Dan Rather Quotes

Powerful Dan Rather for Daily Growth

About Dan Rather

Dan Rather (born October 31, 1931) is an American journalistic icon, renowned for his decades-long career in broadcast news as a correspondent, anchor, and managing editor. Born in Wharton, Texas, he grew up during the Great Depression, witnessing firsthand the struggles of rural America, which would later influence his reporting style and focus on social issues. Rather began his career in 1950 at KTRH radio in Houston before joining CBS News in 1962. His breakthrough came as a White House correspondent during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, where he covered some of the most pivotal events of the era, including the Cuban Missile Crisis and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In 1981, Rather became anchor of the CBS Evening News, a position he held for over two decades. He is best known for his tenacious reporting style and commitment to investigative journalism, earning him both praise and criticism throughout his career. Notable investigations include the 1986 report on the space shuttle Challenger disaster and the 2004 story questioning President George W. Bush's military service record. Rather retired from CBS News in 2006 but remains active in journalism, both as a commentator and through his production company, News & Guts. He has received numerous awards for his work, including 13 Emmy Awards, two Peabody Awards, and the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award. Despite controversies surrounding his career, such as allegations of bias and fabricated documents, Dan Rather's impact on American journalism is undeniable, making him a figure of both admiration and debate in the world of news broadcasting.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Courage is doing what you're afraid to do there is no courage in avoiding danger. Only running away."

Dan Rather's quote emphasizes that true courage lies not merely in avoiding danger, but in overcoming fear and taking action despite it. In other words, courage is the ability to face challenges and uncertainty bravely and confidently, rather than retreating from them. This quote encourages individuals to embrace risks, confront their fears, and pursue their goals with determination, as this is where real personal growth and fulfillment can be found.

"The truth is the truth."

Dan Rather's quote emphasizes the unchanging nature and value of truth. It suggests that regardless of circumstances, context, or perspectives, the truth remains constant and immutable. The importance of veracity in communication, decision-making, and understanding is underscored, as the truth serves as a foundation for knowledge and trustworthiness.

"There are no issues so sensitive that they cannot be discussed sensitively."

Dan Rather's quote emphasizes the importance of maintaining open and respectful dialogue, even when discussing sensitive or controversial topics. It suggests that avoiding conversation due to sensitivity is not a viable solution; instead, we should approach such issues with tact and empathy, fostering understanding and resolution. This mindset encourages constructive discourse in our society, promoting progress and unity.

"Democracy must be defended continually, or it will disappear one day when it isn't."

This quote emphasizes that the democratic system, which upholds freedom, equality, and the rule of law, requires constant vigilance and protection to ensure its survival. If democracy is neglected or taken for granted, it can gradually erode and eventually disappear, giving way to other forms of governance. The quote serves as a reminder that we must actively participate in preserving our democratic values through informed civic engagement and continuous defense against threats to these principles.

"If it's not on tape, it didn't happen."

This quote by Dan Rather emphasizes the importance of tangible evidence in journalism. It suggests that without substantial proof (like audio or video recordings), events should be regarded with skepticism, as their veracity may be questionable. In other words, it underscores the need for journalists to uphold truth and accuracy by relying on solid evidence rather than unsubstantiated claims.

For years Don Imus was just - boy, he was merciless in his criticism of me. Maybe it was justified, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt.

- Dan Rather

Boy, Years, Maybe, Justified

Never eat spinach just before going on the air.

- Dan Rather

Never, Going, Before, Spinach

A free and truly independent press - fiercely independent when necessary - is the red beating heart of freedom and democracy.

- Dan Rather

Red, Independence, Necessary, Beating

The press is a watchdog. Not an attack dog. Not a lapdog. A watchdog. Now, a watchdog can't be right all the time. He doesn't bark only when he sees or smells something that's dangerous. A good watchdog barks at things that are suspicious.

- Dan Rather

Good, Dangerous, Attack, Suspicious

I don't back down. I don't cave when the pressure gets too great from these partisan political ideological forces.

- Dan Rather

Cave, Back, Ideological, Partisan

Performing doesn't turn me on. It's an egomaniac business, filled with prima donnas - including this one.

- Dan Rather

Business, Including, Prima

A college degree is the key to realizing the American dream, well worth the financial sacrifice because it is supposed to open the door to a world of opportunity.

- Dan Rather

Financial, College, Door, Realizing

The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called 'truth'.

- Dan Rather

Teacher, Sometimes, Next, Sharp

From the streets of Cairo and the Arab Spring, to Occupy Wall Street, from the busy political calendar to the aftermath of the tsunami in Japan, social media was not only sharing the news but driving it.

- Dan Rather

News, Calendar, Streets, Arab Spring

Don't taunt the alligator until after you've crossed the creek.

- Dan Rather

Wisdom, Alligator, Creek, Taunt

And now the sequence of events in no particular order.

- Dan Rather

Now, Events, Particular, Sequence

Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic.

- Dan Rather

Will, Up, Provided, Block

This much we know: Journalism is not a precise science. It's, on its best day, is a crude art. We make mistakes; I make mistakes. With more than 50 years as a journalist, I have at least had the opportunity to blow more stories, make more mistakes than maybe anybody in television.

- Dan Rather

Maybe, Anybody, Least, Blow

Ratings don't last. Good journalism does.

- Dan Rather

Good, Last, Does, Ratings

Now, I know you expected me to say that, well, I just kick back in the rocking chair, fished a little bit, listened to Willie Nelson tapes and watched old baseball games on the Classic Sports network. And, tell you the truth, I have done that for maybe about five total minutes.

