Cathy Guisewite Quotes

Powerful Cathy Guisewite for Daily Growth

About Cathy Guisewite

Cathy Guisewite is an acclaimed American cartoonist, humorist, and author, best known for creating the comic strip 'Cathy,' which ran in newspapers worldwide from 1976 to 2010. Born on February 14, 1950, in Cincinnati, Ohio, Guisewite displayed an early interest in art and humor, influenced by her parents' collections of comic strips and cartoons. Guisewite studied fine arts at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) before transferring to Ohio State University, where she graduated with a degree in journalism in 1972. During her time at RISD, she developed a self-deprecating character based on herself, which later evolved into Cathy. In the late 1970s, 'Cathy' debuted in The Cincinnati Post and was soon syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate. The strip revolved around the humorous and sometimes poignant struggles of a single, 30-something woman navigating relationships, work, and life in general. With its relatable themes and distinctive artistic style, 'Cathy' quickly gained popularity among readers, making Guisewite one of the most influential cartoonists of her generation. Throughout her career, Guisewight has authored several books based on 'Cathy,' including 'Cathy: The Complete Calendar Book' (1986), 'Cathy: A Complete Guide to Life' (1990), and 'The New Cathy Book' (2004). Her work has been translated into multiple languages, and she has received numerous awards for her contributions to cartooning. In 2010, Guisewite announced that she would be ending the 'Cathy' strip, citing a desire to explore new creative ventures and spend more time with her family. Since then, she has continued to work on various projects, including collaborations with designers and publishers, while also maintaining an active presence on social media, sharing her humor and insights with fans around the world.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I can't decide which is worse: being alone or pretending I'm not."

Cathy Guisewite's quote captures the universal struggle between solitude and social interaction that many individuals experience. The quote suggests that she finds it challenging to cope with both loneliness and the effort required to maintain relationships or hide her feelings of loneliness. In essence, this quote encapsulates a profound human dilemma: the desire for connection versus the difficulty in finding it or accepting one's own company.


"The worst day at home is still better than the best day at work."

This quote by Cathy Guisewite suggests that despite the potential challenges or dissatisfactions experienced in one's personal life, these are generally less severe compared to difficulties encountered in a professional environment. It highlights the importance of finding contentment and well-being within the confines of home, as opposed to striving solely for work success, which can often be stressful and unsatisfying. The message is that the emotional and psychological comfort found at home should not be underestimated or taken for granted in pursuit of career ambitions.


"Cat-o-nine tails are for ships, not relationships."

This quote suggests that just as a cat-o'-nine-tails, a whipping instrument used on ships, is inappropriate and harmful for navigating a ship, so too are harsh criticisms, unreasonable demands, or abusive behavior in relationships destructive and unwarranted. Instead, relationships should be guided by understanding, kindness, and respect.


"Cooking for one is a challenge. It's like being the only miner in a gold mine."

This quote humorously emphasizes the incongruity of preparing food for just one person, likening it to being the sole miner in a gold mine. The rich resources and potential abundance remain untapped because there's no one else to share them with or benefit from them directly. It's a poignant observation on the solitary nature of cooking when one dines alone, and the sense of excess or waste that can arise due to preparation for multiple portions.


"Giving your all to a relationship that doesn't value it is like standing in a storm trying to cool boiling water with a spoon."

This quote suggests that investing all one has into a relationship that does not appreciate or reciprocate the effort is as futile as trying to cool boiling water with a small spoon during a storm. It underscores the idea that when you are putting in your best, it should be valued and returned by the other party. If it isn't, the effort may seem insignificant or even wasted, much like the meager attempts to cool boiling water with a spoon in a storm.


The biggest change in my life is that I now have to apologize for being thin.

- Cathy Guisewite

Change, My Life, Biggest, Apologize

In 1976 I wrote a lot about women trying to claim the right to work.

- Cathy Guisewite

Work, Trying, Lot, Claim

I'm married, which means that instead of occasionally wondering about men from afar, I actually live with one and can be constantly astounded by the strange male brain.

- Cathy Guisewite

About, Which, Means, Wondering

Otherwise, my whole career has just been flinging myself at whatever is most overdue first and letting everything else stack up.

- Cathy Guisewite

Career, Been, Otherwise, Overdue

My mother had always taught me to write about my feelings instead of sharing really personal things with others, so I spent many evenings writing in my diary, eating everything in the kitchen and waiting for Mr. Wrong to call.

- Cathy Guisewite

Waiting, About, Had, Personal Things

Imagine my surprise when, after a lifetime of teaching me to keep personal things to myself, Mom insisted my drawings were the start of a comic strip for millions of people to enjoy.

