Bryan Burrough Quotes

Powerful Bryan Burrough for Daily Growth

About Bryan Burrough

Bryan Burrough is an acclaimed American journalist, author, and historian, born on January 18, 1953, in the United States. He grew up in Texas, where his love for storytelling was nurtured by the rich and vivid histories of the Lone Star State. Burrough attended Rice University, where he majored in English. After graduating, he worked as a reporter for the Dallas Times Herald before joining the staff of Texas Monthly magazine, where he would remain for over a decade. During this time, he honed his writing skills and developed a deep understanding of Texas politics and culture. In 1993, Burrough moved to New York City to work as a senior editor at Vanity Fair. His move to the East Coast marked a shift in his focus from regional to national issues. One of his most notable works during this period was "The Big Rich: The Rise and Fall of the Greatest Texas Oil Fortune in History," published in 2009, which examines the rise and fall of the Hogg family's oil empire. Burrough is perhaps best known for co-writing "Public Enemies: America's War Against the Mafia" with his brother, Eliot, in 2004. This Pulitzer Prize-finalist book delves into the history of organized crime in America and the government's efforts to combat it. His other significant works include "Barbarous Streets: The Secret Life of William Burroughs," a biography of the Beat Generation author, and "Dry: A Memoir," which chronicles his struggle with alcoholism. Burrough continues to write and contribute to various publications, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and Vanity Fair. His works are characterized by meticulous research, engaging storytelling, and a deep understanding of the complexities of American history and culture.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The past is never truly buried; it waits, always, to rise again."

This quote suggests that history or past events have a tendency to reoccur or resurface over time. The past may appear dormant, but it remains an influential force waiting for the right circumstances to return, shaping current and future events. It serves as a reminder of the importance of learning from the past to avoid repeating its mistakes.


"The best lies are the ones that contain a kernel of truth."

This quote highlights that effective deceit often includes an element of truth, making it more convincing and harder to detect. It suggests that a lie becomes stronger when disguised with truth, as people tend to believe statements that appear partially accurate. However, the presence of a kernel of truth does not excuse or diminish the dishonesty in its entirety; it's crucial to discern the deceptive narrative from the fragments of truth.


"Men who come unbidden to the dance and take up too much room."

This quote by Bryan Burrough suggests that some individuals overstep boundaries, taking up more space or attention than is appropriate in a given social situation. They are not invited guests, yet they assert themselves aggressively, dominating conversations or environments without regard for others. The phrase "dance" may symbolize the dynamic and delicate balance of a social gathering where everyone should have their place and contribute to the harmony of the occasion.


"Power, it seems, tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely."

This quote by Bryan Burrough highlights the observation that power has a tendency to corrupt individuals, and absolute power intensifies this corruption. It suggests that as one's authority or influence increases, there is a greater risk of becoming influenced by selfish interests or misusing power for personal gain, rather than serving the needs of others or upholding ethical principles. The quote emphasizes the potential danger and impact that unchecked power can have on individuals and society at large.


"Legends rarely fit the facts, but legends are often more convincing than the truth."

This quote emphasizes that legendary narratives or accounts, although potentially diverging from actual historical events, can be more persuasive and captivating than factual truths. The allure of legends lies in their romanticized versions of people, events, or places, which often appeal to our emotions, biases, and desires rather than cold, hard facts. However, it's crucial to remember that understanding the truth is essential for learning from history and making informed decisions about the future.


Just being able to get paid to do something you love is a wonderful thing. That said, a writer's daily routine, unless you're Dominick Dunne, isn't exactly glamorous. Much of it amounts to drudgery, staring at a computer screen all day in a room by yourself, juggling nouns and verbs to make a demanding editor happy.

- Bryan Burrough

Love, Happy, Screen, Love Is

There's always a slight tension when you sell a book to Hollywood, especially a nonfiction book. The author wants his story told intact; the nonfiction author wants it told accurately.

- Bryan Burrough

Always, Tension, Slight, Nonfiction

I'm accustomed to Internet forums where rudeness and incivility are the rule, where too many people seem to take pride in their insults.

- Bryan Burrough

Insults, Rule, Many, Forum

All the way back in 1999, when I first stumbled upon the idea of a project tracking John Dillinger and Baby Face Nelson and all the major Depression-era bank robbers, I thought the subject was too big to be a single book. Instead, with a friend's help, I pitched the idea as a miniseries to HBO. To my amazement, they bought it.

- Bryan Burrough

Thought, Big, Amazement, Nelson

I've read the 'Public Enemies' script and, no, it's not 100 percent historically accurate. But it's by far the closest thing to fact Hollywood has attempted, and for that, I am both excited and quietly relieved.

- Bryan Burrough

Fact, Hollywood, Read, Closest

From time to time, just about every 'Vanity Fair' writer has a chance to sell rights to an article or a book to Hollywood.

- Bryan Burrough

Chance, Sell, Vanity Fair, Article

I must be the last person online to have been struck with this realization, but it's amazing how the Internet has empowered hundreds of ordinary people, turning them into little Diane Sawyers and Anderson Coopers as they snap and blog away.

- Bryan Burrough

Away, Been, Diane, Struck

'Bonnie and Clyde,' while one of the best movies ever made, was far more interested in portraying Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker as romantic anti-establishment Robin Hoods than what they really were: white-trash spree killers.

- Bryan Burrough

More, Made, Portraying, Parker

When you're going off to prison for the rest of your life, a lot of people do feel the need to explain themselves to all the people they have known.

- Bryan Burrough

Rest, Explain, Going, Prison

American writers, at least those of us who are fortunate enough to support ourselves in the field, are by and large a lucky lot.

- Bryan Burrough

Lucky, Large, Least, Fortunate

You never know what to expect when you're a writer visiting a movie set.

- Bryan Burrough

Never, Expect, Set, Visiting

I don't know the figures, but Hollywood must buy 100 rights for every movie that actually gets made.

- Bryan Burrough

Hollywood, Movie, Made, Figures

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