Edward R. Murrow Quotes

A collection of quotes by Edward R. Murrow.

Edward R. Murrow was an influential American broadcast journalist born on April 25, 1908, in North Carolina. During his career, he revolutionized radio and television journalism, earning a reputation as a remarkable newsman and an advocate for freedom of the press. Murrow gained widespread recognition for his courageous reporting during World War II, covering the Blitz in London for CBS Radio and providing firsthand accounts of the war's impact on the British people.

After the war, Murrow continued to shape the field of broadcast journalism as he transitioned to television. In his acclaimed 1951 series, "See It Now," he tackled significant social and political issues of the time, including McCarthyism and civil rights. With his calm and incisive storytelling, Murrow became one of American television's most respected and trusted figures.

Notably, Murrow is often credited with popularizing the television interview format through his series "Person to Person," where he engaged in conversations with prominent figures, including celebrities and politicians. His interviews were characterized by his thoughtful and probing questions, revealing his deep curiosity about the world around him.

Edward R. Murrow's journalistic integrity and commitment to true reporting left an indelible mark on the profession. He received numerous awards during his career, including several Peabody Awards and Emmys. His legacy endures as a paragon of journalistic excellence and a steadfast defender of truth. Edward R. Murrow passed away on April 27, 1965, but his contributions to the field of journalism continue to inspire aspiring reporters and journalists worldwide.

Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doe

Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar.

Edward R. Murrow

Good night, and good luck.

Good night, and good luck.

Edward R. Murrow

The newest computer can merely compound, at speed, the oldes

The newest computer can merely compound, at speed, the oldest problem in the relations between human beings, and in the end the communicator will be confronted with the old problem, of what to say and how to say it.

Edward R. Murrow

A great many people think they are thinking when they are re

A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.

Edward R. Murrow

To be persuasive, we must be believable; to be believable, w

To be persuasive, we must be believable; to be believable, we must be credible; to be credible, we must be truthful.

Edward R. Murrow

All I can hope to teach my son is to tell the truth and fear

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

Edward R. Murrow

American traditions and the American ethic require us to be

American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and lies are the worst. To be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible; to be credible we must be truthful. It is as simple as that.

Edward R. Murrow

Truth Tradition

Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can el

Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them.

Edward R. Murrow

If we were to do the Second Coming of Christ in color for a

If we were to do the Second Coming of Christ in color for a full hour, there would be a considerable number of stations which would decline to carry it on the grounds that a Western or a quiz show would be more profitable.

Edward R. Murrow

A satellite has no conscience.

A satellite has no conscience.

Edward R. Murrow

We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.

We cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.

Edward R. Murrow

The politician in my country seeks votes, affection and resp

The politician in my country seeks votes, affection and respect, in that order. With few notable exceptions, they are simply men who want to be loved.

Edward R. Murrow

The speed of communications is wondrous to behold. It is als

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

I have always been on the side of the heretics, against thos

I have always been on the side of the heretics, against those who burned them, because the heretics so often turned out to be right....Dead, but right.

Edward R. Murrow

Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts.

Difficulty is the excuse history never accepts.

Edward R. Murrow

The obscure we see eventually, the completely apparent takes

The obscure we see eventually, the completely apparent takes longer.

Edward R. Murrow

Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and

Most truths are so naked that people feel sorry for them and cover them up, at least a little bit.

Edward R. Murrow