David E. Kelley Quotes

Powerful David E. Kelley for Daily Growth

About David E. Kelley

David E. Kelley, a renowned American television screenwriter, producer, and attorney, was born on November 4, 1956, in Harford, Connecticut. Known for his prolific work in creating compelling legal and medical dramas, Kelley attended Yale University, where he studied Political Science. His initial aspirations were to become a lawyer, but his passion for storytelling led him to pursue a career in television instead. Kelley's professional journey began at CBS, working as a writer for the sitcom "Alice." However, it was his creation of the groundbreaking legal drama "L.A. Law" that catapulted him into stardom. The series, which premiered in 1986, became a cultural phenomenon, garnering numerous awards and paving the way for future courtroom dramas. In the 1990s, Kelley turned his attention to medical dramas with "Chicago Hope" and later "The Practice," both of which were critically acclaimed and commercially successful. His other notable works include "Boston Legal," a spin-off from "The Practice," and "Ally McBeal," which explored the personal lives of lawyers and is remembered for its distinctive musical style and surreal elements. Kelley's influence extends beyond television, as he has also ventured into film, most notably with the 2014 adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel "Gone Girl." David E. Kelley continues to create thought-provoking and engaging content, blending captivating storylines with social commentary, making him a pivotal figure in American television history.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"In life, as on television, truth is often more dramatic than fiction."

This quote suggests that real-life events can be just as captivating and compelling as fictional narratives. The drama inherent in human experiences often surpasses the scripted tales we see on TV, due to their authenticity and unpredictability. It's a reminder of the power of truth and its potential to resonate with people more deeply than even the most well-crafted fiction.


"There's no such thing as a perfect script. You just have to make it good enough and then let go."

David E. Kelley suggests that perfection is an unattainable ideal in writing, and instead, one should strive for excellence by making the script as good as possible and then releasing it to the world. This quote encourages creators to focus on the craft of their work and trust in its quality, understanding that no creation can be flawless, but with diligence and effort, they can produce something meaningful and impactful.


"It's not about the idea. It's about whether you can execute the idea."

This quote by David E. Kelley underscores the importance of execution over just having an idea. It suggests that while originality in ideas is crucial, it is ultimately the successful implementation of those ideas that truly matters. Execution encompasses all steps from planning to final delivery, which ultimately determines the success or failure of a project, business, or any creative endeavor. In other words, great ideas are important, but they must be effectively executed in order to make an impact.


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

This quote by David E. Kelley suggests that instead of passively waiting for events to unfold in our lives, we should proactively shape our own destiny. It encourages a mindset of self-determination, emphasizing the power each individual has to influence their future through deliberate actions and choices.


"I try to write characters that are as real as they possibly can be, but also allow for some entertainment value."

David E. Kelley's quote indicates his intention to create characters in his writing that are authentic or realistic while still maintaining an element of entertainment value. This means the characters he develops should resonate with audiences as they find relatability in their struggles, emotions, or personalities, but at the same time these characters serve to engage and entertain viewers through their unique traits, stories, or actions within the context of a plot or narrative. Essentially, Kelley aims to strike a balance between authenticity and entertainment to make his characters memorable and engaging for audiences.


It gets harder and harder to succeed and find audiences with the 500-channel universe, the remote control, and people being so trigger happy with that remote control. It just gets harder to get a foothold.

- David E. Kelley

Happy, Control, Being, Trigger

But Steven Bochco was smart; he knew that viewers were smart.

- David E. Kelley

Knew, Viewers, Were, Steven

If you interview people or friends who work with me, they would say I'm private or internal or don't emote a lot. Yet I do it every day for 10 million people. I just don't do it for the 30 people I'm in the room with.

- David E. Kelley

Every Day, Private, Internal, Interview

When the stories come easily and the writing process doesn't feel laboring, that's usually a good sign for me.

- David E. Kelley

Process, Sign, Stories, Writing Process

One of the most fundamental questions people have about defense attorneys is, 'How can you do that? How can you go to bat everyday for a person that you may not know is guilty but you have a pretty good idea that he's not so innocent?' It's a question that defense attorneys answer for themselves by not addressing.

- David E. Kelley

Innocent, Idea, Addressing, Attorneys

The more lawyers there are, the more people are out there to encourage others not to go to law school.

- David E. Kelley

Law, Lawyers, More People, Law School

Some of my high school teachers did remind me that I had an excellent imagination when it came to making up excuses.

- David E. Kelley

Teacher, Some, Making, Making Up

You've got to honor your relationship with your audience - that they sit down because they want to be entertained. And that doesn't mean you can't provoke them and antagonize them and challenge them in the course of the entertainment as long as you keep the entertainment part of the equation alive.

- David E. Kelley

Honor, Alive, Entertainment, Entertained

But I do believe that in all my shows, I really enjoy the quirky, the eccentric characters, the ones you don't meet every day.

- David E. Kelley

Enjoy, Believe, Every Day, Eccentric

I've never really told jokes. I'm not good at it.

- David E. Kelley

Good, Never, Really, Jokes

When I really have to push and grope and scratch and claw to make a story work, that's a telltale sign that maybe something conceptually isn't right.

- David E. Kelley

Work, Maybe, Sign, Push

People are out of their home on a Saturday night or they're at the movies or they're at dinner and a lot of the people who flip on the television are doing just that. They may have never seen your show before and you can't count on to your audience to be there week in and week out.

- David E. Kelley

Doing, Week, Saturday, Flip

We also have issue oriented storylines which are an examination of an issue, be it ethical or social.

- David E. Kelley

Social, Which, Issue, Examination

I gravitate toward the law, I think, certainly more times than not, because it's our best mechanism for legislating human behavior, and morality, and ethics.

- David E. Kelley

Think, I Think, Certainly, Human Behavior

Chemistry is not anything an executive producer or writer can orchestrate or plan; you just hope for it.

- David E. Kelley

Chemistry, Writer, Executive, Producer

I think the law changes, which is a nice luxury.

- David E. Kelley

Think, I Think, Which, Luxury

My court skills may have atrophied.

- David E. Kelley

Skills, May, Court

I don't think it's that strange that a show has sort of a bumpy beginning. It's just part and parcel of the process.

- David E. Kelley

Beginning, Process, Think, Parcel

For me, I'm happy to succeed on any network.

- David E. Kelley

Happy, Me, Succeed, Network

So I think a writer should write what he loves, the people he relates to.

- David E. Kelley

Think, I Think, Loves, Relates

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.