Elizabeth Meriwether Quotes

Powerful Elizabeth Meriwether for Daily Growth

About Elizabeth Meriwether

Elizabeth Meriwether, born on August 31, 1982, is an American playwright, producer, and screenwriter, best known for creating the critically acclaimed television series 'New Girl.' Born in Seattle, Washington, Meriwether grew up in Portland, Oregon. She attended Harvard University, where she wrote her first play 'The Saddest Music in the World,' which was eventually produced by the American Repertory Theater at Harvard. This early success set the stage for her future career. In 2011, Meriwether created 'New Girl,' a sitcom starring Zooey Deschanel as a quirky teacher who moves into a loft with three single men. The series was a critical and commercial success, earning numerous awards and nominations, including Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy (Deschanel). Meriwether's work is often characterized by her unique humor, strong female characters, and relatable situations. Her writing style is influenced by her own experiences, particularly her struggles with anxiety and depression. She has said that she writes to process her emotions and to help others who might be going through similar experiences. In addition to 'New Girl,' Meriwether has written for other television shows, including 'No Strings Attached' (the film version of which she also co-wrote) and 'The Mindy Project.' She continues to work in both television and theater, using her platform to tell stories that resonate with audiences.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Life is a series of impossible situations, we will muddle through together."

This quote by Elizabeth Meriwether emphasizes that life often presents challenges or "impossible situations" beyond our immediate control. However, instead of giving in to the overwhelming nature of these predicaments, she encourages us to face them head-on with determination, resilience, and mutual support. The message is that we can navigate through the complexities of life by working together, finding solutions, and learning from each experience. It underscores the importance of community and shared efforts in overcoming adversity.


"It's like you can't even be unhappy on your own anymore."

This quote emphasizes a modern phenomenon where individual suffering, particularly emotional distress, is often amplified by societal pressure to remain connected and positive in the digital age. It suggests that the expectation to maintain a facade of happiness, even in times of personal struggle, can make it difficult for individuals to fully experience and process their own feelings of unhappiness. Essentially, Meriwether highlights how the pressure from others to appear content may lead to a lessening of the ability to handle one's own sadness independently.


"You're not being a good friend if you let your friends do stupid things and then don't warn them when they're about to do them again."

This quote emphasizes the idea that a true friend is one who cares about the well-being of their companions, encouraging them to make wise decisions and avoiding actions with potentially harmful consequences. By alerting friends to avoid repeating past mistakes, the intent is not only to protect them from potential harm but also to foster growth and maturity in their relationships. In essence, it advocates for honesty, concern, and guidance within friendships.


"I think the only way to truly learn to love is to be willing to give up being loved by someone."

This quote suggests that true love comes from a selfless, giving attitude – one that is willing to love unconditionally without expecting reciprocation. It implies that if we are open to loving another person genuinely, we may also have to accept the possibility of not being loved in return. The act of loving someone despite this risk demonstrates a deep understanding and maturity in relationships, teaching us how to love more authentically and fostering personal growth.


"It's like we're both playing different versions of the same sad song."

This quote suggests a shared, yet individually experienced emotional state between two people. They are going through similar difficult situations or feelings, but each in their own way, much like how one might play variations of the same melody on different musical instruments. The "same sad song" symbolizes the common pain or struggle they're both enduring, emphasizing a sense of empathy and understanding between them.


Every day, I learn something new. I think one of the most exciting things for a writer is to work on a TV show. It's like a novel. You have a really long time to develop and learn about the characters, and you can just really keep digging in deeper, every week.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Week, I Think, TV, Exciting Things

I think they should create a holiday for friends-with-benefits relationships. Because I feel like Valentine's Day is, maybe it's a day to stay home and cry.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Think, Like, I Think, Valentine

Every show is unique, some shows have the master plan and have everything figured out and that's just the way they do things. It's like high school. Some people write their papers the second they get their assignments, and some people write it the day after it's due. I am the latter.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Some, Show, Assignments, Master Plan