- Dan Rather

Maybe, Tapes, Willie Nelson, Nelson

As someone who's been covering presidential campaigns since the 1950s, I have no delusions about political reporting. Candidates bargaining access to get the kind of news coverage they want is nothing new.

- Dan Rather

News, New, Coverage, Presidential

Well, first of all, I don't want to debate the word conservative, but by my definition, a conservative is someone who wants to conserve the Constitution of the United States and the American tradition and law that no one is above the law.

- Dan Rather

Constitution, Conservative, Conserve

I was really lucky to work at CBS news. I was blessed to be able to live my dream in many ways at CBS news.

- Dan Rather

Work, News, Lucky, CBS

I think it's important for the public to know, great reporting starts with a publisher who has guts and an editor who has guts.

- Dan Rather

Think, I Think, Editor, Reporting

As long as I have my health, I want to be reporting somewhere.

- Dan Rather

Health, Want, Somewhere, Reporting

Courage is being afraid but going on anyhow.

- Dan Rather

Courage, Afraid, Going, Being Afraid

Start-ups like UniversityNow, a network of low-cost, online colleges, allows students to work at their own pace and pay a few hundred dollars a month for a degree.

- Dan Rather

Work, Like, Hundred, Low-Cost

There is no doubt that the way journalism worked when I was growing up and getting started has changed forever.

- Dan Rather

Doubt, Getting Started, Way, Journalism

I still love following and thinking about politics. I enjoy recommending important journalism I read or see from other sources.

- Dan Rather

Love, Politics, Still, Journalism

Only votes talk, everything else walks.

- Dan Rather

Only, Walks, Else, Everything Else

An intellectual snob is someone who can listen to the William Tell Overture and not think of The Lone Ranger.

- Dan Rather

Think, Someone, William, Snob

Those market researchers... are playing games with you and me and with this entire country. Their so-called samples of opinion are no more accurate or reliable than my grandmother's big toe was when it came to predicting the weather.

- Dan Rather

Big, Country, Accurate, So-Called

Covering the civil-rights movement was a mind- and eye-opener for me. Houston was a segregated society, as was Texas as a whole - some of it by law, a lot of it by fear and tradition. But there was no violence where I lived, and if there was hate, it was either concealed from me or I just didn't recognize it.

- Dan Rather

Some, Covering, Whole, Concealed

Despite what many Americans think, most Soviets do not yearn for capitalism or Western-style democracy.

- Dan Rather

Think, Most, Yearn, Soviets

I respect and empathize with reporters and editors who must compete in today's environment. And I know full well that when I've been covering campaigns, which I still do, I've made my mistakes and have been far from perfect.

- Dan Rather

Compete, Been, Reporters, Editors

They may have turned this up, whether you had the Paula Jones case or not. But again maybe not, but again that's like if a frog had side pockets he'd probably wear a handgun.

- Dan Rather

May, Side, Paula, Case

The great lesson my mother and father gave me was almost invisible. It was a strong sense of being rooted.

- Dan Rather

Strong, Mother And Father, Strong Sense

Journalists should denounce government by public opinion polls.

- Dan Rather

Government, Public, Denounce

I had just turned 10-years-old when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor and plunged America into World War II.

- Dan Rather

War, Harbor, Turned, World War II

What separated Ed Murrow from the rest of the pack was courage.

- Dan Rather

Rest, Pack, Murrow, Separated

But we cannot rely on memorials and museums alone. We can tell ourselves we will never forget and we likely won't. But we need to make sure that we teach history to those who never had the opportunity to remember in the first place.

- Dan Rather

Tell, Had, We Cannot, Never Forget

Once the herd starts moving in one direction, it's very hard to turn it, even slightly.

- Dan Rather

Very, Once, Slightly, Herd

And for whatever reason I've loved the news since I can remember. I loved it when I was in elementary school.

- Dan Rather

News, Reason, Whatever, Elementary School

A tough lesson in life that one has to learn is that not everybody wishes you well.

- Dan Rather

Learning, Learn, Everybody, Wishes

I've always tried to be fair, even-handed, not an advocate for any group.

- Dan Rather

Fair, Always, Tried, Advocate

If I didn't have a front-row seat on history, it was at least a seat on the aisle.

- Dan Rather

History, Seat, Least, Aisle

I don't pretend to be a digital savant or even a digital apprentice.

- Dan Rather

Digital, Pretend, Even, Apprentice

Are the Democrats going to dance the mandate Macarena?

- Dan Rather

Democrats, Going, Mandate, Dance

I'm a believer in what your record is. I am what my record is - some of it good, some of it bad, some of it hard to tell.

- Dan Rather

Bad, Tell, Some, Believer

If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all.

- Dan Rather

Journey, Travel, Start, Outset

This race is hotter than a Times Square Rolex.

- Dan Rather

Race, Square, Times, Times Square

Always marry a woman from Texas. No matter how tough things get, she's seen tougher.

- Dan Rather

Woman, Always, Marry, Tougher

I'd much rather wear out than rust out.

- Dan Rather

Rather, Wear, Than, Rust

One of the most important roles of our journalists is to be watchdogs.

- Dan Rather

Important, Most, Roles

I'm proud to say I've never been anybody's lapdog.

- Dan Rather

Never, Been, Anybody, Proud

Fear rules almost every newsroom in the country.

- Dan Rather

Rules, Country, Almost, Newsroom

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