Ed Asner Quotes

Powerful Ed Asner for Daily Growth

About Ed Asner

Ed Asner, born on November 15, 1929, in Kansas City, Missouri, was an illustrious American actor renowned for his powerful voice, poignant performances, and political activism. Raised by Jewish immigrants, Asner's career spanned over six decades, earning him multiple accolades, including seven Emmy Awards – more than any male actor in history. Asner's acting journey began on stage, where he honed his craft during the 1950s. However, it was his television debut as Lou Grant on 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show' that catapulted him to fame in the late 1970s. His portrayal of the gruff but lovable news director earned him four Emmy Awards and solidified his status as a television icon. Following the success of 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show', Asner reprised his role as Lou Grant in the spin-off series, 'Lou Grant'. The show, which aired from 1977 to 1982, further cemented Asner's legacy and demonstrated his ability to carry a series on his own. Asner was not just a talented actor but also an ardent political activist. He was a vocal critic of the Vietnam War and a strong advocate for various social causes. His passion for activism led him to join the Screen Actors Guild National Council and eventually serve as its president from 1981 to 1985. In addition to his groundbreaking work on television, Asner lent his voice to numerous animated films and series, including 'Up' and 'Garfield'. His final role was in the Amazon Studios series 'Bosch', where he played a recurring character until his retirement from acting in 2019. Ed Asner passed away on August 29, 2021, leaving behind an indelible legacy as one of America's greatest actors and most passionate advocates for social justice. His contributions to television and film will continue to inspire generations to come.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"There's no such thing as fun for the whole family. Fun is something that a child and a parent can do together."

This quote suggests that true, meaningful "fun" is not universal or standard across all age groups; rather, it is an interactive experience shared between children and their parents. In essence, Ed Asner is expressing the idea that the enjoyment derived from an activity increases when it can be experienced together by both children and adults.


"The greatness of a society is not measured by how it treats its outstanding citizens, but by how it treats its common people."

This quote emphasizes the value of assessing a society's greatness not solely by how it honors or treats exceptional individuals, but more importantly, by the manner in which it treats ordinary citizens. It suggests that a truly just and thriving society should prioritize providing equal opportunities, resources, and protection to all its members, regardless of their status or accomplishments. The well-being and respect shown towards common people serve as a reflection of the overall health and moral compass of a society.


"You have to be a bastard to make it, and that's a fact." (This quote is often misattributed to Ed Asner, but he did popularize it in the TV show "Lou Grant")

This quote by Ed Asner suggests that in some competitive or challenging environments, one may need to be assertive, relentless, or tenacious to achieve success - a trait sometimes perceived as harsh or unyielding. However, it's important to remember that success can be attained through various means, and kindness, empathy, and cooperation are equally valuable traits in professional and personal settings. The quote should not be taken as an endorsement of ruthless behavior but rather a reflection of a specific perspective on the nature of success in a complex world.


"The American dream is to be drunk with power."

Ed Asner's quote suggests a cynical view of the American Dream, which traditionally represents the belief that any individual can achieve success through hard work and determination. In this interpretation, the American Dream has morphed into an insatiable thirst for power rather than prosperity or personal fulfillment. This observation reflects the perception of some that contemporary American society values political influence and control over traditional values of equality, freedom, and self-reliance.


"You don't have to be an artist to know what art is."

This quote by Ed Asner suggests that appreciation for art, though not necessarily requiring specialized knowledge or skills, is universal and accessible to everyone. It implies that the essence of art can be understood by individuals regardless of their artistic expertise or background. Instead, it encourages empathy and an open mind to appreciate the creative expressions that surround us.


It's like an athlete. He has a string of hot years, and then he fades into nothingness. The actor doesn't necessarily fade into nothingness. After his hot years, he fades into a different category.

- Ed Asner

Athlete, String, Like, Nothingness

They're sheep. They like Bush enough to credit him with saving the nation after 9/11. Three thousand people get killed, and everybody thinks they're next on the list. The president comes along, and he's got his six-guns strapped on, and people think he's going to save them.

- Ed Asner

Nation, Next, Everybody, Strapped

I can do lovers. I can do Sir Galahad types. I'm not going to limit myself in voice-overs to irascible old men.

- Ed Asner

Old, Going, Types, Old Men

I regard myself as a beautiful musical instrument, and my role is to contribute that instrument to scripts worthy of it.

- Ed Asner

Beautiful, Role, Musical, Scripts

I was a newspaper editor in high school, and I truly thought of journalism as a career. I loved it.

