Jane Pauley Quotes

Powerful Jane Pauley for Daily Growth

About Jane Pauley

Jane Pauley is an esteemed American journalist, television host, and actress, born on January 31, 1950, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Growing up in a family with seven siblings, Pauley developed a love for storytelling at an early age. This passion led her to study Broadcast Journalism at Indiana University Bloomington. After graduating in 1973, Pauley began her career as a reporter for WISH-TV in Indianapolis before moving on to WRTV, also in Indianapolis. In 1976, she landed a job at NBC News as a general assignment correspondent, making history as the youngest female network news correspondent at that time. Pauley's big break came when she was selected to co-host NBC's "Today" show in 1976, a position she held for ten years. During her tenure, she became one of the most recognized faces in American television. In 1989, Pauley faced a significant life change when she was diagnosed with Graves' disease, an autoimmune disorder that affected her thyroid. After treatment and recovery, she returned to "Today" in 1990. In 2004, Pauley left NBC to focus on her health and family. She later returned to television as a host of CBS Sunday Morning, where she continues to work today. Throughout her career, Pauley has been recognized with numerous awards, including eight Emmy Awards. Jane Pauley's influence extends beyond her journalistic work. She is an advocate for mental health awareness, a cause close to her heart due to her experience with Graves' disease and postpartum depression. Her memoir, "S Skywriting: Myan Adventure with Sagacity, Humor, and a Little Woo-Woo," published in 2014, chronicles her personal and professional journey. Pauley continues to inspire audiences through her honesty, wisdom, and commitment to storytelling.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"You can have it all. Just not all at once."

This quote emphasizes the idea that while individuals may aspire to achieve multiple goals or roles in life, attaining these aspirations might not happen simultaneously due to practical constraints such as time, resources, or personal capacity. It encourages people to prioritize and focus on one aspect of their lives at a time, allowing for the fulfillment of various dreams and aspirations over the course of their lives. The message is about patience, adaptability, and understanding that balancing different aspects of life requires a strategic approach rather than an all-at-once pursuit.


"I always thought I'd rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of a woman is the function of a loving human being, which is to love." - "Annie Hall"

This quote by Jane Pauley, as written in the movie Annie Hall, expresses the desire for a life lived passionately and vibrantly rather than one that is dull and ordinary. The speaker wants to shine brightly, like a superb meteor, instead of becoming a permanent and possibly unremarkable planet. Essentially, she is advocating for living a life filled with love, passion, and impact, rather than settling for a mundane existence.


"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain."

This quote by Jane Pauley emphasizes resilience, optimism, and finding joy even amidst adversity. Instead of waiting for hardships to go away, we should learn to navigate them, adapt, and find happiness in the process. It's a reminder that life is full of challenges, but rather than being stagnant during those times, we can grow and flourish by embracing change and finding moments of positivity within difficult situations. In essence, it encourages us not to let obstacles deter us from living our best lives.


"Success is never final, failure is never fatal: It's courage that counts." - Winston Churchill

This quote emphasizes that success and failure are temporary states, and their lasting impact depends on our courage – our ability to persist in the face of challenges and adversity. Success, once achieved, can be fleeting if one rests on their laurels, while failure does not equate to an end, but rather an opportunity for growth and resilience. It's courage that enables us to learn from both experiences and continues to propel us forward in our pursuit of progress and personal fulfillment.


"The greatest gift you can give your children is a healthy marriage."

This quote emphasizes the profound impact a stable, healthy marriage can have on children. By nurturing a strong, loving relationship between parents, they provide their kids with a secure foundation. The emotional well-being, social development, and life lessons learned from witnessing a harmonious union can shape the course of a child's life in positive ways. Essentially, a healthy marriage serves as an invaluable gift to future generations.


I think women think a lot about cycles, biological and personal. This year another cycle came around: my contract was up. It seemed an opportunity to take a life audit.

- Jane Pauley

Think, Year, I Think, Contract

I think the success of a talk show depends on how true it is to the personality of the person hosting it. The shows I really admire, like 'Oprah' and 'Ellen,' are distinctively like their hosts, so I think my show will be successful only if we try to stay consistent to my own sense of myself.

- Jane Pauley

Own, Hosting, I Think, Hosts

I'm sorry, but I can't imagine being an American icon! It would be pretty difficult to look at your face in the mirror and think of yourself as that without laughing and spitting toothpaste all over!

- Jane Pauley

Think, Pretty, Over, Spitting

I love working with an audience. I love working with actual people who, you know, if they're moved, you see it. If you say something they're stunned by, you see their jaws drop. If they're amused, they laugh - that kind of reinforcement, I totally adore.

- Jane Pauley

Love, Drop, Moved, Jaws

I'm excited about going back to 'Today,' but, at odd moments, I'll grit my teeth in anxiety. I feel like a student before the start of school. I've got my new shoes and my book bag, but I'm not sure I'll remember how to do trigonometry. During my maternity leave, I haven't used many words of more than one syllable.

- Jane Pauley

Book, Student, Before, Odd

Twins are a high-risk pregnancy, by definition. The quieter I am, the longer I can keep them growing.

- Jane Pauley

Them, High-Risk, Am, Pregnancy

'Good Morning America' exploited Joan Lunden's pregnancy, but you won't see me bringing my babies on the air. The only reason I'm talking about the babies at all is that they've been with me on the show since I became pregnant. After a while, I had to acknowledge this pumpkin tummy.

