Murrow

The obscure we see eventually. The completely obvious, it seems, takes longer. — Edward R. Murrow