- Cathy Guisewite

Enjoy, Lifetime, Teaching, Personal Things

I had such a close relationship with my dog, and my dog so filled the need in my life to have children that I just wanted Cathy to have that experience.

- Cathy Guisewite

My Life, Need, Cathy, Close Relationship

I never thought Cathy would get married in the comic strip. And I also thought I would never get married.

- Cathy Guisewite

Thought, Never, Strip, Get Married

I never thought Cathy would get married in the comic strip. And I also thought I would never get married in real life. So both are shocks to me.

- Cathy Guisewite

Thought, Cathy, Also, Get Married

A lot of married people certainly have wonderful relationships with their dogs, but when you're single and your dog is the only other living thing in your house, it's a really special relationship which I wanted CATHY to have.

- Cathy Guisewite

Other, Your, Cathy, Married People

I'm more financially successful, but it just means the shopping blunders I make are bigger now.

- Cathy Guisewite

Bigger, More, Means, Financially

Mothers send strips to daughters to make a point. Daughters smack strips down on the breakfast table to make a point. My own mom sometimes cuts a strip out and sends it to me to make sure I understand her.

- Cathy Guisewite

Own, My Own, Sure, Table

The specific story line that people have responded to the most has been the horror of bathing suit shopping.

- Cathy Guisewite

Horror, Been, Most, Shopping

My dog was with me all the time. I talked to my dog. She was my best buddy. I shared all my secrets with her, but I don't think I every really tried jokes out with the dog.

- Cathy Guisewite

Best, Think, Shared, Jokes

I wasn't intending to create a comic strip to begin with. So I think I wasn't aware that when the strip started, there had never been a woman's voice quite like this in the newspaper.

- Cathy Guisewite

Voice, Think, Newspaper, Intending

Because the majority of my readers are women, I feel that one public service I can provide to them is to spread the message of regular mammograms and early detection within the strip.

- Cathy Guisewite

Feel, Mammograms, Detection, Regular

Cartooning is a wonderful career, and I'd like more women to get to have it. I can't think of any reason why we won't see more syndicated female cartoonists in the future.

- Cathy Guisewite

Career, Think, Reason, Cartooning

Defy your own group. Rebel against yourself.

- Cathy Guisewite

Funny, Rebel, Against, Group

Cathy was the first widely syndicated humor strip created by a woman. The strip was pretty revolutionary at the time not only because it starred a female, but also because it was so emotionally honest about all the conflicting feelings many women had in 1976.

- Cathy Guisewite

Woman, About, Cathy, Starred

The relationship between Cathy and Mom in the strip is the one relationship drawn from real life that I have proudly never even tried to disguise.

- Cathy Guisewite

Life, Mom, Real, Cathy

The specifics of Cathy's and my life are different now, but the basic life challenges are exactly the same.

- Cathy Guisewite

Challenges, My Life, Exactly, Cathy

I wanted Cathy and Irving to actually say 'I do' and be pronounced husband and wife on Feb. 5, which is my mom's birthday.

- Cathy Guisewite

Birthday, Wife, Which, Cathy

All parents believe their children can do the impossible. They thought it the minute we were born, and no matter how hard we've tried to prove them wrong, they all think it about us now. And the really annoying thing is, they're probably right.

- Cathy Guisewite

Impossible, Thought, Prove, Annoying

I'm lucky that my real-life Mom has both a great sense of humor about herself and an amazing ability to slip into complete denial if the subject matter gets a little too close to home.

- Cathy Guisewite

Lucky, Denial, Great Sense, Real-Life

A young bride can put on makeup at 6 in the morning and look fabulous at midnight. I have about a 15-minute window where I actually look good, and then I have to wash my face and start over.

- Cathy Guisewite

Makeup, Bride, Over, Fabulous

I'd love to see more equal representation of female and male cartoonists on the comics page.

- Cathy Guisewite

Love, See, Equal, Representation

Generally, I liked feeling able to connect with millions of women on a very deep level. It felt special that women especially would cut out my strip and place it on a refrigerator.

- Cathy Guisewite

Deep, Very, Cut, Strip

The best strips are the most honest. That's just the truth of it.

- Cathy Guisewite

Truth, Honest, Most, Strips

I have an office in my house and one about five minutes from my house. I worked solely out of my house for many years, but find, with children, that I have to be in a different ZIP code to think.

- Cathy Guisewite

Think, Code, Zip, Solely

Food, love, career, and mothers, the four major guilt groups.

- Cathy Guisewite

Love, Funny, Guilt, Four

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