Bill Kurtis Quotes

Powerful Bill Kurtis for Daily Growth

About Bill Kurtis

Bill Kurtis, an eminent journalist and documentary producer, was born on January 13, 1940, in Chicago, Illinois. Known for his deep, resonant voice and compelling storytelling style, Kurtis has made significant contributions to the field of broadcast journalism over five decades. After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 1962, Kurtis began his career at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Missouri. His reporting on the Civil Rights Movement in the Deep South caught the attention of CBS News, leading to a job offer and a move to New York City in 1967. At CBS, Kurtis worked as a correspondent for various shows including "CBS Reports," "60 Minutes II," and "48 Hours." During this time, he produced groundbreaking documentaries such as "The Fog of War" (2003), which won two Emmy Awards. In 1970, Kurtis co-created the award-winning series "CNN Newsnight with Aaron Brown," which later became "Anderson Cooper 360°." He also produced and hosted several successful documentary series, including "The Kurtis Chronicles" on Investigation Discovery. Kurtis' work has been recognized with numerous awards, including 17 Emmys, two Peabody Awards, and the duPont-Columbia Award. Despite his professional success, Kurtis remains humble, attributing his achievements to his curiosity and love for storytelling. Today, Bill Kurtis continues to produce documentaries and is a sought-after speaker on journalism ethics and the future of broadcast news. His career serves as an inspiration to aspiring journalists around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The truth is always there, waiting for someone who cares enough to look for it."

This quote underscores the importance of curiosity, perseverance, and integrity in life. It suggests that the truth exists and is accessible, but only to those individuals who are committed to seeking it out. The "someone" referred to in this quote represents anyone who demonstrates a genuine concern for understanding reality accurately. In essence, Bill Kurtis encourages us all to approach life with open-mindedness and diligence, as the truth is waiting to be discovered by those willing to look for it.


"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does instruct."

This quote implies that historical events do not exactly reoccur, but they offer valuable lessons and insights for understanding and navigating current and future situations. It suggests that the study of history can provide a foundation of knowledge and wisdom to help us make informed decisions in our present and future lives.


"The best way to predict your future is to create it."

The quote by Bill Kurtis, "The best way to predict your future is to create it," emphasizes personal responsibility in shaping one's destiny. In other words, instead of passively waiting for events to happen or trying to forecast the future, it encourages proactive actions and self-determination. It suggests that by setting goals, taking calculated risks, and persistently working towards our aspirations, we have the power to create a fulfilling and meaningful future for ourselves.


"It's not what happens to you that defines you, but how you respond to what happens to you."

This quote by Bill Kurtis highlights the idea that personal identity is shaped more by one's reactions to life events rather than the events themselves. It emphasizes resilience, self-determination, and the power of choice in shaping our character and story. Instead of being victims of circumstance, we can choose to respond in ways that define us positively, demonstrating our inner strength and adaptability.


"What you don't know can hurt you."

This quote emphasizes the importance of knowledge in making informed decisions. Ignorance, or lack of knowledge, can lead to harm or negative consequences as one may unknowingly make poor choices based on false assumptions or misinformation. Thus, it's crucial to strive for continuous learning and understanding to navigate life effectively.


I think there's value in experience and observations that link past to present.

- Bill Kurtis

Past, Think, I Think, Observations

All vacations can come down to a few little moments - what do your remember when you're alone, totally relaxed and taken out of yourself to appreciate this other world.

- Bill Kurtis

Other, Come, Remember When, Relaxed

We know Roger Ebert loved the 'Sun-Times' and his career as a newspaper columnist. But ironically, it was his illness and losing his voice that caused him to explore another venue.

- Bill Kurtis

Voice, Newspaper, Venue, Columnist

The most frightening interview I've ever done was with Dr. Lonnie Thompson of The Ohio State University on the subject of global warming.

- Bill Kurtis

State University, Subject, Interview

I travel so much on stories, so I don't take vacation much, but one place I go back to again and again is my ranch.

- Bill Kurtis

Go, Again, Stories, Vacation

With news, especially investigative pieces, you've got to be really smart and really lucky to be timely and to not get beaten by the big guys. You can't go head-to-head with the networks.

- Bill Kurtis

News, Lucky, Big, Big Guys

First of all, I'm a Midwesterner, being from Kansas, and Chicago is basically a big Midwestern cow town. It was built from the stockyards, and everyone is very friendly, and it's at the edge of the tallgrass prairie. There's just a good feel to it.