- Jane Pauley

Reason, Been, Became, Pregnancy

I would not take for granted that my personal life - because I knew better than anybody - that it was just a life. It was surprisingly an ordinary life.

- Jane Pauley

Personal, Knew, Anybody, Surprisingly

I've come to recognize what I call my 'inside interests.' Telling stories. And helping people tell their stories is a sort of interpersonal gardening. My work at NBC News was to report the news, but in hindsight, I often tried to look for some insight to share that might spark a moment of recognition in a viewer.

- Jane Pauley

Some, Telling, Viewer, Helping People

Because our generation has waited so long to have babies, we feel we've 'discovered' something that women have been doing for thousands of years. I have no illusions that I will be in the same situation as the average working mother. I'm not trying to prove anything - I just want to have kids.

- Jane Pauley

Average, Been, Discovered, Waited

About the time I turned 50, I experienced the profound biological change that often accompanies women at that age. Also, I put two kids in college and lost both of my parents, so I'm no longer somebody's daughter.

- Jane Pauley

College, About, Turned, Biological

A mood disorder is dangerous. You've got to get those dramatic waves of highs and lows stabilized. It's dangerous if you don't.

- Jane Pauley

Waves, Mood, Dangerous, Highs

I have a very good sense of tone, and it's possible to talk about very personal things and maintain a level of dignity and even privacy - to go to the place, to talk about it, but not get icky.

- Jane Pauley

Tone, Level, Very, Personal Things

Your 40s are a major trough. About the age of 50, feelings of satisfaction begin to rebound and keep rising into your 50s, 60s and 70s, with health being a major factor.

- Jane Pauley

Health, Rising, About, Factor

No baby boomer has a completely original idea, but after 13 years on 'Today' and another 11 on 'Dateline,' almost 30 years total at NBC, I felt the urge to find out what was 'behind the camera.' I had the feeling there was 'something more,' though 'more' might be less.

- Jane Pauley

Behind, Idea, Almost, Boomer

At midlife, I think a woman has more in common with her teenage children than anybody else. We all are kind of uncertain. We realize for the first time in either our lives or decades that we're in charge now.

- Jane Pauley

Woman, I Think, Anybody, Uncertain

When I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder the year I turned 50, it was certainly a shock. But as a journalist, knowing a little bit about a lot of things, I didn't suffer the misconception that depression was all in my head or a mark of poor character. I knew it was a disease, and, like all diseases, was treatable.

- Jane Pauley

Year, About, Turned, Diagnosed

Most of us in the baby-boom generation were raised by full-time mothers. Even as recently as 14 years ago, 6 out of 10 mothers with babies were staying at home. Today that is totally reversed. Does that mean we love our children less than our mothers loved us? No, but it certainly causes a lot of guilt trips.

- Jane Pauley

Love, Full-Time, Staying, Trips

It may feel like the more you know about depression and the many forms it can take, the more questions you have. That's how I feel.

- Jane Pauley

More, Like, May, Forms

I would like to prove that on TV, everyday lives can be as compelling as the life-styles of the rich and famous. Especially lives that we catch at extraordinary moments.

- Jane Pauley

Prove, TV, Everyday Lives, Everyday

A diagnosis is burden enough without being burdened by secrecy and shame.

- Jane Pauley

Shame, Secrecy, Burdened, Diagnosis

I envy people with dreams and passions, but I don't think that way. I still don't have a 'bliss' to follow. For people like me - I suspect that's most people - holding out for a 'dream' or a 'passion' is paralyzing. I just like having work I enjoy that feels meaningful. That's hard enough... but it's enough.

- Jane Pauley

Enjoy, Envy, Feels, Passions

My parents were terrific - mother was a church organist and my father was probably the most respected person in our church outside of the minister and sometimes maybe that much. The neighbors all called him - a gentleman.

- Jane Pauley

Church, Maybe, Minister, Respected

My goal is to see that mental illness is treated like cancer.

- Jane Pauley

Goal, See, Treated, Illness

I think my children know that Mother's priority is to be with them first. But I don't think it has to be an either/or situation. Work is very important to me, and it wouldn't be in the best interest of my children for me to stay home seven days a week.

- Jane Pauley

Think, I Think, Very, Priority

I hate my picture being taken. A photograph by definition captures one mood. And I have a million facets to my personality; I never use just one. That's why I like TV more.

- Jane Pauley

Mood, TV, Captures, Facets

My father was so good-natured and had such a happy disposition. I've always confused him with Jimmy Stewart. So, think Jimmy Stewart. That's my dad.

- Jane Pauley

Think, Always, Dad, Jimmy

'Your Life Calling' is the first thing in my long career I've ever actually invented. It is my entrepreneurial debut.

- Jane Pauley

Career, Long Career, Your, Invented

I do like some of the perks, like being, recognized, especially if I've had my makeup done and I'm going to be photographed and people admire me. Who wouldn't like that?

- Jane Pauley

Makeup, Some, Like, Perks

This may sound funny, but as much as the 'Today' show matured me, it also was something of a cocoon. I'd been happy there. I never went into the boss's office and pounded my fist on the desk, saying, 'Give me more money! Give me a prime-time show!'

- Jane Pauley

Boss, Sound, Been, Matured

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