- Ed Asner

Newspaper, High, Editor, Journalism

Where the work goes, I go. Wherever adulation occurs, that's where you'll find me.

- Ed Asner

Work, Find, Goes, Adulation

When I was working my way up, it seemed to me that only Westerns and 'Star Treks' or sci-fi movies could afford to get away with presenting the problems - like prejudice and desegregation, for instance - that we face in our everyday lives.

- Ed Asner

Away, Everyday Lives, Our, Everyday

Never stand still. Only stand still enough to learn, and once you stop learning in that stance, move off. Always keep yourself engaged, in theater, in whatever job you can get. If you can't get an acting job, then go backstage. Or take tickets. But be around actors because that is where you will primarily learn.

- Ed Asner

Learning, Engaged, Tickets, Backstage

If you can't get an acting job, then go backstage. Or take tickets.

- Ed Asner

Get, Take, Tickets, Backstage

My first job was with an auto plant, Kansas City - they treated you like slaves. From there I went back to Chicago, worked in steel mills, drove a cab, stuff like that.

- Ed Asner

Steel, Slaves, Treated, Kansas

Some of my earliest political feelings were based on the anti-Japanese bubblegum cards I got. There were also Spanish Civil War bubblegum cards. Awful.

- Ed Asner

Some, Based, Spanish, Feelings

I loved getting to Chagrin Falls, being by the falls; what a cute place it is.

- Ed Asner

Loved, Getting, Falls, Chagrin

Never thought acting was something you could make a living at. It wasn't until I was in college, and got a lead in a play, that I began to realize I might just be able to blunder into this profession.

- Ed Asner

College, Thought, Play, Blunder

I went into acting as psychotherapy, and it's still a work in progress.

- Ed Asner

Work, Progress, Still, Psychotherapy

The older I've gotten, the more the need to exert comedy no matter how tragic a character I may be portraying because they are essentials for presenting truth.

- Ed Asner

Need, May, Gotten, Tragic

I don't know who made the Earth. I woke up one morning, and it's here. I make the best of it.

- Ed Asner

Here, Woke, Made, One Morning

I don't believe in God, though I'm not prepared to call myself an atheist either. You know the old phrase: 'There are no atheists in foxholes.' I've never been in a foxhole, and if I ever find myself in a foxhole, I'll let you know if I believe in God or not.

- Ed Asner

Prepared, Been, Atheists, Atheist

To my knowledge, there is no blacklist. But there is a mindset, even among liberal producers, that says 'He may be difficult, so let's avoid him.'

- Ed Asner

Mindset, Difficult, May, Producers

I am not a method actor, though I studied for a year with Lee Strasburg.

- Ed Asner

I Am, Actor, Method, Method Actor

They say making laws is like making sausages. You shouldn't watch. It's the same for acting, especially for the actor who works unconsciously.

- Ed Asner

Making, Laws, Works, They Say

To tell you the truth, I hadn't seen any Pixar until I went to see 'Wall-E,' and I watched it and I was shocked to see how adult it was, with the setting in our lives, both present and future, and how they dealt with it... And then quite relieved to find that the one I was working on, 'Up,' how adult it was.

- Ed Asner

Tell, Pixar, Our, Our Lives

I pray that this council, which will probably be too late to save Iraq, will do what it can, which will be immeasurably strong in what it does in trying to save our democracy.

- Ed Asner

Strong, Too Late, Which, Council

In a way, 'WALL-E' had some of the same disturbing elements that 'Up' does.

- Ed Asner

Some, Same, Disturbing, Elements

There's never been a time in history, no matter what the public thinks, when actors have been paid more than they should be.

- Ed Asner

History, More, Been, Thinks

I've never stopped loving cartoons. I loved cartoons as a kid. I can still look at them and enjoy them.

- Ed Asner

Kid, Still, Stopped, Cartoons

I'm not sought after. I never get enough work. It's the history of my career. There just isn't anything to turn down, let me put it that way.

- Ed Asner

Work, Career, The History Of, Sought

Raising kids is part joy and part guerrilla warfare.

- Ed Asner

Joy, Part, Raising, Guerrilla

I got some news for you. One, there is no Jesus. Two, there is no God. Three, mind your own business and everything works out.

- Ed Asner

Mind, News, Some, Jesus

Always keep yourself engaged, in theater, in whatever job you can get.

- Ed Asner

Always, Theater, Keep, Engaged

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