I think in a lot of romantic comedies it ends with a kiss, and I feel like in modern day relationships, and maybe just my own experience, it starts with a kiss and then all sort of falls apart and then comes together. You're texting. You're wondering what's going on. There's no definitions, there's no labels.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Own, Maybe, I Think, Wondering

I don't think anyone who runs a TV show would ever say to you, 'I have a grasp on running a TV show.' Maybe that's not true. Maybe there are people that do. I don't know.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Think, Maybe, TV, Runs

What does being a woman today mean? Is there a right way of doing it? Is there a wrong way of doing it? Different kinds of women, female friendships: It's all pretty funny, and worth making fun of.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Doing, Pretty, Making, Right Way

There are a lot of women screenwriters, but they are obviously outnumbered by men. And it still is a very much male-dominated industry.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Very, Still, Lot, Outnumbered

If women ran Hollywood, 'The Hollywood Reporter' would have a 'Men in Entertainment' issue every year, and those jerks would have to write something.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Year, Hollywood, Issue, Jerks

I think you have to love the characters that you write. I don't know how you could possibly write a TV show where you didn't love the characters.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Love, Think, TV, Possibly

The striking thing about 'New Girl' is that under all the comedy, there's something about the emotions and reactions that feels very real - much more real than other sitcoms. Like - maybe everybody is sort of laid bare in different ways.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Other, Very, Feels, Reactions

But, yes, I learned everything working in theater. I learned the importance of community - I was constantly going to play readings, stand-up nights, improv. nights.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Play, Going, Learned, Readings

I love 'Cheers.' I didn't watch it growing up, but I watched it getting ready to do the first season of 'New Girl.' It bowls me over every time I see it. The romance, the comedy, the performances - every bit of it is just so compelling.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Love, Romance, Compelling, Season

I think so much of writing is an instinct, or a feel for a scene, or a feel for a character. You have to put into words the word 'tone,' which I think is thrown around a lot and can mean a hundred different things, but communicating that to other people is definitely a challenge.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Other, I Think, Hundred, Different Things

Dysfunctional co-dependent relationships always appeal to me. I don't know exactly how it started. I start writing sketches of characters and little scene-lets, and then it builds.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Start, Always, Dysfunctional, Sketches

Why do British people make such good TV? It's so annoying. Stop it. Is it because they have free health care? Uggh.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Health, Why, TV, Annoying

The funniest things just come from honesty. We have a tendency to see female characters as representative of something larger than what they are, when male characters are just characters.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Larger, Tendency, Funniest, Representative

I had this temp receptionist job in New York, and I kind of hated it, and in the morning I would come out of the subway and just walk along the New York streets with all these people around me and kind of sing to myself. Like, 'She's gonna make it!'

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Streets, Around, Had, Hated

I just want to keep writing characters who are interesting and complicated people and interesting roles for women, in TV or film or in theater. I think that's like my 'Blues Brothers' mission.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

I Think, Brothers, TV, Blues Brothers

I love that song 'I Could Have Danced All Night' from 'My Fair Lady' so much. I love that song because watching it as a kid, it was such an unbridled expression of joy.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Love, Song, Expression, All Night

It is hard to be an actor on a TV show, because you don't know what's coming and you sort of find out very last minute sort of what's happening.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Last, Very, TV, Minute

I was really freaked out when I heard that Cookie Monster was going to be changed to Veggie Monster, but that turned out to be a lie.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Cookie, Going, Turned, Freaked

If I'm writing something and I'm not feeling mischievous, then I know it's not going to be great.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Writing, Know, Going, Mischievous

Please God, I hope my experience in downtown theater isn't over, because I'd love to keep making weird plays. I can't wait for Charles Isherwood to call my next play 'sit-com-y' and tell me to stick to writing television.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Love, Play, Next, Downtown

People want to put women in one box, and I'm interested in how women can be everything at once.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Want, How, Once, Box

I started out wanting to be an actor and I like to give actors as much as possible. I love writing stuff where they can really lose control.

- Elizabeth Meriwether

Love, Give, Like, Wanting

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