David Brinkley Quotes

Powerful David Brinkley for Daily Growth

About David Brinkley

David Brinkley (June 10, 1920 – June 11, 2003) was an esteemed American journalist, news anchor, and author who played a pivotal role in shaping the face of broadcast journalism during the mid-20th century. Born in Fort Worth, Texas, he developed a keen interest in politics and current events from a young age, which would later fuel his successful career as a reporter. Brinkley enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, serving as a radio broadcaster for the 15th Air Force in Italy. This experience provided him with an early introduction to war reporting and solidified his desire to become a journalist. After the war, he graduated from Harvard University in 1947. Brinkley began his journalistic career at NBC News in 1952, covering the presidential campaigns of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Adlai Stevenson. He became one of the original anchors of the NBC Nightly News with Chet Huntley in 1963 and continued as anchor until 1971. Together, they covered numerous historic events such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the Vietnam War, and the Civil Rights Movement. Brinkley moved to ABC News in 1974, where he anchored World News Tonight with David Brinkley until his retirement in 1996. Throughout his tenure at ABC, he reported on major world events, including the Watergate scandal, the Iran Hostage Crisis, and the fall of the Berlin Wall. In addition to his work as a news anchor, Brinkley authored several books about American history, politics, and journalism. His most notable works include "Washington Goes to War" (1985), which explored the role of the media during wartime, and "A Reporter's Life: A Memoir" (2001), a candid account of his career and personal life. David Brinkley was a towering figure in American journalism who set new standards for news reporting with his insightful analysis, incisive commentary, and unparalleled ability to convey the complexities of contemporary events to a wide audience. His legacy endures as an inspiration for generations of journalists who continue to strive for excellence in their field.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly and applying the wrong remedies."

David Brinkley's quote highlights a common sentiment about politics: that politicians often exaggerate problems, misdiagnose their causes, and propose ineffective or counterproductive solutions. In essence, he suggests that politics is characterized by an overly pessimistic perspective, where trouble is constantly sought out and addressed with flawed approaches. This observation underscores the need for clear-sightedness, critical thinking, and pragmatic problem-solving in the political sphere to avoid unnecessary strife and ensure effective governance.


"Journalism can't be saved by rules and regulations any more than poetry can be saved by a rhyme dictionary."

This quote emphasizes that journalism, like poetry, is an art form that cannot be rigidly controlled or regulated to achieve perfection. Just as a rhyme dictionary does not dictate the creative flow of a poet, rules and regulations do not define the essence of journalism. Instead, it thrives on the creativity, critical thinking, and integrity of individual journalists in their pursuit of truth and accurate reporting. In other words, the spirit and ethics of journalism are what make it effective, rather than adherence to strict rules or guidelines.


"In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way."

This quote by David Brinkley suggests that political events are not random or coincidental; rather, they are the result of deliberate planning and strategic decision-making. In other words, politicians often have a clear vision or goal in mind and execute actions to achieve those objectives. It implies that understanding the motivations behind political actions can provide valuable insights into why certain events occur as they do.


"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you."

This quote by David Brinkley humorously suggests that if one is intimidated or frightened by failure in a less risky endeavor, then the high-risk sport of skydiving might be even more daunting. It underscores the importance of embracing challenges and overcoming fears to achieve personal growth and success.


"Politics is not merely a struggle for ideas and ideals; it is also very often a tussle over real estate."

This quote by David Brinkley highlights the dual nature of politics, emphasizing that while it involves debates on principles and values (ideas and ideals), it also frequently revolves around tangible resources such as land, property, or other forms of real estate. In many instances, political decisions can be influenced by control over territory, resources, and economic interests. This underscores the interplay between abstract policy-making and the practical dimensions that often drive political outcomes.


Being an anchor is not just a matter of sitting in front of a camera and looking pretty.

- David Brinkley

Looking, Anchor, Pretty, Camera

Numerous politicians have seized absolute power and muzzled the press. Never in history has the press seized absolute power and muzzled the politicians.

- David Brinkley

Never, Absolute, Numerous, Press

A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.

- David Brinkley

Success, Bricks, Firm, Successful Man

The one function that TV news performs very well is that when there is no news we give it to you with the same emphasis as if it were.

- David Brinkley

News, Very, Performs, Emphasis

People have the illusion that all over the world, all the time, all kinds of fantastic things are happening. When in fact, over most of the world, most of the time, nothing is happening.

- David Brinkley

Fact, Nothing, Over, Happening

This is the first convention of the space age - where a candidate can promise the moon and mean it.

- David Brinkley

Moon, Mean, Convention, Candidate

I'm not a very good advertisement for the American school system.

- David Brinkley

School, System, Very, Advertisement

Washington, D.C. is a city filled with people who believe they are important.

- David Brinkley

City, Important, Filled, Washington

The only way to do news on television is not to be terrified of it.

- David Brinkley

News, Television, Only, Terrified

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