- Bill Kurtis

Big, Friendly, Very, Midwestern

I think I'm so old I'm in. We call it the 'Tony Bennett Syndrome.' For some reason, young people think I'm cool.

- Bill Kurtis

Cool, Think, Some, Syndrome

That's the reason I left the networks. I wanted to write and report and coanchor.

- Bill Kurtis

Reason, Left, Wanted, Report

Politics is still the No. 1 sport in town and the scoreboard shows the U.S. attorney's office leading.

- Bill Kurtis

Politics, Shows, Still, Attorney

In L.A., everyone is competing for the next job, and in New York, it's pretty much the same thing: competing for a better job.

- Bill Kurtis

New, Next, Competing, Better Job

A journalist enjoys a privileged position. In exchange for not being able to participate in the rough-and-tumble issues of a community, we are given license to observe it all, based on the understanding that we'll tell everyone what happens fairly and squarely. That's harder than it sounds.

- Bill Kurtis

Tell, Observe, Issues, Squarely

Think of it: television producers joining with newspapers to tell stories. It's journalism of the future. Advertising will follow the crowd - the 'crowd' being viewers and readers, of course, which could bring revenue back into journalism.

- Bill Kurtis

Think, Joining, Which, Journalism

Movie stars and singers never fully pass away because their images are replayed on film and recordings, over and over.

- Bill Kurtis

Over, Singers, Images, Fully

I'd like 'Morning News' to become a great first edition electronic newspaper, so that the 'New York Times' will want to watch us.

- Bill Kurtis

News, New, Newspaper, Electronic

You know, in the beginning when your first payroll comes up and you have to borrow money to meet the payroll, you lose sleep the night before, and you say to yourself real fast, 'Well, maybe I should keep working a couple more years. It's sobering.

- Bill Kurtis

Beginning, Before, Couple, Sobering

I have an affinity for Africa, especially East Africa, and Kansas looks very much like that.

- Bill Kurtis

Africa, East, Very, Kansas

I never wanted to retire. I wanted to kind of shift my work pattern so I could stay fresh and invigorated, and use the experience that I had gained in 30 years, but in a slightly different direction.

- Bill Kurtis

Work, Kind, Slightly, Fresh

I believe that young people are looking for answers to the big questions just like everyone else, and that they respect intelligent comment to help guide them through tough times.

- Bill Kurtis

Big, Through, Big Questions, Comment

The prediction that glaciers will be gone from Glacier National Park has been moved up by 10 years to 2020, the same year it's predicted the Arctic Sea will be ice-free in the summer.

- Bill Kurtis

Will, Glaciers, Been, National Park

People from small towns have to have their edges roughed up to get along in the world. But as a street reporter, you learn quickly.

- Bill Kurtis

Small, Learn, Quickly, Small Towns

I've been producing documentaries on global warming for 20 years and have seen the early warnings of extreme weather events come true.

- Bill Kurtis

Been, Global, Warnings, Documentaries

My personal philosophy is I'm running a 100-yard dash, and I haven't reached the end.

- Bill Kurtis

End, Personal, Running, Reached

If you're a producer, you always spend too much money because you want that shot - and you're willing to spend a bundle to get it.

- Bill Kurtis

Want, Always, Willing, Too Much Money

There's something magical about putting yourself into life. You've got to stand up and take responsibility for your own life and you cannot abandon that.

- Bill Kurtis

Own, About, Putting, Stand Up

'Frontline' does 10 news shows a year, so one a week is quite an undertaking.

- Bill Kurtis

Week, News, Shows, Undertaking

The one important thing you do as boss is you set the standard. The minute you go in and say 'we'll let it go this time,' you set a new standard, which is lower. So you cannot do that.

- Bill Kurtis

New, Standard, Which, Minute

Choose something you like to do. I know it's a cliche, and you've heard it over and over. But the reason is, you're going to have to work long and hard to achieve any success. You better like it or life is going to be terrible.

- Bill Kurtis

Reason, Over, Like, Cliche

There's room for a diversity of ages on television.

- Bill Kurtis

Diversity, Television, Room, Ages

You need a very good financial person to keep you honest, and to keep track of income and outgo.

- Bill Kurtis

Need, Income, Very, Track

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